Eastbourne 2002- a packed ballroom with some 800+ delegates all strutting their stuff - many in brilliant fancy dress on a "silver" theme, following a packed day of keynote speakers, workshops, plenary sessions and steel bands. This was the culmination of the 25th Anniversary Conference of the NCMA, and for anyone fortunate enough to go back to 1977, it was wonderful to reflect on the 25 years of NCMA's history and compare this conference of professional and confident women (not to mention a few men), with those of us who tentatively dipped our toes into national existence then.

Few of us would have predicted the way the Association would grow, or the success it would enjoy, and if childminders today ever stop to reflect upon their growing confidence, I hope that they spare a brief thankyou to their sisters. Childminding in 1977 was a Cinderella service, often done behind closed doors, with little or no support & unmentioned - until some juicy scandal was unearthed by the press, which invariably suggested that childminders were ignorant, unfeeling, criminal - or in extreme cases - all three.

Many childminders were unregistered, and those of us who were registered were largely left to our own devices, as long as we didn't cause any trouble.

And yet, even in the 70s there were glimmers of hope. Small groups of minders were getting together all over the U.K., trying to support one another and organise treats for their charges, drop-in centres and very rudimentary training. The BBC was busy producing a 19-part programme for childminders called Other People's Children, and in Southampton a group representing childminders, parents and support workers had lobbied the Guardian newspaper and managed to get invited onto the final programme of O.P.C. with the express purpose of inviting childminders to join a national organisation.

And so NCMA was born, and quickly it took its first tentative steps into the world of politics, big business and negotiating the London Underground - for many of us a first!

The inaugural meeting in Birmingham on December 10th 1977, attracted some 300+ would-be members, the first National Executive (now renamed the Board) was elected, and so set the pattern for a grass roots organisation run for and by childminders. At this year's AGM I was reminded that even in those days we were radical enough to insist that anyone who was not a childminder should sit in the balcony for the official voting, so that only registered childminders should have a vote!

Of course, since then things have changed. Back in 1977 we had one (sort of) paid member of staff, the Coordinator, and we had a membership of under 1000. Individual members paid £2 for annual membership, whilst group members paid 50pence! Now, with a membership of 43,000 and over 300 members of staff, things look very different.

Nevertheless, the organisation grew rapidly during those first years, and in addition to the Who Minds magazine, members then as now enjoyed a competitive and tailor-made insurance, a raft of publications and increasing recognition from the establishment as the voice of childminders and childminding.

Those of us who were there at the beginning can only admire the achievements of those who came after us, but perhaps it is right that in this Anniversary Year, the pioneering spirit, the enterprise and the gift of being in the right place at the right time should be acknowledged by the Association, and our history should be recorded, hopefully before the Golden Anniversary when there is the risk that most of us will be long-gone!

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