Maureen driven

By Emma Sun
That’s how Maureen Crook felt when she first started at Outlook in 1979-80 as a chaperone.
Back then it was called Minibah, and had a junior school and a senior school for disabled people.
Ms Crook went on to become a bus driver for the children. She said it was a great experience, because she’d never worked with disabled children before.
“To work with those children, the reward you get, you can’t really explain it because they are just so wonderful to work with,” Ms Crook said.
She thought the Minibah environment was excellent, and everything worked well.
“The school, and the centre itself, back then was great. The way the staff used to work with everybody, it was just like a big family,” Ms Crook said.
“The interaction we all had with the parents was great.
“I think that’s what keeps Minibah going, because of the way you can communicate with staff and with parents, because that is a big thing.”
Ms Crook has remained friends with many people from Minibah, staff and students alike.
“After three years, the clients – we had to call them clients – still remembered who I was,” Ms Crook said.
“They were so excited to see me, and came up to give me the biggest cuddles. It was so nice to see they haven’t forgotten about me.”
Ms Crook wishes Outlook all the best for the future.
“I think it’s marvellous what they have, considering what they started with. They built it themselves.
“They run a really great centre and I give my highest acknowledgment for what they have done.
“I just hope that I’m around for the next 40 years to see it grow even more.”