Barrhead's Railway Cottage Nursery celebrates birthday

Railway Cottage Nursery (RCN), in Carlibar Road, first opened in autumn 2013, becoming the town’s first private nursery.

In the time since, RCN, which provides care and education for children aged from 12 weeks to five years old, has gone from strength to strength.

The nursery caters for up to 32 children, but currently has more than 60 registered and marked the anniversary by inviting all to a party complete with a bouncing castle, games and a rendition of happy birthday.

Lorna Gordon, who joined RCN as a practitioner nine and a half years ago before becoming manager four years ago, told the Barrhead News: “The kids were very excited because they understand what birthdays are about and the three and four-year-olds planned what we were going to do.

“We also put a plea out on Facebook where we asked any parents whose children previously attended for pictures of memories of children over the years.

“We are going to use them to make up a wee memory book of the children who have been through our doors for the last decade.”

Tens of parents have already responded to this plea, including those whose children attended when it first opened, with many sharing how much their wee ones enjoyed their time at RCN.

“We see children grow up and develop and one of the highlights we have is when children come back and see us,” added Lorna.

“When they come back in their school uniforms and see us and they still remember us, we know we’ve made a difference in these children’s lives.”

Prior to its new lease of life as Railway Cottage Nursery, the imposing sandstone building which houses the nursery had lain dilapidated, and fire gutted for almost a decade as developers were left in limbo and failed to secure planning permission for a block of flats.

Indeed, there was no roof in places and no top floor because kids had got in and trashed the place, and eventually it was set alight.

The land and building were taken over in 2012 by formal chemical plant worker Eric Burns, who is still the nursery’s owner to this day.

Following an ambitious renovation process, it was turned into a bright establishment with three well-equipped playrooms and an all-weather outdoor play area.

A decade on, Eric now looks back fondly on the latest chapter in the building’s extensive history, which can be traced back on paper as far as 1850, when it first appeared on maps of the area.

Indeed, the nursery has built up an excellent reputation over the years of its existence, relying on word-of-mouth recommendations rather than advertising to fill its books, which are currently full for the next year.

As Eric stresses, this success is down to the devotion of its staff team, all of whom are local and most of whom have been at the nursery for a long time.

Several have also started and continued their career at the nursery by first joining as apprentices through its partnership with East Renfrewshire Council.

“It’s the staff we have got who have built the reputation of the nursery and the trust they have built up with the parents,” he explained.

Looking to the future, RCN is looking forward to the opening of its sister establishment, Auld Kirk Nursery, in the old methodist church in Cross Arthurlie Street.

The new nursery which will hopefully be open near Christmas or just after will likely cater for around 45 children and will help address the town’s growing demand for places.

“I think church has been empty since 2016/17,” added Eric.

“It’s only been in the last year the work has been progressing on it.

“It had to be completely rewired, replumbed and replastered inside.

“It’s been a complete rip out, but it’ll look the part when its finished.”