A collection of memories or stories relating to events, or people who resided at
Beechholme (Kensington and Chelsea District School) during the 1950s.

If you recognize a name or would like to add your own memories or story please contact us here

You can also order our book Beechholme – A Children's Village.

Does anyone remember VIOLET NEWMAN or BOB NEWMAN?

They were at Beechholme in 1950s.

Our enquiry comes from Violet's son.

If you remember either of these two residents, please mail the webmaster.
(Details will only be passed on by consent.)

September 2021 - Request from Roger Carver

Joined Beecholme when I was five in 1953, along with two brothers.

Graham was 3 yrs 6 months and Jefferie just 18mths

Does anyone have any photos showing me or brothers?

Thanks.

Roger

If anyone remembers me please mail the webmaster.

March 2021 - memories from Charlie Forshaw

My memory of people at Beechholme is vague. I will be 80 in July. Could your contributors help me with a couple of questions. What was the name of my cottage? We were next door to the church, first cottage in the boys street. In my time the headmaster ( I think ) was Mr Kelly. He lived in a house outside the complex adjacent to the entrance gates. I had the cane a few times from Mr Kelly, but he was fair.

The only boys I remember in our cottage were two spanish boys (brothers). I was with my twin brother.We were taken to Beechholme about 1948/49 and left in 1955. Our parents were not able to provide us with a home, due I believe to my fathers war experiences.

One of your contributers metioned looking for the thickest slice of bread from the plate of bread and butter, I always went for the “crust”; so much more filling.

My time at Beechholme was mainly pleasant and it makes me proud of Britain taking such good care of its homeless children.

Th holidays at Walton on the Naze were great.I liked the kit inspections each morning competing with the other tents. Woe-be-tide any boy who let the team down because (for example) his comb was not positioned the same as everyone else, every bed layout had to be “exactly” the same.

We were taken to the Festival of Britain, amazing experience.

We watched the “Coronation” on the house mothers B/W tv, some of the children were taken up to London for the occasion.

My brother and I were fortunate in that our maternal grandmother fostered us in 1955 when we went to live with her.

Regards

Charlie Forshaw.

If anyone remembers me please mail the webmaster.

Gillian replied: The house next to the church was cottage H later named Hazel. Mr Kellie was the junior school head master and did indeed live in the house outside Beechholme gates. Much later, Hazel house exchanged names with Cedar across the street. 

January 2018 - Request from Tom Roberts (Ash Cottage)

I was in Beechholme in Ash cottage in 1956.

The house parents were Mr and Mrs Davis does anybody remember me?

Tom Roberts

If anyone remembers me please mail the webmaster.

Is there anybody out there who attended Beecholme from 1949 to 1957? I was at Pine cottage, and I remember it was run by a Miss Hoare who had a black and white cat called Frisky. My best friend at the time was a girl called Kathleen who lived next door in what was known as the Catholic House; she had a sister called Winnie. 

My teacher at the school was Miss Every, and the headmaster was Mr. Kelly. I used to sit next to a boy called Christopher in class and was friends with a boy called Edward who had a brother called Kenny. I think they were Welsh. I also remember looking after a tiny tot called Frank Cousins at Pine cottage.

My name then was Dawn Bunce and I would be very pleased to hear from anybody who was at Pine cottage at this time or had connections with this. My memory regarding actual names (surnames especially) is not so good although I can remember daily events there so vividly.

It would be lovely to finally hear from someone who experienced life at Beecholme like me, and I regret not having been in touch much earlier. I would be interested in hearing more stories.

Dawn Wright (Bunce)

In response, Gillion Stile-Los sent us a photo, and wrote :

March 2015 memories of Jasmine and others from Tony Attwood.

My story starts when I was four years old when my parents had a bit of a tiff and my mother walked out. At that time social services pounced as they had been watching because we were under-nourished and very poorly kept. I remember an ambulance, and being wrapped in a big red blanket and taken away. That would have been 1946 and I was at Beechholme for the next ten years. It was like being in the army i.e. really strict. The beds had to be made all the same or they would come and strip them for you to make again.

I was in a couple of the houses when I was small, mind you I still am. The house mistress was Peggy Cullen - she ruled with a rod of iron, don't mess with her, you won't win. There was Mrs Kilbane a lovely woman, and lastly a young woman called Rita who was man mad.

I remember James Daly and people in Jasmine house were Joyce, Tony and Bobby Green, Marlene Jones, Brenda Baker and Shirley Collier.

Holiday time for two weeks was always Walton-on- the-Naze, Norfolk way somewhere. There was always plenty of sea, sand and ice cream. Our pocket money was a pittance, 2d a week, up 1d every year.  The coaches were all the same green. There was a time when there was an outbreak of mumps and I landed in Cuddington hospital, I think that's in Carshalton.  At the top boys’ end was the gym come cinema, which also served as a dance hall as well as the stage for pantos.  I was a choir boy for quite a few years. Father Butterworth was the priest. At the boys’ end were the gardens with all the green houses which were in the corner. The main building housed all the Offices and behind that were the stores, a big laundry, next to that the tailors where all our repairs were done, an upholstery shop, then the cobblers just to the side the church.  

Every house in Beechholme had its own playground at the back of their home.  There were a couple of big bunkers or air-raids as we called them, full of old bikes and prams, we all played in them. At the Drift Bridge end was the infirmary and it was a hospital as well, if it was something they couldn't handle you went outside to a main hospital. I can only remember some names Marlene Jones, horse mad. Ronnie Graves nickname (bulldog), Shirley Collier she had ginger hair, and Brenda Baker. There were good times and bad times, if you were bad you knew what was to come THE CANE. I’ve felt the long handled brush that we used to scrub backs with quite a few times. A few years later one of my brothers came but he did not know me and it took a little while before he believed me. There were three of us but one went to another home. The time I was there I saw my parents and my other brother and sister twice in the ten years. I still have memory flashes of the homes. My brother was Raymond Attwood and he was five years younger than me, but now he’s with his maker at peace. If you did not have anyone two visit you on Sunday (fortnighty), I mean no visits at all from anyone they would find someone from outside. Me, I got two spinsters who lived in Sutton; they were so funny but lovely at the same time.

Epsom race days was an enjoyable time, leaning on the fence you could nearly touch the coaches and buses and there was plenty of waving to the people. On Sunday we used to go for an afternoon walk to Banstead or Nork. We used to stop at the little shop and spend some pennies, four sweets for 1d. We used to see who could buy the most, even swap. Then on through Nork and then down towards Drift Bridge, one big circle.

During the summer times we had picnics at different places, Box Hill I remember and there were visits to museums. The Pullman train which was always used on race days passed.

Evening time about 5pm we all were into Jennings at school with Billy Bunter, and of course the series called Journey into space. Sunday at around midday, Family Favourites and Archie Andrews. Jasmine house did not have TV so what we did was to climb onto the outside of one of the houses about three up from Jasmine and climb onto the dining room window sill. We pressed our faces to the window even when it was cold, then the window would steam up. Oh, we had some real naughty times, late evening when the staff retired to their staff room; there were four boys and four girls and we played a game called dark nights, we paired off then we turned the light off for a while then when they were turned on we moved to the next, we had to listen for the staff door opening in case we got caught. Those were the nights of bliss.

There are so many little things that pop into your head that you’d forgotten. In Kerria cottage someone asked the name of the head. I think it was Mr Evans.

If anyone remembers me please mail the webmaster.

Frank Heard and I went to the same school, Sutton West secondary boys school and it would be great to get in touch with him if he would like it. I have many memories for example Mr Law who never missed the tips of your fingers with the cane.

Tony Attwood

March 2015 - Memories and pictures from Connie Turner's collection sent in by Jo Lane.

My mum worked at Beechholme, she was Corinne Turner (became Lane) in 1965. When she married she had yellow jaundice, which the doctor told her was just pre-wedding nerves.

As a child I loved hearing her stories about Beechholme. She died twelve years ago of cancer and I would be very interested to know if anybody remembered her. We think she was a house mother, possibly of Beech House from 1958. She would have been known as Connie(Turner). She was from Balham.

We don't remember any of the children's names but there was a deaf blind girl, whose mother had had German measles during her pregnancy.

One of the stories that mum told was about a Christmas when she had to buy the presents, it was the year that Slinky Toys became very popular. She overheard the children talking about their presents and then she heard from the recipent of the slinky "but that's not fair, all I got was a bit of old metal!"

Best wishes
Jo Lane

Jo also sent in a number of photos shown below. If you happen to find one which includes you, please let us know at the Banstead History Research Group.

Note from webmaster: In response to Jo's contribution,Gillian Los wrote - I recognize, Drico and Noula, they were of Greek Cypriot descent, Jamey was Jady Hatib, June is June Lethouer, her sister Maureen and I hung out together as we were closer in age than the rest of the children of Beech house. When I left Beechholme in February of 1961, I gave my black kitty cat, Babs, to June to take care of.

Margaret Dyke was my housemother when I first moved to Beech House in the Summer of 1959, when she left Connie Turner became our housemother.

Great photos. Gillian

Andrico and Yeonoulla at Tudor Lodge.	Beryl with children
	Tony and Jamil (JD) at Selsey
Raymond, Linda, Theresa, Noulla and Terry Hatib	Jamil 'JD' Hatib
Beverley, June (Lethouer) and Yuonne	Linda, June and Noulla
Valerie, Linda, Milly, Carol and Theresa	Christine
Jamil Hatib in the centre (wearing the tie) and his brother Terry on the extreme right of the group	Margaret Dykes and Milly
Jimmy, Tony and Billy at Margate	(L-R) Billy, Noulla, Gwen, Tony, Frances, Louis, Chrissy, Linda, Jenny, Jimmy, Brian and Julia
Christopher Smith in the Junior Boys football team	Do you recognise yourself or some else from Beechholme in the late 1950s/early 1960s? If so contact us at the Banstead History Research Group

Jamil at Beechholme circa 1958

May 2020 Memories from Jamil D Hatib (Beech and Hazel Cottage)

My name was Jamil Hatib and I am shown in Connie Turner's collection of photographs above as well as in the pic shown below, in the back row on the extreme left.

I would like to find similar pictures and, if possible, one of our teacher, Miss Banfield.

I was placed in Beechholme because my parents split up and were unable to take care of my sister Annie and two brothers, George and Terry.

One day someone showed up at the flat my Mom rented in Shepherd's Bush and said they were taking us to see our Auntie. The four of us children got in the car and we had no clue what was happening. The next time the car doors opened we were at Beechholme.

I'm not sure of the year we arrived there although I it must have been around 1958 and don't know exactly how long we were away from mom, but I did spend some years at a place called Nazareth House which was similar but it was a whole lot worse than Beechholme. It was run by nuns, some of them very nice and a few of them extremely cruel.

Earlsfield House was kinda weird too, but eventually I was free to find my own way in the world.

At Beechholme, I believe I was housed at "Beech” and "Hazel" for some years and I was amazed to see pictures of myself on this site. At the time, the other kids called me Jady or Jamey. I also see my younger brother Terry Hatib and again in one of the group photos I see me in the middle of the pic wearing a tie and my little brother Terry on the extreme right of the same pic eating something with both hands..

Beechholme primary 1962. Picture courtesy of Diana Graham.

That was in the early 1960s and even then I used to enjoy singing quietly to myself when I was alone and imagine myself on stage in front of thousands of people but I could not have guessed how my life would turn out and that singing would result in being known the world over; more of that later.

JD at the Melbourne Tennis arena in 1995 - Dreams can come true.

My memories of my time in Beechholme along with a second brother, George, are not all fond ones unfortunately, as the bad memories regarding treatment far outweigh the good ones.

I would love Jo Lane to know that while I was there and housed at "Beech” I knew her mother who we called "Auntie Corrine".

She was awesome to all of the kids and at the time I remember she had a boyfriend who would come to visit her often; he rode a really cool motor cycle and I think his name was Chris, or maybe Mike.

He was a great guy, kinda like an uncle to us all and we loved it when he came around, he even took me on a trip to Box Hill in his side car with Corrine sitting behind him hanging on for dear life.

[Jo has since confirmed that Corrine and Mike did get married]

“Auntie” Corrine was like a mother to us, I remember feeling so comfortable around her and able to ask her anything as I was always full of questions and she was always patient and caring.

I was bounced around to a few houses during my tenure at Beechholme and I remember one day a man came to the door and said “ Pack your stuff, you're moving to "Hazel” which was about ten houses away and on the other side of the road. I was devastated because it felt like I was being pulled from my family all over again and felt even worse because I knew where I was going was one of the worst houses to be in.

It was run by a dastardly dictator and disciplinarian who would roll up his sleeves at the drop of a hat and slap any of us regularly, sometimes for the silliest thing and always had a smile on his face afterwards signifying how much joy he got out of what he just did. His wickedly horrible wife whose name escapes me was no better.

They also had a spoiled brat of a son, who would beat up on us whenever he felt like it just for fun and then tell us not to tell his parents or he would beat us again. He would come to our room and ransack it after my parents left from a long awaited visit and take everything they brought for us as gifts, like comics and sweets, I hated every day of my life in that house; it was run like a prison camp. They also had a three-legged dog they treated better than any of us children.

I missed “Auntie” Corrine so much that I would cry myself to sleep most nights; she was my secret angel and I thanked God often for her and her kindness. I would often visit her at “Beech” whenever I could sneak away long enough without being found absent from “Hazel”.

Anyway, again my thanks to Jo Lane and also this website and God bless “Auntie” Corrine, I know she's in Heaven.

Luckily I was eventually able to return to my mother and her new husband who provided for the family well and I took his surname of Nicholas.

I always had ambitions to pursue my childhood dream and I came over to the U.S. around forty years ago to try to get into the music business as a singer and songwriter. I found my way into the offices of Motown Records on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California and dropped off some tapes with me singing some of the songs I had written, never for one minute thinking I would ever get a response.

Soon after I dropped off my tapes I got a call from one of the executives there informing me that a well-known singer had recently left a band. The guys were holding auditions in a couple of days for a replacement singer to join the band and that they had to find somebody pretty quick as they had a huge concert tour booked beginning in about two months.

That singer was Lionel Richie. As you can imagine, I could hardly believe it when they called asking me to go back to the recording studio a couple of days later because they said they liked my voice and wanted to meet me in person.

JD in Seoul in S Korea in 2013

Luckily, I was already a fan of the group and knew many of their songs.

I showed up at the recording studio with my knees knocking and trying my best to hide my nervousness at being in front of a group who at the exact time had the #1 record in the U.S. which was "Three Times A Lady"!

I sang that song for them and also "Easy Like Sunday Morning". They said okay, thanks for coming and we'll let you know.

I was still shaking on my way out as I noticed the line of potential singers waiting to audition went out the door and around the corner. All the while I'm thinking I don't have a chance, this kid from London with the British accent and all, but I said to myself even if I don't hear from them I'm glad I went. If nothing else, the experience was good, and what a story I had to tell my friends back in the U.K.

Jumping to three months ahead now and we all went back into the studio to record the group’s next album. The first song we wrote for that album was "Nightshift" which went to #1 in the U.S and many countries around the world including the U.K. with me singing the co-lead vocals. Next thing you know we're on a plane going over to the U.K. to do Top Of The Pops!!!! at the BBC Centre, as the song was at Number 3 there and on its way to Number 1, I couldn't believe it!

I didn't have to tell any of my friends who lived in the UK because they already knew and had tuned in to TOTPS to watch me. They were all so proud of me and I was happy they were, it meant so much to me that they wanted success for me as much as I did for myself. Really good mates they were and still are.

I look back over my life and remember time I spent at places like Beechholme and other institutions like Nazareth House, and Earlsfield House thinking of the times I feared that this is what it's gonna be all my life. But deep down I would know that music was gonna be my way out one day.

The song "Nightshift" earned the group its first Grammy award and went multi-platinum.

 Fast forward to now and we are still touring the world as recently as February 2020.

I changed my name some forty-five years ago and now go by the legal name of James Dean Nicholas, a member of the recording group, The Commodores, for thirty-seven years to the present time.

As I write this in May 2020 we, like every other band cannot tour again until this Covid-19 thing is all over.

I hope that you and your families are safe and healthy and I wish the same for all the people in any way connected to Beechholme.

I was just so excited having found the website of The Banstead History Research Group and the one set up by Peter Eliot, reading all the interesting and moving stories from people who spent time at Beechholme and also looking at all the pics that accompanied them. I swear I must have been on the site for a straight five or six hours yesterday and I've been back on it again extensively today!

I am happy to share my experiences of my time at Beechholme both good and bad.

JD

If you have any photographs from that time in Beechholme, particulary of Miss Banfield please email the

Banstead History Research Group

You will get a quick response to arrange for the images to be shared on this website.

Eddu aged twelve and Aileen aged nine.

September 2013 - Memories from Aileen Odey (Pine Cottage)

My sister and I arrived at Beechholme in 1950 or 51 and stayed until December 1958. Our names were Eddu and Aileen Odey. I remember Mr Banner very well, and Miss Hall.

I remember quite a few names. The Caravans; Theresa, Michael and Rosemary ( may have been a Perkins). Michael was a bit of a bully and I remember Rosemary had given my sister Eddu a black eye. Then Stephen Akintabubu and my friend Yvonne Frazik (not too sure of the spelling). I remember Mr Banner and the song we used to sing (we stand and cheer (4) til Mr Banner says sit down. I think I was in Pine house, not too sure there, but Miss Hall was in charge. I also remember another song: egg and bacon we don't see, we get sawdust in our tea, that's why we're gradually fading away............

I have loads of memories really, climbing on the perimeter wall as we watched the queen and others go to the races, or playing tie string on the knockers of doors up in Nork and pulling on them and running for dear life when they opened their doors. We ran into the woods that adjoined the fields. Can't remember though whose apple tree we had climbed and couldn't get down fast enough when the owner appeared. I fell and broke my right arm. Left handed till today; too impatient to await its recovery.

Eddu outside the gate of the local Secondary Modern.

Beechholme was heaven compared to the life we found in Nigeria in 1959 when my dad took us there in January 1959, and you know there was the Civil war in Nigeria seven years later so that was a fight for life. My dad hadn't told us we were not going back so we never did say 'bye' to friends. I would welcome hearing from Stephen and Yvonne. When we got to Nigeria, my dad put me in another boarding school again (a convent this time)! Haha!

I stayed in Nigeria but my sister returned to the UK. She seems to remember the pantomimes and sports days as her best times. I was strengthened by my experience in Beechholme (going there at 2 years of age), and the Biafran war later. I can safely say I succeeded very well in the end.

I am 65 now and often look back on those years, believe or not with fondness (gone through worse over the years).

Cheers. Lovely remembering it all again. I would sit and tell my own children about Beechholme. They couldn't really comprehend it all, being sent away so early and yet finding such fun.

Aileen

Linda Morey and friend possibly taken at Hastings, during the 1950s.

My name is Linda Morey I lived in Beechholme childrens home from 1952 to 1962. I'm on the right in this picture and I would like to know who the other little girl is. Funny old-fashioned swim suits in those days.

I have never been back to the Children's home, I left in 1962 and was placed in a girls' hostel in Slough Buckinghamshire; my two brothers were separated from me. Michael who was younger stayed on at the home for a few more years, then he moved to London. He still lives in the UK.

Christopher went to lived in Wellington New Zealand, where he married a stunning lady called Robyn. Sadly he passed away about five years ago. I never did get to see him again after the children's home as I live in Johannesburg, South Africa .

It all started like this, my two brothers and I were left in a back kitchen in our parents' house in a terraced house in London somewhere. I remembered wearing my Dad's army jacket to keep warm, and my eldest brother wearing his army cap. We were abandoned by our mother; I was 5 years old and my youngest brother 3 years old. Chris the eldest brother was 7 years old. I think we slept in the house for a few days by ourselves.

After that we were sent to a place for a few months in the countryside, then moved again to Prison in Maidstone Kent. It had bars up at all the windows. The first day I arrived I was made to strip in this big bathroom which had rows of white metal baths and get into the bath in front of all the other kids. I don't know how long we stayed at the prison, we then moved to Beechholme in Banstead. I stayed in two Houses, the second called Kerria which was next to the Gym. I can't remember the name of the first one, only that it was on the right hand side of the road, same side as the administration block and the church.

I can remember that lane by the railway station, it was a very long walk home at night by myself from the station. I was always so frightened of someone who was called Beaky the bummer.

I had a friend called Lawrence, all the kids called him Professor Lawrence. One day we were playing hide and seek in the woods near the Banstead shops, I got into a hut that was turned on its side and I found a big sack with money and jewellery inside. We rushed to the butcher's shop and he called the police. The butcher told us there had been robbery a few nights before. Always wondered if the butcher got a reward, will never know.

I see from Peter Eliot's website that I was in Babes in the Wood with one or two others mentioned on this website.

Linda Morey.

Laurel taken from the Sick bay end

I was born in Islington in July 1940 so I was about eleven when I went to Beechholme.

I was in Beechholme I believe in the early 1950s and left in summer 1955 at the age of fifteen. I lived in Beech Cottage and by coincidence, my maiden name was also Beech; the house mothers were Miss Wakefield and Miss Johnson. I went to Picquets Way School in Banstead Village.

I remember Ma Coates as we all called her at that time. She was Housemother in Cedar next to Beech Cottage. My brother Tom Beech was in the one near the gym and ours was the only girls' cottage down the boys' side.
Both my brother and myself were confirmed in the church there. I remember I used to feel faint and had to sit out in the church porch sometimes.
I would love to hear from anyone; I remember one girl called Eileen Taylor who was a Cockney girl.

Myself and another girl, whose name I can't remember used to go to tea with three ladies who had three cats and a lovely garden in the village. I often wonder who that girl was or even the ladies we called aunties.

After I left Beechholme, after a while, I worked as a nursery assistant in a Kentish Town Childrens' Home. Some children went on to Beechholme from there when they reached five years old. They were aged from a few weeks old to five and I often wonder what became of them. I left there in 1959 and got married.

I have so many more stories so please get in touch if you remember me or my brother.

Ida Waugh nee Beech.

Photograph probably taken between 1955 and 1957 whilst on a visit to Beechholme. It shows Terry, Ida and Raymond. Terry's surname may have been Rickerby. Ida says "sorry I do not know the names of the two little boys; it was an open day. Terry knew them. I went out with him at Beechholme and also at the Shirley school. He was a friend of my brother Tom".

Edith Mullins and Ida Beech in 1959. I was 19 and I got engaged that week and got married in September 1959. I was born on 2/1/1940.

FOLLOW UP: 13 August 2012 after Ida applied for her file from the LMA

I have received a print out of my file from the London Metropolitan Archives. It shows that I was received into care in September 1953, first placed at Woodvale, then transferred to Beechholme on the 15th of September 1953. I remained there until 28th of May 1955 when I went to live with my sister in Staffordshire until I returned home to my parents in London in December 1955 on a trial period. I was discharged from care on the 2nd January 1958 aged 18yrs. The reason I was taken into care was because my poor school attendance indicated to the authorities that things were not going well at home.

Well it is such a big file and so heavy. It took me 6 hours at least to read it. I had to take it to bed to read as was so interesting I could not put it down. I felt I was reading a book and finished reading it at 2am.

Best regards

Ida.

NOTE FROM LNW: Ida is one of many who have found their Beechholme records at the LMA, and often they answer questions that have been unanswered for a very long time. I would encourage you to apply for your records but please be aware that not all have survived, and some that have, simply show a list of codes which need to be interpreted. If you are particularly nervous about what might be uncovered, the LMA have a specialist who can go through the file with you. They are very helpful so do contact them here.

I came across your website while surfing the net and find it very interesting, particularly as it enlightens me to some of my childhood years.

My parents, Frank and Freda Gibbs, were house mother and father of Fir Cottage during the late 1950's. I was born at Beecchhome (see photo) and had two older brothers, David and Colin.

My father passed away in 1990, however, my mother is still with us (Jan 2008)and has photos and memories that may be of interest to you. I have attached some photos of the pages in her albums. There are many more photos but as they were at another school, Ashford Residential School, before going to Beechholme the photos are mixed. The ones I have attached I am sure were from Beechholme days but there are also more.

Cheers,
Sue

Note from webmaster - Most of Susan's photos are of individuals, most named but some not. They can be viewed on Peter Eliot's site here. Just scroll down (quite a long way) to Fir Cottage.You will see that Michael Pinapfel has been able to add useful captions to several of the photos such as the example below.

Boy standing on right with glasses is Peter Armstrong, boy sitting down in middle is Albert Barnes, boy standing behind him is Charlie O'brian, sitting in front of Peter is Onig Bogi. Photograph probably taken 1958/59 at the back of Fir cottage between house and outside toilet. By the look of the bikes it was summer time and a Saturday which was when they were allowed to use the bikes. Michael Pinapfel

I came across your site the other day whilst Googling an orphanage for an elderly neighbour.

I went to Beechholme with my younger brother Eric in 1955, I was nine years old at that time, my elder brother Graham having arrived the day before.

We lived in Ash House, which I think was the first or second house on the right as you went through the big gates. Mr.and Mrs.Davies who were both in the Salvation Amy were the house parents. Mrs.Davies was a wonderful singer and when she walked around the kitchen singing it made kitchen chores not so unpleasant. They were lovely people!

The boy  top left,with his arms folded is Alan Wells, next to him (surname only) is Knowles and next to him, is Stephen Akintibubo. Further along the row the tall boy with blond hair is Keith Aldridge and in the same row, at the end with the black hair is Jan Kusak from Poland.   In the front row, the little blond on the left is Mr.and Mrs.Davies' daughter and two up from her is her little sister. Directly above them are the Powell brothers, from the left,Tommy, Johnny and Bobby. They were mine and my brother Eric's best mates.  Mr Davies is the gentleman on the left of the picture, right at the back with glasses on , that is my brother Graham in front of him.  If you go along the back row you'll see the tall lady , that's Mrs.Davies.

UPDATE Jan 2013 - Billy Lucas born 1944 wrote to us saying that he was in Beechholme Pine Cottage in the late 40 s - 50 s and would dearly like to hear any news of his best friend at the home, Stephen Akintibubo (pictured above). Christine Kent our professional genealogist traced him within 48 hours and the two are now in touch with each other again. The last time they saw each other was back in the early 1960s

That's isn't a badge on Graham's  T-shirt, he's holding up one of those tiny little photos they used to have in those days. The picture is of two girls he used to know; he always fancied himself as a bit of a ladies man!

Mr and Mrs Davies>

Peter was as good as his word and his photos are shown below

Beryl Simner	Jan Cusak
Unknown, Gillian Raynes Beechholme
	Alan Wells, Unknown, Jan Cusak

Hello, I came across your website on Beechholme and after several weeks, have the inclination to add my little bit of information on myself and my few Beechholme memories:

In approximately 1952/53, ( was about 11 years old) myself and 5 brothers and one sister were all split up (apart from my 2 youngest brothers who stayed together) and sent to various Residential Homes. I was first sent to Ashford Residential School in Middx, (another story!) and then sent to Beechholme 1953/54. I seem to have quite a memory block, and I'm not even sure which Cottage I was in, and I sometimes get mixed up with the 2 homes.

I remember that I was terribly unhappy, at not only leaving my mother, but my brothers and sister as well. When you think of it, it was a terrible tragedy, the things that happened in those days. Forgive me if I mix up some events between Ashford and Banstead, but some things I do recall are:
Going on the bus past Banstead Downs, where we (the children) used to pass the 'Looney Bin' on the way to Sutton to Glastonbury Secondary School, where we were known as the 'Home kids'.
I recall scrumping for fruit in the orchard at the back of the home. Also, myself and several others managed to go outside and do some carol singing at the local houses.
I also recall going to Walton-on-the-Naze for a camping holiday. When I was 14 (in 1955) A teacher (can't recall her name) took myself and about six or eight other girls on a bicycle holiday for a week, and we went to various places - Bath was one of them, and we stayed in Youth Hostels. I was really happy doing that, and I've got some photos with the Teacher and some of the girls.

I also remember that I was forever running away, and myself and several girls (strange that I can't recall one child or friends names) managed to abscond for several days at a time! I think I was rebelling, and thank my lucky stars that on the last time I went 'awol', I recall Mr Banner (Yes, he's the only name I recall) hooked me round my neck with a walking-stick and said "Miss Wright, the next time you run away, you will go into a Borstal!" I obviously didn't run away after that, because I didn't go to a borstal!

I must say, that I think the traumas of childhood (it was bad at home before Beechholme due to my Father) and the homes did affect me, but 3 husbands and about 40 different addresses later, I've finally found some peace.

It seems strange seeing all the details that ex-inmates (!) have written and I will try to sort out the pictures for you as soon as I can.

Penny Wright.

I recently can across your site regarding Beechholme, and was surprised to see articles and stories from some of the children that were there at the same time as me.

I was in Maple house with Miss Sunderland whose name I once mispronounced as "Miss Thunderland" the resulting punishment was such that I never made that mistake again.

Unknown, Miss Sutherland, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown David Gibbons, Jackie Howe, Janet Howe, unknown, Carol Hislop, John Ireland John Martin, Terry Lackey, Rose Heard, unknown,Florrie Heard, Frank Heard Tony Lackey, Ncky Fudugba, Anne Fudugba, Abigail Fudugba (names supplied by Frank Heard).

I remember Gillian Stiles (who I did manage to meet up with after we had both left Beechholme) Frank Heard and his sisters, John Martin, Carol Hislop (I believe she had a brother), Nicky, Anne and Abigail Fudugba (not sure on this spelling) and of course many others.

I have attached a photo of the Maple house "Tribe" on holiday in Wales. I'm sitting behind Frank Heard, the boy with the bandaged leg on the right of the picture. If my memory serves me correct, this was caused by his leg being trapped between a tractor and mesh fence. Frank was like that; if something was falling, swinging or being thrown, you could bet that Frank would be the guy there to collect it.

I will try to put some of my recollections together for you. Unfortunately like so many others, it is the brutal and spiteful treatment that remains uppermost in one's mind, but also there were some times that still to this day, bring a smile, so I will endeavour to recount these times.

If you feel my stories would be of interest please do let me know.

John Ireland

NOTE FROM THE WEBMASTER -

I contacted John on the very same day and it turns out that he has a diary which he kept at the time, so there will be further memories to come......... If you can identify any of the individuals in the photo please mail the webmaster.

This is one of John's many stories:-

I was a fully paid up member of the Beechholme escape (sorry, I mean leaving without permission) team and on several occasions took it upon myself to go and visit family relatives around the country.

Most of these journey's were taken without any fear of the travelling, only the consequences of being returned to Beechholme which was of course was never in any doubt.

I have recounted below one of my journeys when trying to visit an aunt who lived in New Cross London, the details are from my diaries of the time.

Travelling without rail tickets I managed to get as far as Newcastle!  The name on the station board looked like New Cross to me as I never did pay attention during English)!   Once in Newcastle I thought I was in a different country and couldn't understand a word anyone said.  Iwas so hungry and cold that I "surrendered" to the nice lady that was cleaning the toilets and who in turn passed me on to a porter, and so I was passed on until eventually I finished up in the station master's office. He kindly offered, and I promptly ate, his whole stack of sandwiches (the look he gave me, I now recognise as - I only meant for you to eat one!), after which I was collected by the police and taken to the local police station, once again I was fed and given a Beano to read (I still have this).

All of these people I met after my "surrender" were so kind; this was however in stark contrast to the guy from welfare services who collected me and spent the whole journey back to Beechholme telling me the extent of the punishment that I could expect on my arrival back.

It was late when we arrived back at Beechholme, so you can imagine no one was happy to see me after having been woken from their sleep. I can remember going through the house to the dormitory on "tiptoes" which was more due to some dark shady member of staff having me by the scruff of the neck than me trying to be quiet. Later Miss McDermott crept in with some biscuits and a beaker of milk telling me not to make any crumbs and to hide the beaker. Bless her, she was a candle in a dark place.

Later the next day I was given the cane by I think (this hurts me more than it hurts you) Mr Dicker. I do remember that at no point was I asked where I was trying to get to or why. I had a story prepared that I had got lost on the way to school, so it's probably a good thing that I wasn't asked.

This was not my last time to leave "without permission" and as my reading improved I eventually started to arrive at my intended destinations, although not without first misreading and mixing Cardiff with Catford where my Grand Mother lived.  Once again I finished up in a part of the county that I thought was inhabited by foreigners but that's another even longer story....

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.

I had a hard time finding the location of Beechholme. For years I was looking, and now its' too late to go and see it. I never realised how near to London it was.

One of the first things I remember was standing on a chair having my long red hair cut short up to my ears like a bowl on my head. All of us girls had this style and it was really awful. The picture on the right shows me with my rotten hair cut. I look back now and think ...what did they do to us?. I remember the dentist and the surgery next door when the dentist put on the black mask on my face with the gas. I was always pushed to be first.

I can remember some names the first being Sandra and Valerie Ali who were sisters and Maxine Cardigan who used to sleep next to me. She had to roll up the carpet as soon as she woke up. In the bedroom she used to jump from side to side because she wanted to go wee first but couldn't. I can't remember what little job I had back in those days. Danny, my brother was in Thistle as well. I can't remember anyone else in Thistle and no one seems to have written in about it. I don't remember the house mother or whatever they was called. I remember Charlotte she was about 18 I think and was was a helper or maid (skivvy). I don't even remember going to school even though I was there from the age of about five until about nine.

I was in the brownies as I can remember the uniform but that's it. I think I might be in the photos sent in by Priscilla Bradley (see Peter's website). Perhaps you could let me know the date they were taken. Also the picture of the four young men - I remember Peter Sharp. I have sent in the few photos I have.

I remember the Beechholme song and getting out of bed in the middle of the night for fire drill. Also at one point I was sitting out on the window ledge in the night, I must have been a sleep walker. I also remember playing out the back of the house playing blind man's bluff. It was my turn and one of the others took off the manhole cover and guided me to fall into it. I don't know if I was hurt badly - that's a blur. If any one remembers doing this to me I would like to know why. I think that was the most fun some of them had.

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.

I'm the one half behind the little boy in white short trousers. The two Indian girls where Sandra and Valarie Ali, Valarie being the smaller one. We did not live far from one another when we left Beechholme and her dad had a Indian cafe in Aldgate, which must have been the first of its kind; now there are hundreds around Brick Lane and I love to find them too.

That's my brother in front of the boy at the very back. He has dark hair and his name is Danny Hillen. He lives in France now. Sorry, I don't know any other names but we must have all been from Thistle cottage. I would love to hear from anyone shown in any of these pictures.

In the picture of the five children, I Susan Hillen am in the middle. My brother Danny, is top right.

I cannot remember the name of the other boy or even if the others were at Beechholme, but the girls were Catherine and Elizabeth. They might have been from Lilly Rd in Fulham. I recall no 49 perhaps.

The next photo is of me and mum on one of her visits when she used to take me to Ann's cafe. I can't remember what I used to have.

How I wish I had more photos.

If you know of any photos that show Susan Hillen or her brother please send them to the Webmaster who will be very pleased to add them here and send copies to Susan who longs to receive more pictures of herself when she was young.

The photos are of excellent quality. I am afraid that I did not know Godfrey Lawson, but I recognise Mr. Kimber, Mr Manger, and children in the sports day picture showing Fir. I think that the boy holding the banner is David Broome, the boy to his left with the crewcut is Roy Stagg. The black boy is Rowland Jones. There were not very many black children in Beechholme in my day and I do not remember any racism. I did not find out about racism until I left the home and as I had grown up with Rowland and other black children, I did not see any distinction between us. That was one really good thing about growing up in care, it taught you that we are all just folk. Rowland I think was British born as he had no accent. He was almost certainly a child of African parents, yet he had an English name.

The other people that I recognise from the other pictures on the website are the Matron, Miss Hoare, and Mr Bray, of Hazel, who drove a 1936 Standard 9 car DPB 937.

The interior shots of Cedar were interesting. They show that this house had had a new set of furniture. Our chairs were old fashioned Windsor chairs stamped London County Council. I have 2 of these still in my shed at home. Those in the 1962 pictures of Cedar are newer Ercol chairs. How I hated having my hair cut by Mr Kimber. His hand clippers were really blunt. They used to pinch the back of your neck. Sit still boy, he would say as you yelped with pain.

We were in Cedar when we first arrived in Beechholme. The houseparents were Mr/Mrs Hillman. Mr Hillman was an ex army keep fit fanatic and unfortunately a sadist. Through his ill treatment I ended up in Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton for a year and a quarter with Rheumatic Fever. He was sacked for child cruelty in about May of 1956 and we were moved to Fir.

UPDATE FROM ROGER 6 Feb 2009 - He says "I sent for my care records from London Metropolitan Archives and I now find there is an error in my written record of my stay in Beechholme. My care records confirm that I was sent to Cedar House, Beechholme on 3rd February 1956 as I have said, but that I was sent away to Queen Mary's Hospital Carshalton earlier than I had thought, on 12th May 1956 having caught Rheumatic Fever through the ill treatment I had received both before and after entering care. I was discharged from hospital on 3rd August 1957 and joined my brother Peter, in Fir house under the somewhat better care of the Gibbs family."

UPDATE FROM ROGER JULY 2011 - By the way, I don't think I have said what happened to me after I left Beechholme. I was bullied badly at school because my clothes were in rags and because most kids with Aspergers Syndrome tend to get bullied anyway. My school trousers had got torn being caught in my bike chain riding from Fulham to school in Cheam each day on a bike bought for 30 shillings.

I had intended to stay on and take O levels but left instead and found a job in Wandsworth assembling transformers for £3.10 shilllings a week. After 12 such dead end jobs, working in shops, factories, warehouses and canteens, at the age of 24 I found work buying houses for a housing association in Clapham. I was very successful at this, became development manager, bought and supervised the development of over 1,200 flats and houses in South London, became an authority on 19th century houses, co-wrote the book Buildings of Clapham, currently in local bookshops. I am now an area surveyor for another housing association. All of this without any academic qualifications whatever.

I married in 1981, have two grown up sons, and live in Esher. I am an active cyclist, a member of the Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings, and have recently restored a 1920s car. Not bad for a Beechholme kid.