J
Janchatnoir
Guest
I was there at that time. I think I arrived in 1951 and left at the age of 7 to go to another orphanage in 1954. I have very few memories although reading this thread has been fascinating and has re-awakened pictures from the past. I knew I had seen stuffed animals in glass cases somewhere and was horrified by them but now I know where. The only other child's name I remember is a John Poulton (a naughty boy I think). My other two memories are receiving a tin box of Cadburys chocolates to mark the coronation and sitting at a long table in a sunny room for tea. Oh, and being very worried when I arrived because my mother had been told I could have a teddy bear with me but I didn't have a teddy. I had a panda insted and was mercifully allowed to keep him. My mother has a photograph of me standing outside the big door in my uniform - I must look it out.
Hi Jane,
I was there 1951 and left about 1956-57
I starting in the Babies group with Miss Bratt. I cried myself to sleep at night when I first started, and whenever I came back after the holidays (On my first night there,Miss Bratt switched the lights on and shouted at us to shut up), I have to say that on the whole, my time there was ok. and I do have some good memories.
I loved the building itself and aspects of it, like the large churchlike windows, the Chapel, and the long corridors with the stuffed animals. (some on here have said they didn't like them) but I thought they were great and so real looking.
We had our own smimming pool. We had swings and roundabouts donated by The Erdington Rotary Club.
We used to go to the chapel one sunday and local churches of different denominations on alternate weeks,
The Babies group were taken to the shops at the 64 terminus Wylde Green on Saturdays to buy sweets with our pocket money (and liquorice sticks to chew from Timothy Whites & Taylors)
When we moved to the older group we were allowed to go shopping in Erdington Village on Saturday afternoon
I loved the times we played with the costumes out of the dressing up box. We sat and played Buttercup and made daisy chains in the paddock, we scrumped apples in the orchard, and climbed trees in the field.
The names I remember are ..... Pat & Pamela Bates, Gwen Davies, Judith Wall, Anne Diamond, Pauline Perry, Christine Johnson, Adrian Roberts......Miss Bratt, Miss Foster, Mr Twemloe, Mr Lorimer (V.Old) and Mr Shillitoe (Headmaster at Yenton Primary)
Does anyone remember me Janet Lea (Always the smallest in class with ginger straight hair full finge.