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