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Josiah Mason's Orphanage

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wendy
  • Start date Start date
I have only just discovered this forum and feel that I am arriving a bit late! I would like to know if Betty Foster still holds the registers of children who attended the school/home. My father attended a residential school in Birmingham after 1926 when his father died, and left in 1934 when he emlisted with the RAF as an apprentice. I do not know which school he attended so this is a process of elimination.
His name was Douglas Eric Williamson. On the death of his father, his mother obtained a bursary to send him to a residential school in Birmingham.
I have emailed Betty Foster but the email has bounced back. Has anyone got her present email address. I would be very grateful for any help.
Sue
 
i cant see where a member called betty foster has made a post on this thread..can you tell us where you saw it please

lyn
 
Sorry she was mentioned in a post several years ago as a lady who had a register of pupils attending the school. I think it was on page 3 or 4 of the thread but will try to find it again and let you know.
 
Lyn it was on page three March 25th 2009. A long time ago. There was also mention of the Old Masonians Reunion Committee but I can't find that either.
 
When the Orphanage land was sold in 1964 the trustees used the money to fund a home in Olton, Solihull. My father went with a former schoolfriend to a commemorative lunch there some 15 years ago. I think it was in honour of Founders Day. Betty Foster definitely had connections with that place, so if you track it down and give them a call, they may be able to give you more information. I no longer seem to have her address and phone number.
 
The register goes back to the very start and covers the day they started at SJMO and the day they left
 
Hi. Would you know if you have to book to have access to the register at the library? I live a long way from Birmingham so would need to find this out before going to Birmingham. I am trying to find out if my father went there in the 1920's. His father had died when he was a child and he talks about being sent to a Children's Home by his mother. Another member of the family called it a residential school so I am hoping this is the place he lived in until he left school at 16 years of age.
 
To SVW: I don't know how to get access to the register. But I will try to find out and let you know. It might take a little time. With regard to the home and as in the title Sir Josiahs was Orphanage and therefore residential.
 
Moor End Lad said:
Here is an aerial view of the Orphanage taken in 1937. The day school buildings comprise those to the right. Yenton Primary School was built on the fields visible between the Orphanage and the Chester Road beyond. My father recalled that the playing fields were mowed using a shire horse named 'Diamond':

View attachment 151278
Click to expand...
Hello! I'm new to this forum, i hope its alright that im replying to this older post. This is a great photo! I can see my family home in the background, behind the Orphanage! I dont suppose you remember where you found this image? My house was built in 1912 and located opposite the road of the orphanage so i was hoping that there might be some pictures around with it in the background at least!
 
I have collected a number of photos of the Orphanage over the years, but they are all from publicly available internet sources rather than originals. However, the photo that you refer to was copied to me by the above mentioned Betty Foster. I have since found a better copy of the same photo, which I am now posting.
 

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