Twenty years ago a Rosebank Theatre usherette and cashier with some spare time on her hands was browsing through The Royal Gazette when an advertisement for volunteers to work in the Verbal Interaction Programme (VIP) at the Child Development Centre (CDC) caught her eye.

Given her natural love of children, she thought she could fill the bill -- and fortunately her interviewer agreed.

Thus it was that Shirley Simmons, a much-loved staffer and VIP parent support home visitor, began what would become a two-decades-long career that has taken her into homes in four parishes, and brought her into contact with hundreds of parents and children.

"I worked as a volunteer for two years before the Rosebank closed, and after it did I was asked to join the permanent staff,'' Mrs. Simmons relates. "At the time I began the VIP was a pilot programme in Devonshire only, for which I received two weeks of study and training, plus lots of role playing and exchanging ideas on how to interact with little children and their parents.'' Once in the field, however, it didn't take the new recruit long to discover that fulfilling the programme's goals wasn't going to be an easy ride.

"It was always interesting, but I never thought it would be so hard to play with a child, keep it involved in an activity, and also involve the mother, for 30 minutes,'' she exclaims.

The way the VIP is structured, parent support home visitors are required to interact verbally with parents and their children during 30-minute weekly sessions. Such visits include the introduction of a new toy and a new book on alternating weeks.

"We don't just leave the toy or book, we interact with it,'' Mrs. Simmons explains. "Both are well selected and suited to a child's development level, and if there is a favourite toy or book we use it over and over.'' During the weekly visits, through role playing Mrs. Simmons has taught countless children and parents how to make effective use of at least 30 minutes' of daily togetherness, during which time they bond and interact through learning how to play, appreciate books, acquire certain skills and focus their attention.

"We talk about colours, shapes, and sizes, and teach the parents how children learn to play. We encourage a lot of listening and trying to catch what the children are saying, to respect what they are saying, and to answer them when they ask,'' Mrs. Simmons explains. "The ultimate goal is to teach children the social skills necessary for attending pre-school.'' As for the parents, again through role playing, Mrs. Simmons also teaches them to focus on the positive and ignore a lot of the mistakes children make.

"We make suggestions and show them how to give the children alternative things to do instead of just telling them constantly what they should not do,'' she explains. "We also model limit-setting with the children -- letting them know how far they can go, and give parents guidelines.'' Unlike workers from other Government agencies with a different focus, Mrs.

Simmons says the VIP is purely voluntary for parents.

"We are very parent-friendly,'' she stresses. "We make gentle suggestions, and support and listen to them. We are not judgmental, and we tell them we are not there to examine their homes or assess their housekeeping skills.'' Naturally, the skills Mrs. Simmons teaches are not learned overnight, and she has experienced her share of both joy and disappointment in her long career.

"It takes a lot of patience and a lot of diplomacy,'' she says. "Each family is different, and we have to take each parent as we find them, and then give them ideas as we go along.

"Children and parents are not always receptive, but when we get the receptive ones it works out really well.'' Asked what she liked best about her job, the VIP visitor doesn't hesitate: "When I go in to do the babies. My youngest baby was six weeks' old. I take the appropriate materials and model to the mum how to hold, talk to, and stimulate the baby. By the age of two the child knows how to sit and read an book and talk about the pictures. They are beautiful to watch. By the time the child is four you see a nice little blossomed child.'' Looking back over her working life, Mrs. Simmons says her nicest memory is "when parents get it''.

"It is after a year or so when you can sit back and watch the parent play and read. If they can keep a child's attention for 30 minutes I know that the parent has paid attention and caught on to the techniques. That is the goal.'' And her least favourite memory? "A lack of discipline and commitment,'' she replies.

She's a real VIP! "Knowing no-one hasn't got it when I leave, or dropping out of the programme before they are finished. You have to commit to the time each week.'' After 20 years of working days which begin at 8 a.m. and can easily stretch into the evening because the VIP staff fit around working parents' schedules, one could be forgiven for thinking that Mrs. Simmons would welcome her mandatory retirement at 65 on June 28.

"On the contrary, I would probably carry on if it wasn't for that rule,'' she says. "It's been a lovely job, and I have been very happy.'' Certainly, her warm, caring ways have made her a very popular figure, not only with her colleagues, but also with her many clients.

"Mrs. Simmons will be a great miss to our service,'' says co-ordinator Conchita Ming. "Her warmth, maturity and easy-going manner has been welcomed by the many families she has served over the years, and by her colleagues at CDP.'' "Having Shirley on board has been a wonderful experience for me,'' echoed VIP supervisor and family co-ordinator, Mrs. Elizabth Smith. "She has been a great addition to the team, and I am going to miss her terribly. We have been together a long time, and our relationship has bonded.'' "I can't imagine life without Mrs. Simmons,'' says single parent Tara Burrows, who has benefitted enormously from her mentor's help, as has her four-year-old daughter Ashley. A hotel worker at the time she began the programme, the young mother found it difficult to plan her time.

"I found it overwhelming to be a mother, and I recognised that I needed help because I wanted to be a more effective parent, so I was happy to accept the VIP service.

"Ashley and I have always looked forward to Mrs. Simmons coming, and I really don't want her to go. In fact, if I had another child I would say, `Mrs.

Simmons I need you','' she smiles.

"She has worked out very well, and the programme has certainly paid off. If it wasn't for Mrs. Simmons Ashley wouldn't know her colours, shapes, animals and more.'' In her turn, Mrs. Simmons pays tribute to everyone at the Child Development Centre, and especially those working with her in the VIP programme.

"It's been wonderful working with the staff. We have bonded and respected each other over the years, and I am going to miss them. It has been a lovely job.'' So what will retirement hold for her? First of all, there is her husband Gladwyn who retired five years ago, and can "hardly wait'' for his wife to join him.

"He wants me to take the ferry to St. George's with him, as well as a bus ride using my new seniors' pass -- all these little things ...'' Not to mention celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary in October -- a union which produced two sons, Gladwyn, Jr. and Brian, of whom Gladwyn Jr.

survives.

Mrs. Simmons also wants to take a computer course -- "I have bought the new toy already'' -- so she can book her own travel.

"I love travelling,'' she says. "I've been all over Europe and the Mediterranean, Jamaica and Hawaii, to name but a few destinations.'' There are, however, no plans to include the couple's five grandchildren or five great- grandchildren. "My husband and I have done lots of travelling with them, so that's all done,'' she laughs.

A keen gardener and avid reader, Mrs. Simmons says she will have a good time doing both, and eventually she may also "do some volunteer work again''.

First, however, the genial retiree plans to catch up on her sleep. After years of beginning work at 8 a.m. to handle her 13-client work load from Warwick to Dockyard, she says sleeping in "is going to be a learned skill''.

"For six months I think I will just loaf,'' she smiles.