Sunday 27 May marked a significant milestone in Elsie Moir’s 58 year association with North Edinburgh parents and children. Having reached her 80th birthday, Elsie decided it was time to ‘retire’ from the leadership of the Patch Club at Granton Parish Church.
Elsie started her teaching career atGrantonSchoolin 1954. Following her marriage in 1961, she went to South Africa and worked with husband Ian at a black African High School for 12 years. When Ian became minister of the West Pilton’s Old Kirk in 1983, Elsie asked for a teaching transfer to North Edinburgh. She was appointed toGrantonSchool, but resigned her post after a year in order to work in the Church with the large number of families who were moving into the renovated houses inWest Pilton.
She started a Parent and Toddler Group and also a group for parents. Elsie believed passionately in giving people of all ages an opportunity to learn together, through the expressive arts (art, music and drama). This led to the formation of the ‘Worship Workshop’. People worked for six weeks around a theme which culminated in an all-age worship presentation in the Church. This approach was very attractive to parents and children, who appreciated being able to learn and work together.
Following Ian’s retirement in 2000 the couple became members of Granton Parish Church. The Patch Club grew out of an existing organisation, the Magic Carpet Club, which Elsie had started as a storytelling club for parents and pre-school children in 2006. In 2008 she started a Sunday version of the club – Patch Club. It has the same elements as the ‘Magic Carpet’ – free-play, storytelling, music and two craft activities.
Of the ten families currently attending, there are two Polish families, two Chinese families and a Czech family as well as local families. It is a very good meeting place for immigrant and Scottish families and warm friendships have grown among the group.
The Patch Club starts again after the summer break on Sunday 2nd September and meets from 11 – 12 noon inGrantonParishChurch,Boswall Parkway. New families are always welcome.
Thanks to Ian Moir and Chas Macintosh