Marian Funnell was my son's first nursery teacher and the first person to tell me he'd find his way in life if I left him to his own devices. The years have, of course, proved her right. She welcomed me into her nursery as a parent helper, and set my feet on the path of working with the early years. She was a huge influence on me, in her uncompromising insistence on the importance of offering young children the very best experiences and a safe place where they could be free to play. I remember her warmth and her energy with great fondness, and I feel fortunate that her life touched mine.