OLYMPIC rower Debbie Flood opened a second Dragonflies Montessori School in Henley.

The double silver medallist cut the ribbon at the nursery in Haymes Hall in the Christ Church Centre in Reading Road.

Finlay Ryan, three, presented the rower with an orchid as a thank-you.

Flood, of Deanfield Road, Henley, thanked the children for sending the GB rowers good luck cards before the London Olympics.

She told them about the importance of a healthy diet and then showed the children how to row by sitting them all on the floor and asking them to move their arms and legs as if they were pulling on a blade.


The nursery, which is about 50 yards from the existing one in Norman Avenue, will be open on weekday mornings during term time and will accept children from the age of two.

Lisa Drage, who opened the original Dragonflies in 2005, will be principal of both.

She said: “The centre is delighted to have such young regular users and I am delighted with Haymes Hall as it is beautifully renovated and in such a perfect location.” She thanked centre managers Vanessa Bird and Peter Hose for their support.

In March, Mrs Drage had an application to increase the capacity of the Norman Avenue nursery from 12 to 18 children rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council.

She had previously been granted permission to also use the living room of the property, which is her home, as an occasional nursery.

Published 26/11/12