St. John's Approved School

[rixstaa]

Hi everyone,
I check from time to time to see if anyone got locked up from them days and the 2 people that were at the top of my mind finaly got locked up but they got away with it if you ask me.
My name is Ricky, I was in St Johns from around 92-93 when it was refurbished, I was on the ground floor with Gary, Dave, Sally, Claire, Elizabeth, Kevin, Anthony, my memory is bad so sorry if I forgot you as there was a few upstairs.

I still have problems from St Johns and all them places, they gave me some 40 plus convictions which made my life real hard and impossible to get a job, the teacher got me banned the first day in their as he was drunk and touched one the boys and I called him a peedo, that was the end of my education their, this guy who got locked up was their then too, my worker and the staff knew all about this as it was blatent, I feel because they was their longer, they didnt want to challenge them.

I was in Athelstone, St Johns, Oak hill, Herons way, Reseviour rd, maybe one or two others from 1991 to 1997, I was born 1981 and went to Glenthorne secure unit, Big boy Malvern unit in or around 94 or 95 then back to childrens homes then jail and back until 96 then left care as I was dumped in a hostel on a prison release..

Im glad to see some staff are getting locked up, late better then never but still a few staff around that need to go to jail IMO, thats how Im here from checking if any of them have been caught, two of the few main ones I came across got locked up now but theres still others...

I feel like I have a story to tell, like most of you but no where to tell it? Not the right place here either.. I read all the comments, I was never sexualy assaulted but I was definitily assaulted, knocked out, choked out, staff provoking restraints and I witnessed grooming/abuse, weird talking and touching quite alot, every childrens home had a peedo in it and staff that bashed you and they all knew..

I was there in St johns when this went on too, Im sure I was in the van on that one charge where it says they stopped at a red light and he touched him, I cant remember the one boys name but it was happening and blatent too as I called out on it a few times, the teacher banned me from school which basicly put me in a worser position for secure unit which is where I ended up at Glenthorne, I did get some education their but you cant get a job after all them arrests on people of authority like they do when they restrain you and get you arrested.

I was suprised when cops contacted me too and wish id spoke to them but life been to hard.

I see some of you edited names, why if you know what they done is true and it is public record? I want to name names and things I seen too?

I feel they should be named and shamed but this probably not the place, even the ones that twisted us up in what they called restraints that they provoked you into then did that mental health torture stuff to you? Straight up abuse, thats what all that was. If your dad did that, theyd be in jail but these were doing it for decades and some aint even been caught and already dead. They got away with it and still do, they got away with to much.

Hope some of you are reading and I will try reply, may have to remind me how we know, were we was etc.

Take care and god bless.

 

[Astoness]

hi ricky...firstly i am sorry that you seem to have had such a hard time at st johns and as said on post 70 its fine to recount them on this forum but we have to protect the forums good name by not allowing the full names of teachers accused etc to be published because although we are not disputing the accusations made if they turn out not to be true this forum could end up in a lot of hot water...reading your post it does not seem as though you have actually named names so i see no need to edit your post but i will say that i always feel sad when i hear of children getting such a bad start in life and go through such bad times that it affects them for life...i do hope that you ended up with some happiness..all the best

lyn

 

[anna marie]

Hi all,I would just like to say a thank you Jim for all your help with this site.I was in St johns chs in late 70s early 80s. I remember be taken up the drive and walking in that big front door,if you went left at the door there was a massive walk way with mesh above your head. Then if you went to the left was kitchen and unit called redlands,but if you went right there was adoor to the back of the building and when you go though that door, on the left was pentlands(secure unit 4beds. But just at the side of pentlands there was a door which went some steps,when I asked what the home was before I was told about the nuns and that little room below was where they sent when naughty. On the back wall was marks of days and other writing. It was astore cupboard when st johns was a chs. I remember them gates,and I can't believe they took tennis courts away and pulled down woodsong all for new secure unit. Which is now not in use. Always remember Mr b and Jones. I went back to visit afew times. I have aphoto of the main entrance but haven't aclue how to load to this site. Any help would be grateful,I'm not to good with computers lol. Take care all.

hi i was there during that time

 

[curlyedna]

Just saying Hi - especially to the late 70's gang

Hi merry Christmas

 

[curlyedna]

I was there 80/81/82 and sounds like the same (edit) was happening then as well. I gave statement to police about TENNAL school staff & 2 were convicted but they never asked about St.Johns. Sounds like we had the same experiences. Hope you're coping ok now. It's atrocious the stuff they got away with. Take care

Hi drew,I to had a visit from wooden tops,someone in Tennal gave my name and I told them everything I could remember. Heligoland was brilliant we went sea fishing to which made me so ill. I was in Aston view and pentlands,always in pentlands for running away . I then went to the hostel in 81 and then left about August 81. Merry Christmas all,its been a while since I was on here. Take care all

 

[minimand]

I was in st johns back then my name is Mary Sweeney i was on Aston view! What a crazy place took me the best part of 30 years to get over my childhood but i do have fond memories of some of the staff, paul blest paul jones one of my favs hilary the home ec tea her And so many more but cant remember names i remember unison movement, murder in the dark in the gym mr B spitting in ur face while he shouted An inch frim it lol crocodile lines and sooo much more xx

Hi I was on Redlands. I also done gymnastics loved unison movement. Do you remember Alkan Tickham and Gill.

 

[timtuzzio]

I was in st johns back then my name is Mary Sweeney i was on Aston view! What a crazy place took me the best part of 30 years to get over my childhood but i do have fond memories of some of the staff, paul blest paul jones one of my favs hilary the home ec tea her And so many more but cant remember names i remember unison movement, murder in the dark in the gym mr B spitting in ur face while he shouted An inch frim it lol crocodile lines and sooo much more xx

Mary Sweeney do you remember me.used to go out with Sarah murdock

 

[timtuzzio]

[
I remember that edit: one member of staff He was hateful. Edit: And another. He kicked me half to death and nobody even as much as batted an eye lid. Edit to remove named person .....got me in pentlands and hammerd me. That edit to remove named person ....was there and she shut the cell door to drown my screaming. They reckon she's a psychiatric nurse. She caused more damage with her emotional abuse than enough. Pushing kids to breaking point knowing they couldn't retaliate or another kicking would follow. It was a vile place to be. Bullying control freaks that abused there power

Was that jw by any chance

 

[Lisa81]

You were there when I was there Gerald did you do the moors walk and the holiday in Germany Helgoland in fact remember the song that came out was hands up lol and we went to France too

Hi William

What year was you in St John’s?

I was there from 1981-84

I was in Aston View

Then their was
Lordswood
Redlands
Pentlands (secure unit)

We were taken to Germany Hamburg & groups of us stayed with different families & then a ship over to heligoland where we had to stay in a hostel & I think other children from a home in Austria
Us from England & them from Austria meeting didn’t go down to well when they found out we were English

An argument broke out when coming down one set of stairs to the breakfast hall & the Austrian kids on another side
They started shouting that they won the War & So on

My Key worker was John on Aston view
Great bloke

But I didn’t have a good experience really
Especially from a certain nasty Viscous so called PE/Gym teacher
Mr B

I was 14yrs old & had very bad cramps (woman’s monthly) & said I physically couldn’t take part in netball & that man literally dragged me around the assembly hall up the stairs across the stage platform & back down the other side & across the whole hall repeatedly with my right arm up my back & grabbed my hair & pulled my head back while tuning me ragged

Wasn’t much to me as skinny as I was
But he traumatised me & my invisible scars have never left me

Did anyone get a visit from 2 undercover detectives working on abuse cases at certain homes
St. John’s being one of them
Operation Camysemie I think they called it get a visit in either late 1990s/2000s??

I did but was married at the time of the visit & was puzzled why they referred to me by my maiden name

I wasn’t in the right headspace to deal with it at the time so didn’t pursue it at the time

Much more happened & much I witnessed
But won’t go into detail

Was put in a few Bham childrens home before St. John’s

Through juvenile court & a guy we called Action man drove us from the courthouse to the homes

I often wonder what crime did I really commit

Expelled from secondary school & ran away from home
Nothing serious
But paid the price when social services got involved & from 12 to 16 I went through the care system

Care order until 18yrs old
Once I become legal age of 16 & finished so called education at st johns

They revoked my care order & said I was basically free & not there responsibility anymore

Ruined my life

Told my time was up with no support or guidance

Took me down a very dark Rd & still fighting my demands now in my late 50s

My long term marriage of 35yrs came to an abrupt end when my hubby died 3yrs ago & it’s taken me back to those dark places & memories again

Hope you get to see this as know it’s a old post

 

[Astoness]

hi lisa and welcome...firstly thank you for not mentioning your teachers by their full names...secondly it was very sad to read about the treatment you received at st johns...you would think that in the 80s this would not have been allowed but sadly we read about it happening a lot and i completely understand why such events have affected you..in todays world things like this would not be allowed to happen..all the best for the future and take care

lyn

 

[Lisa81]

I would love to see some familiar faces from back then, my name is Mary Sweeney does anyone remember me xx i was in Aston
View.

Hi Mary,
I'm pretty sure I remember you
I was on Aston Veiw aswel,
Late 70s-84

My name back then was Lisa Burgess,

I'm not 100% so don't quote me on this, Lol
But was it me & you that went to the cinema once & watched Raiders of the lost Ark??


I know Aston veiw was taken to Germany & then heligoland,

Hope you get to read this at least

 

[Lisa81]

Hi i was in here 1985 to 1986 i was15 and resident on redlands I have good and bad memories of this place some good times were holidays to North devon sneaking out the back door of the club drinking with staff. I won't go into the bad. I had police knocking my door in 2002 looking for info on certain members of staff .over the years I have looked for people on Facebook friends reunited etc but found no one from St johns like others have said on here it seems like not many people who was in here or worked here want to acknowledge it. Staff I remember were jim gil val hilary and Keith teachers I remember John computers Kevin metalwork that's all don't remember many surnames

Yes Tony,
I was visited by two undercover women detective's in late 90s Re- same thing,

 

[Lisa81]

hi lisa and welcome...firstly thank you for not mentioning your teachers by their full names...secondly it was very sad to read about the treatment you received at st johns...you would think that in the 80s this would not have been allowed but sadly we read about it happening a lot and i completely understand why such events have affected you..in todays world things like this would not be allowed to happen..all the best for the future and take care

lyn

Hi Lyn,

Thank you so much tor the lovely welcome,
And your Kind words,

And Unfortunately yes i agree lynn & suspect it still happens in certain care homes to this day,

And sadly those places ruined my life more than I can mention,

I came from a loving family,
Both my Parents worked their fingers to the bone & tried there best to raise myself & my 3 Sisters to the best of their abilities

I was lucky enough to have had a good upbringing,
Don't get me wrong even though my both parents worked hard we were far from wealthy,
I remember Our dad having to drag the big tin bath into the kitchen on a Sunday evening & our mom boiling big pots of water on the stove for our baths ready for school on a Monday morning, & having an outside loo,

Being raised with 3 Sisters, 2 elder & one younger
Me being the 3rd child,
And the 3rd child who always ended up with the Luke warm bath water, Lol
I do remember when me bum hit the bottom of the tin bath it weren't half cold, Lol, I do remember that,

But my problems started when I went to Secondary school
Just didn't get on well there at all,

From playing truancy & being a bit rebellious lead me being dragged through the care system,

From being expelled from school to Social workers getting involved & Juvenile courts
From Feild house in Clent, aged 12yrs old, then Athelstan house, Moseley Rd, to another children's home called Chaddesley on Medow Sweet Rd, off the Hagley Rd & then placed into St, John's, Graverly Hill, until 16yrs old,

I know not everyone had bad experiences in care homes but unfortunately a minority of Us did & sadly paid the price & went through hell which have left many with invisible deep hidden scars that will never heal,

I Wish I would have had the courage & strength to take Social Services & Certain named Birmingham City council run Community Children's homes to court,

I've thought more about doing so in the last 3yrs since my husband & Sister died,
But just wouldn't know where to start,

My poor dad tried many a time to get me home but I was classed as Uncontrol of my parents & a warden of the courts, or something to that affect,

My dad died on 1st of April early 1980s of a massive heart attack aged 50yrs old,
You can imagine how I blamed myself for many years thinking I'd killed my dad through worry

I blame the System that dragged me away from a loving home & sentenced me for such a terrible Crime called Truency,

And sadly I'm still carrying the hidden scars & long term after effects till this day & I really don't know how to let go of all the pain, & bad memories, & feeling it 10 times worse since my hubby & Sister died

I still feel so screwed up inside & try my best to live & cope with this everyday,

Life is a box of Chocolates ey,
You never know which one ya gonna get
Well according to Forset Gumps Ma that is....Lol


Life is......

 

[Astoness]

hi lisa..many stories like yours has touched my heart...the closest i can come to is at senior school i was called many names because i was so shall we say of slight build..names like beanpole..twiggy and if you stood against a lamp post you would disappear..all very hurtful and did nothing for my self esteem...mom always said "lyn you will get the last laugh"..something i did not believe at the time but as the years went on i filled out a bit and was able to wear the latest fashion clothes (including mini skirts lol )without looking stupid so yes in that respect i did get the last laugh but none the less its not easy to forget the bad times...lisa you do have courage and you do have strength its just that you dont realise how much...i am not that religious lisa but there are certain things i believe in...below is just part of the serenity prayer (you can find the whole prayer on google) but over the years like all of us i have had many mountains to climb and at times like that i feel that this part of the prayer does help me so i am passing it onto you as it may just help..take care

lyn

 

[Lisa81]

Hi Lyn

Aw, that really touched my heart reading your reply,

Very similar to yourself lynn I was also bullied at school for having Alburn redhair & was the only one in the family with redhair aswel

I was picked on throughout school for having a different coloured hair to everyone else, & as being as skinny as a twig..Lol

Heard them all, ginger nut, copper nob, you name it I was called it

I can laugh at it now but at the time it wasn't funny & really hurt

But was always brought up to say,
Sticks & stones may break my bones but name will never hurt me,

So understand completely lyn

Yes I'm very familiar with the serenity prayer lyn,

Thank you for being so understanding lyn

Bless your heart x

 

[Lisa81]

hi lisa..many stories like yours has touched my heart...the closest i can come to is at senior school i was called many names because i was so shall we say of slight build..names like beanpole..twiggy and if you stood against a lamp post you would disappear..all very hurtful and did nothing for my self esteem...mom always said "lyn you will get the last laugh"..something i did not believe at the time but as the years went on i filled out a bit and was able to wear the latest fashion clothes (including mini skirts lol )without looking stupid so yes in that respect i did get the last laugh but none the less its not easy to forget the bad times...lisa you do have courage and you do have strength its just that you dont realise how much...i am not that religious lisa but there are certain things i believe in...below is just part of the serenity prayer (you can find the whole prayer on google) but over the years like all of us i have had many mountains to climb and at times like that i feel that this part of the prayer does help me so i am passing it onto you as it may just helpView attachment 197954..take care

lyn

Also i met my soul mate when I was 18yrs old & he was 19yrs old, in 1986,
We both met while working at the same place,

Within 4 months we moved into a bedsit together & married 3yrs later,
35yrs together in all & in 2021 aged 55yrs old he died within 3 months,
We both were given the One of the Vaccines for Covid & after a few weeks we both fell ill & within the space of 3 months my husband died of Sepsis I can't categorically say 100% that the Covid vaccine caused my husbands death as will never really know & a lot more to the story,

But then a year ago I lost my closest sister aswel,

I just can't seem to cope with anything anymore

I feel so lost without them in my life,
I lost all sence of direction & feel like I'm stuck in a hole & can't find my way out if that makes any sense,

He was the love of my life & I'm still brokenhearted without him & then when my Sister died just over a year ago I lost the plot completely & think that's when all the bad memories & darkness from my past came flooding back Re-all the care homes,

Life can be so cruel sometimes & of course so many others lost their loved ones throughout the covid & my heart goes out to each & every one of them x

 

[Lisa81]

 

[wildchild]

Is there anyone at all - anywhere - who remembers this 'School'? I believe it is now called St.Johns Community School. Its on Gravelly Hill, Erdington. I've looked on Friends Re-united, Been all through Google, and I can't find any record of the place ever having existed. There must be someone out there that was there round about 1959/60. It seems that they made it a co-ed after that, but no previous records. Help!!
I would love to get in touch with some of my old friends from those days. It was run by the Sisters of Charity. Huh!! Some charity that was.
Any donations gratefully received. SALLY
The girls that attended, I have to say, didn't necessarily come from Birmingham. Most of them came from the Manchester, London, Liverpool areas.

Hi Sally . I'll never forget st John's! Like you I've never been able to find anyone who knew anything about the place . I was in the locked unit as I was a runaway child . I was put there in around 1970 ish . I'm sure about dates as I was moved around so much as a child .
I remember when the social worker took me from London to St John's into the entrance then left and one of the sisters took me though into the unit with lots of locked gates in-between, then into a hall where all the girls were. I didnt realise how bad it would be . The tennis courts was still there and you had house rooms to eat and some sort of lessons , mainly work on keeping the place clean & paid each week a couple of pounds that you could by stuff once a week at the pop up shop I did end up in lock up a few times that wasn't pleasant . I was beaten black & blue and I defended myself so hence lock up in one of the cells downstairs.
I hated st Jonhs and thought how can they call themselves sisters of mercy. The little red stick that the mother superior always had and used on my head and knuckles many times. I would laugh while it happened and cry in secret . We had a song about St John's. The day I left after two years she gave me an envelope with some money and a train ticket back to London opened the door and that was that. I slept in Euston train station that night then on the streets . Eventually social services paid for a bedsit in seven kings not far from Ilford. I was 15 years old . All the best Rita ( Attard)

I tried to get my abated records from St Johns' but was told that they were all destroyed after thirty years.

 

[wildchild]

Hi Sally . I'll never forget st John's! Like you I've never been able to find anyone who knew anything about the place . I was in the locked unit as I was a runaway child . I was put there in around 1970 ish . I'm sure about dates as I was moved around so much as a child .
I remember when the social worker took me from London to St John's into the entrance then left and one of the sisters took me though into the unit with lots of locked gates in-between, then into a hall where all the girls were. I didnt realise how bad it would be . The tennis courts was still there and you had house rooms to eat and some sort of lessons , mainly work on keeping the place clean & paid each week a couple of pounds that you could by stuff once a week at the pop up shop I did end up in lock up a few times that wasn't pleasant . I was beaten black & blue and I defended myself so hence lock up in one of the cells downstairs.
I hated st Jonhs and thought how can they call themselves sisters of mercy. The little red stick that the mother superior always had and used on my head and knuckles many times. I would laugh while it happened and cry in secret . We had a song about St John's. The day I left after two years she gave me an envelope with some money and a train ticket back to London opened the door and that was that. I slept in Euston train station that night then on the streets . Eventually social services paid for a bedsit in seven kings not far from Ilford. I was 15 years old . All the best Rita ( Attard)

I tried to get my abated records from St Johns' but was told that they were all destroyed after thirty years.

You can get your records from the council nearest to St John's under freedom of information act . If you search what council it comes under . Hope you get them . Rita

 

[wildchild]

Hi Tony, thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, I do not have a good thing to say about that ‘hell hole’. I left there in 1984 and have to say ‘I hated the place’. I was 12 when I went in there and was on Lawnswood. I remember some of the staff you mentioned - and I‘m Aware that a few are now in prison. I had plain clothed officers knock my door too (I’m sure it was operation ‘Clarissa’) A few members of staff were charged with child abuse .. which is very disturbing. I’m glad you had some good memories of St.Johns and hope others were lucky enough to have some too. I would love to chat with residents and see where their lives took them after leaving there - it would be good to hear how people have coped and recovered from that place. Ive searched for years for people that I knew in there but to no avail. Maybe no-one wants to be associated with the place, relive or be reminded
K

Hi Karen I was in st John's in 1970 ish , ni was in the locked unit for nearly 2 years . I hated it . The place was a hell hole and my worst nightmare. I was beaten and put in lock up many times . It was a small cell with a mattress . I put my name on the wall down there . Sometimes I wonder how I made it to 67 years of age . I remember one of the lady's that worked there her name was Val she was lovely. But I think I've blocked alot of stuff as I can't remember many names staff or girls. Just scrubbing floors toilets sometimes with a very small brush. And the bloody uniform was shocking, with baggie navy bloomers lol.
I was released when I was 15 with a train ticket back to London and a small amount of cash . I slept in Euston station that night then on the streets for a couple of weeks until social services found me a small bedsit. I found life very hard and never really settled until later in life .
It has taken me most of my life to come to terms with my life in care .
All the best
Rita

 

[wildchild]

Hi Lyn,

Thank you so much tor the lovely welcome,
And your Kind words,

And Unfortunately yes i agree lynn & suspect it still happens in certain care homes to this day,

And sadly those places ruined my life more than I can mention,

I came from a loving family,
Both my Parents worked their fingers to the bone & tried there best to raise myself & my 3 Sisters to the best of their abilities

I was lucky enough to have had a good upbringing,
Don't get me wrong even though my both parents worked hard we were far from wealthy,
I remember Our dad having to drag the big tin bath into the kitchen on a Sunday evening & our mom boiling big pots of water on the stove for our baths ready for school on a Monday morning, & having an outside loo,

Being raised with 3 Sisters, 2 elder & one younger
Me being the 3rd child,
And the 3rd child who always ended up with the Luke warm bath water, Lol
I do remember when me bum hit the bottom of the tin bath it weren't half cold, Lol, I do remember that,

But my problems started when I went to Secondary school
Just didn't get on well there at all,

From playing truancy & being a bit rebellious lead me being dragged through the care system,

From being expelled from school to Social workers getting involved & Juvenile courts
From Feild house in Clent, aged 12yrs old, then Athelstan house, Moseley Rd, to another children's home called Chaddesley on Medow Sweet Rd, off the Hagley Rd & then placed into St, John's, Graverly Hill, until 16yrs old,

I know not everyone had bad experiences in care homes but unfortunately a minority of Us did & sadly paid the price & went through hell which have left many with invisible deep hidden scars that will never heal,

I Wish I would have had the courage & strength to take Social Services & Certain named Birmingham City council run Community Children's homes to court,

I've thought more about doing so in the last 3yrs since my husband & Sister died,
But just wouldn't know where to start,

My poor dad tried many a time to get me home but I was classed as Uncontrol of my parents & a warden of the courts, or something to that affect,

My dad died on 1st of April early 1980s of a massive heart attack aged 50yrs old,
You can imagine how I blamed myself for many years thinking I'd killed my dad through worry

I blame the System that dragged me away from a loving home & sentenced me for such a terrible Crime called Truency,

And sadly I'm still carrying the hidden scars & long term after effects till this day & I really don't know how to let go of all the pain, & bad memories, & feeling it 10 times worse since my hubby & Sister died

I still feel so screwed up inside & try my best to live & cope with this everyday,

Life is a box of Chocolates ey,
You never know which one ya gonna get
Well according to Forset Gumps Ma that is....Lol


Life is......

 

[wildchild]

I was made to sit for days not allowed to interact they used to come out at CIG time with a box and your cigs had your name on and they used to give you one unless you were on bad behaviour then you went without I suffer now 40 years on for me it was a bad place

I remember that ! 2 cigs a day , my mum had to send them in as I was only 13 . But them cigs were great . But yes you only got them if you wasn't on the naughty list lol. I was there in 1970s can't remember exactly when . I remember recess when you could play records and dance.
But I remember the beatings and lock up.
Srubbing floors and alot of bad stuff.
A child brought up in the care systems from a baby till I was 8years old . Then home to my parents, I just didn't know who they were so was taken back into the care system and eventually St John's. Just a runnaway confused kid.
It has taken years to try to come to terms with all of it but why waste the rest of my life when it already taken so much from me. I hope all of you get your lives back , don't let the ........ grind you down.
All the best Rita

 

[Tony gill]

Hi Lisa so sorry to read about your hubby and sister hope one day you can feel better and be happy again.ike you I find that when you feel low in life bad memories seem to resurface especially of st johns.I have decided that now aged 55 to contact the police about things that happened all those years ago.not for revenge or to see anyone get arrested but for my own piece of mind and finally let these demons out glad to see this forum about st johns is still running

 

[Richard Dye]

hi lisa..many stories like yours has touched my heart...the closest i can come to is at senior school i was called many names because i was so shall we say of slight build..names like beanpole..twiggy and if you stood against a lamp post you would disappear..all very hurtful and did nothing for my self esteem...mom always said "lyn you will get the last laugh"..something i did not believe at the time but as the years went on i filled out a bit and was able to wear the latest fashion clothes (including mini skirts lol )without looking stupid so yes in that respect i did get the last laugh but none the less its not easy to forget the bad times...lisa you do have courage and you do have strength its just that you dont realise how much...i am not that religious lisa but there are certain things i believe in...below is just part of the serenity prayer (you can find the whole prayer on google) but over the years like all of us i have had many mountains to climb and at times like that i feel that this part of the prayer does help me so i am passing it onto you as it may just helpView attachment 197954..take care

lyn

Lyn, absolutely right on point!

 

[Tony gill]

Hi Lisa so sorry to read about your hubby and sister hope one day you can feel better and be happy again.like you I find that when you feel low in life bad memories seem to resurface especially of st johns.I have decided that now aged 55 to contact the police about things that happened all those years ago.not for revenge or to see anyone get arrested but for my own piece of mind and finally let these demons out glad to see this forum about st johns is

Hi does anyone remember this place it is kingsley leisure park ball room where st johns took redlands unit on holiday to westward ho in 1986 it is now kingsley bowling centre caravan park turned into housing estate

 

[wildchild]

hi i was there during that time

I was in st johns in the 70s . I was took by the social worker arrived in the big front doors . I went into the corridor with the mesh then though locked gates into a hall where the other girls were in recess. Little record player playing music and some girls dancing. It was a rough place to be for a kid that had no criminal record ,I was a runaway that was a bit wild . I spent alot of time in lock up . 2 fags a day if my mum sent them in . My name is Rita Attard . I was there in the early 70s for about 2 years. I remember a girl called Sarah. A black girl called Aleithea (Not sure i spelt her name correctly ) we were released on the same day . She was from Manchester. I don't remember many names of staff ,I do remember going out in the mini bus with those nuns only cos I wanted to escape. Does anyone remember me ?

 

[wildchild]

I remember that ! 2 cigs a day , my mum had to send them in as I was only 13 . But them cigs were great . But yes you only got them if you wasn't on the naughty list lol. I was there in 1970s can't remember exactly when . I remember recess when you could play records and dance.
But I remember the beatings and lock up.
Srubbing floors and alot of bad stuff.
A child brought up in the care systems from a baby till I was 8years old . Then home to my parents, I just didn't know who they were so was taken back into the care system and eventually St John's. Just a runnaway confused kid.
It has taken years to try to come to terms with all of it but why waste the rest of my life when it already taken so much from me. I hope all of you get your lives back , don't let the ........ grind you down.
All the best Rita

I remember the beatings especially the mother superior with her little red stick . Lock up was terrible alone in that dungeon (cell) with the mattress on the floor . Strip searched then locked in sometimes a few hours or a couple of days . I was 13 years old and brought up in the care system so a bit wild but no criminal. Scrubbing floors, cleaning toilets . Plastic money for stuff from the shop each week as pay for work you did .
I'm so bad with names also i think I've blocked alot of it out . But I'd love to find some that remembers me to fill in some blanks. Hope to speak to you again wild child . X

 

[wildchild]

Mary Sweeney do you remember me.used to go out with Sarah murdock

Do you remember me my name is Rita . I remember Sarah but couldn't remember your name we were in the same dorm !
I hated that place. Do you remember the song we all used to sing about St John's?
I don't think i was very popular i was a bit of a loner so maybe you won't remember me. All the best anyway .

 

[saz]

Hi everyone,
I check from time to time to see if anyone got locked up from them days and the 2 people that were at the top of my mind finaly got locked up but they got away with it if you ask me.
My name is Ricky, I was in St Johns from around 92-93 when it was refurbished, I was on the ground floor with Gary, Dave, Sally, Claire, Elizabeth, Kevin, Anthony, my memory is bad so sorry if I forgot you as there was a few upstairs.

I still have problems from St Johns and all them places, they gave me some 40 plus convictions which made my life real hard and impossible to get a job, the teacher got me banned the first day in their as he was drunk and touched one the boys and I called him a peedo, that was the end of my education their, this guy who got locked up was their then too, my worker and the staff knew all about this as it was blatent, I feel because they was their longer, they didnt want to challenge them.

I was in Athelstone, St Johns, Oak hill, Herons way, Reseviour rd, maybe one or two others from 1991 to 1997, I was born 1981 and went to Glenthorne secure unit, Big boy Malvern unit in or around 94 or 95 then back to childrens homes then jail and back until 96 then left care as I was dumped in a hostel on a prison release..

Im glad to see some staff are getting locked up, late better then never but still a few staff around that need to go to jail IMO, thats how Im here from checking if any of them have been caught, two of the few main ones I came across got locked up now but theres still others...

I feel like I have a story to tell, like most of you but no where to tell it? Not the right place here either.. I read all the comments, I was never sexualy assaulted but I was definitily assaulted, knocked out, choked out, staff provoking restraints and I witnessed grooming/abuse, weird talking and touching quite alot, every childrens home had a peedo in it and staff that bashed you and they all knew..

I was there in St johns when this went on too, Im sure I was in the van on that one charge where it says they stopped at a red light and he touched him, I cant remember the one boys name but it was happening and blatent too as I called out on it a few times, the teacher banned me from school which basicly put me in a worser position for secure unit which is where I ended up at Glenthorne, I did get some education their but you cant get a job after all them arrests on people of authority like they do when they restrain you and get you arrested.

I was suprised when cops contacted me too and wish id spoke to them but life been to hard.

I see some of you edited names, why if you know what they done is true and it is public record? I want to name names and things I seen too?

I feel they should be named and shamed but this probably not the place, even the ones that twisted us up in what they called restraints that they provoked you into then did that mental health torture stuff to you? Straight up abuse, thats what all that was. If your dad did that, theyd be in jail but these were doing it for decades and some aint even been caught and already dead. They got away with it and still do, they got away with to much.

Hope some of you are reading and I will try reply, may have to remind me how we know, were we was etc.

Take care and god bless.

I was in St john's 91.92 and also in oakhill

 

[saz]

Hello All.

I lived at St Johns 87-92/93. I remember most of the staff and children there. I adored (almost) each and very member of staff there, faults and all. They looked after me, they saved my life and moulded me into the person am today.

Bob Kendall
Alan Sargent
Ken Gregory
Eamon Duffy
Sandra Trickett
Trevor Minto
David Goodman
Dave Stewart
Debbie Crawshaw
Steve and Richard Gittings
Keithy Jaeger
I could go on and on....

I miss them all dearly. I have managed to find a few of them and thanked them personally. If anyone has any information on anyone that I may know, please point them to here.

Kind Regards
Nina xx

I was ther that time I remember most of the list of staff I can't remember you