Past learners of Wonderland School, a facility for children with learning and physical challenges which opened its doors in a wooden structure at Creston College in 2001, were thrilled to meet their former teacher and principal, Angie Tutton.

Angie, who now lives in London, met with the learners at a reunion at Belleville Lodge last week Saturday.

“Meeting my original learners brought so many good memories. Seeing them now all grown up and doing so well brings so much joy. It was truly an honour meeting with them and their parents and sharing past memories. I am also glad that Wonderland School is still going strong and wish them many more years of strength,” she said.

A former learner, Londiwe Mthembu was happy to see her principal after so many years. “We love you, Mrs Tutton, and we all miss you. We are all thankful that you played an important part in our growing up at Wonderland School,” she said.

A parent, Rabia Bux, said seeing Angie was overwhelming and exciting. “Her visit brought back a flood of memories. Angie created a space for our differently-abled children when there was no place for them to go. On seeing her was like family coming home, and it certainly brought smiles on the faces of the learners,” she said.

After operating from the wooden structure for many years, in June 2015, Wonderland received a new classroom with up-market facilities from Good Samaritans Debra and Noel Allchin.

As a young girl, Angie always desired to work with children with special needs, and she started a small nursery school from her home in the farming community of Paddock in the 1990s.

She continued her dream at Wonderland and left South Africa in March 2017.

In London, she works one-on-one with special needs children from traumatised backgrounds. She also helps run a breakfast and after-school club.

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