A SHAW-BASED baby and toddler music group is celebrating after hitting double figures.
Twinkle Twinkle Baby and Toddler Tune Time classes for little ones under five years old marked its 10th birthday with a party for past and present customers.
And the feat is all the more remarkable given they were only set up by a mum who became frustrated at the lack of opportunities for her daughter.
Rachel Marshall, who lives in Royton, craved a place for Hayley to indulge in the musical pleasures she herself had benefitted from.
However, nowhere was available near her home, so after a friend planted a seed, she went and did it herself.
Rachel said: “There were plenty of mum and toddler groups but I was struggling to find anything in the local area which offered anything remotely musical where I could interact with my child.
“A friend suggested I set up my own class – so I did!”
Classes were originally at Heyside United Reformed Church but moved to their current venue at the Masonic Hall on Kershaw Street, Shaw, in November 2017 following the announcement that the church was soon to close.
Nothing is taken too seriously and Rachel’s light-hearted approach makes it just as much fun for the grown-ups as for the little ones!
At the party, parents and grandparents were asked to comment on what Twinkle Twinkle meant to them.
One parent said: “It was an absolutely brilliant sing/song group! We love coming every Friday.”
Another said: “It’s simply the best group to have brought our child to from when she was about two weeks old!
“She loves it and it’s helped her develop so much.”
Rachel added: “I’ve always enjoyed the joy of music and Twinkle Twinkle is my way of passing this on to families.
“It’s lovely to see happy, smiling faces having fun with music.”
Classes are term-time Thursday and Friday 10am-11am at the Masonic Hall, Kershaw Street, Shaw. If you are interested in joining the group, call Rachel on 07786 664 207 or email
singtwinkletwinkle@sky.com for more information. Booking is advisable.