Great War Memorial
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The Beechholme British Red Cross Unit
140 - memories from 1953
My name is Brian
Sutcliffe and as a member of the British Red Cross Society I was asked if
I would help to run Unit 140
of the Junior Red Cross at Beechholme. This was in early 1952. An
Enrolment Ceremony was held in December 1952 and another in January 1953.
First Aid examinations followed in due course following courses in
instruction and training.
The youngsters proved to be a lively bunch, some
shy, some brash, some just waiting for something to burst out from amongst
their thoughts. I had a good relationship with them and they mostly
behaved quite well. I worked them hard and they responded with a bright
cheerfulness.
They loved the drill and marching as part of the parades just as much as other subjects such as first aid and bandaging. Their smartness must have impressed someone, for on 15th September 1953 the Cadets escorted me up to London on the train, there to assemble at the foot of the steps of St. Pauls Cathedral to await the Princess Royal who was attending the Annual Service of the BRCS. There were some very proud faces on that day, I can tell you - me included!
Various examinations in First Aid were undertaken by the Cadets, who impressed the inspecting officers with a good turn out at the annual inspection.
When I left Beechholme I was given an autograph book inscribed "To Cadet Officer B. O. Sutcliffe. Please accept this small gift from the Cadets and Officers of Unit 140, as a token of appreciation, and interest taken in them." Signed by Capt Larkin,
Mr D H Reynolds, L Stears. Then followed these names G I Wilson, Jean George, Jean Bedwell, Betty Albers, Sylvia Amos, Margaret Pearson, Cecilia Howden, David Johnston, Michael Drummond, Michael Marshall, Jimmy Smithers, John Smithers, Brian Drummond, Maurice F Bunce, Keith Daly, then "Down by the river carved on a rock three little words for-get-me-not" James Daly 29.9.54. I still have that little book for it is very precious, and at 82 still brings a tear to my old eyes. What memories!
 Read more about the British Red Cross here. |
Brian Sutcliffe
Note
from webmaster -
Are you one of the children Brian mentions? Do you
remember your time with Unit 140? Write in and tell us about it here
.
Have just found your
web site and that brought up many happy memories so will try and add to
the story. 
The first four
years of my life were happy and my mother was a loving Mum, according to
my Aunt Rose. I think that had something to do with how I turned out.
Unfortunately she had a weak heart and having five children took its toll.
She died during a Hysterectomy operation when she was three months
pregnant with her sixth child. Then my dad had T.B. so had to go into a
sanatorium. He refused to allow our mother's friends and relatives to take
us so we landed up in Beechholme. 
I
remember jumping down the stairs at the infant school and badly spraining
my ankle. Also going to the London Hospital to get checked for T.B as my
dad had the disease. I remember getting my tonsils out, being very scared
and alone at the hospital. 
I think my experience in Beechholme taught me what not to do
with children!!! I realize that the LCC did the best they could, having
hundreds of displaced children to care for so I hold no grudges, in fact I
am thankful to them for all the good things, like going to big parties put
on be U.S. soldiers, sports days, pantomimes, talent shows, Sunday cakes
and pocket money, to name a few!! 
Group at Colwyn Bay 
Tea in the garden at Lime
Looking through the photographs on the BHRG site and
Peter Eliot's website, I recognize some of the staff but I'm not sure of
their names. I have a picture of one houseparent on a caravan holiday, and
also two of the boys who were in my house which was at that time Kerria.
The boys' names were, Henry Vaughan and Eugene Plange (spellings could be
incorrect here). The house parent was a new one and I can't think of his
name. 
The female members of staff would get the male members of staff
to give the punishment out: example: Aunty Joy Walker, in I think Larch or
Acacia house told Mr Johnson when he came in I'd sworn at her. He did no
more than pick up the metal hoover pipe and whack me with it so hard
around the face, then grabbing me by the hair dragged me upstairs punched
me in the face piked me up and threw me on the bed. I was cut and bruised
all over. I remained in bed till late the next day so also had no tea, no
breakfast, no dinner or supper the next day either. When my father came
down at the weekend I was not allowed to see him as punishment. This is in
my head like a magnet as this was just one of many beatings I took - this
one only mild to what other things I endured and I can assure you I was
not the only one to have this treatment. 
The best memories were in fact holidays, as once away from the
home they seemed to leave you alone and you got no beatings then.
I then worked as a self employed decorator for a
while to keep myself in work as I hate doing nothing at all. Later,I got
work with a company when the market was slow for my trade. 
A group of
us lads would abscond to the field where we would climb the fence and run
off onto Epsom Downs, or to Banstead Woods, or to the local quarry in
Banstead which was the railway yard depot. 
My elder
brother turned his life completely around after Beechholme. I can't help
wondering if he too has the ghosts in a closet as most of us did back
then. It pains me still now to think of all those nasty not mentioned
things that went on behind closed doors. 
This is just but a small memory of my time in Beechholme but I
am going to put down my experiences on paper and I will send them on to
you. 
I was in
Beechholme from 1947 until 1961 (2 years old until 16) I spent my entire
childhood there. I saw it change from its Dickensian mode to a more family
friendly place after the arrival of Mr Geoffrey Banner as Superitendent
The Boy's
end became the upper end and the Girls' end the lower end, all houses were
given names of trees and their doors painted in bright colors of either
red, blue, yellow or green. Each cottage now housed boys and girls and, in
most cases, brothers and sisters were housed together. Later years saw
huge dormitories being partially separated into cubicles for the older
children to give them privacy. 
Hi, for year I have tried to get information about
Beechholme and could not find out anything and now I have found the BHRG
and Peter Eliot's websites. I was there in 1953 age 5 with my brother
Danny Hillen. My name is Susan Hillen and we lived in cottage 13 later
known as Thistle. 
This group
photo must have been taken when we went on holiday but I don't remember it
or any holidays, but the name Dimchurch does ring a bell. 
In the
picture of the five children, I Susan Hillen am in the middle. My brother
Danny, is top right. 
From Frank Heard 3
March 2007. 
