Hi There

I'm a 'newbie' to the forum but trust that I'm doing and saying the right things.

I was a ward of the state and placed in Fulwood Cottage Homes circa 1950/51 and remained there for (I think) about 5 or 6 years. I was very young and very 'green' and there are a number of events from that time that are fairly vague to me. In fact, the whole experience seems like a dream these days ...sometimes a nightmare!

I seem to recall the Superintendent of FCH at that time was a Mr. Hildreth who was later replaced with a Mr Brooks. I was one of the very young wards who was placed in Cottage #9. Some of the kids I remember were Ernest Hill, Roger Bradbury, David and Tony Wales, George Archer, Graham Hanson, Norman Meltzer, Derek Hibbard, Malcolm and George Rhymer, and Kenneth Bolton. Our permanent foster-mother was a Rosemary (Miss) Bower.

I'd love to hear from anyone who might remember me ...does someone have to PM me in order to get my full name? Since that time I've spent years in the U.S. where I married and fathered a son. I presently reside in Australia. I'm still a 'young fellah' with a youthful disposition but have just lately developed a fascination to get in touch with some of my early past experiences.

If anyone can enlighten me about any of the people I mentioned or about FCH itself I would much appreciate that.

Thanks

Rod
Sputnik

Hi spuknik get your 5posts in than anyone can P.M you 1to 1.You're lucky to remember so many names.I was in there 39-1946 a little before your time I only remember one name ,other than the house mothers fm hell,1-2-3&7 where very bad I was in 2 I know a good h- mother was down your end somwhere.One or two people may be starting a web site shortly so keep checking. look at Cottam or cottam 67 thread lots of good info out there.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by flyer
Hi spuknik get your 5posts in than anyone can P.M you 1to 1.You're lucky to remember so many names.I was in there 39-1946 a little before your time I only remember one name ,other than the house mothers fm hell,1-2-3&7 where very bad I was in 2 I know a good h- mother was down your end somwhere.One or two people may be starting a web site shortly so keep checking. look at Cottam or cottam 67 thread lots of good info out there.:thumbsup:

Thanks flyer. Is there any fast way of getting to the Cottam threads you mentioned or do I get there page by page?

Yes, the names of the kids I shared my time in the home with are indelibly printed in my mind. Miss Bower - the house mother we had - appears to have been one of the better house mothers at FCH. Some of the relief mothers - one in particular, were downright cruel. It doesn't surprise me that most of them appear to have been lonely spinsters.

I had an older brother, Rex, who was in Cottage #8. Miss Humphries was his house mother. I also had an older sister, Glenda, who was in Cottage #17. Her house mother was a Miss Barnett. Rex eventually left to join the Merchant Navy. Glenda was able to leave when she became of age. I (sob) had to remain until mom eventually found a way to take me home. That would have been circa 1956, I think.

Anyway, I'll try to get my 5 posts in so I can get PMs should someone wish to contact me in that way.

hi spuknik just run down the Expats you see the names mune who was in F.C. H at your time who also was in the M.N ,I PM him once in awhile,Cottam & cottam 67 had family in there,If I remember Lavender was in the girls sec'.AS soon as the christmas pudding wears off you'll get a flood of open message's.My first contacts after 65yrs was alittle painfull I'd forgotten how deep some of the wounds were,they're slowly healing

Originally posted by flyer
hi spuknik just run down the Expats you see the names mune who was in F.C. H at your time who also was in the M.N ,I PM him once in awhile,Cottam & cottam 67 had family in there,If I remember Lavender was in the girls sec'.AS soon as the christmas pudding wears off you'll get a flood of open message's.My first contacts after 65yrs was alittle painfull I'd forgotten how deep some of the wounds were,they're slowly healing

Thanks so much, flyer. I can't wait to reminisce with people about those times so long ago now.

Do you ever get the feeling that most Fullwood inmates left town,we see a lot of inquiry from family,but not to many fm old boys &girls,they just don't want to talk about it,A lot of very bad abuse went on .So its you, me and Unwin

Originally posted by flyer
Do you ever get the feeling that most Fullwood inmates left town,we see a lot of inquiry from family,but not to many fm old boys &girls,they just don't want to talk about it,A lot of very bad abuse went on .So its you, me and Unwin

Could be. But this was a time before the word ‘abuse’ became so bandied around. Did we even know that it was abuse? Did the abusers even know that what they were doing would have been considered ‘abuse’? Those were the days before psychology told us that we were scarred for life. Now we know, so we therefore are. Today we live in a world where it seems almost everyone has been ‘abused’ by someone. That’s one thing. But we also live in a world where people want to get back at the abusers. Not good.

I’ve never held any animosity toward any of the staff at FCH, even though some – one ‘relief parent’ in particular – seemed to thrive on cruelty. She had the name of a fish beginning with the letter “h” - 7 letters. (I tried to insert a "heh heh" face in there but it didn't work). She had a penchant for slapping the boys in the face. No matter how desperately you tried to shield your face with your hands, she would yank your hands away and find her mark. She was a real b---- and many times I would have liked to tell her this. She’s probably long dead, although she would have been a similar age to my mother who only died in 2004. I guess age is relative …I remember some resident in Cottage #8 turning 21 (not sure why he was there at that age) and I considered him to be ancient.

Anyway, Miss H------, you were a real b---- but I forgive you.

The home DID have an ‘Oliver Twist’ characteristic about it …often cold and bleak. Strangely, I remember those times in ‘black and white’ …like an old movie That is, except for that huge green strip of grass that separated the boy’s side of the compound from the girl’s side. A guy called Alf or Stan (or one of those typical British ‘working class man’ names of the era) took care of the grass and the landscaping.

Another of the staff, a Mr. Hopkins, always reminded me of an angry pit bull. I remember seeing him laughing at one time and I felt sure that it would create a reading on the Richter scale. Then there was a Miss Johnson (I think) who was a very slender ‘matronly’ looking woman. She was the voice of authority and someone to be respected but I don’t recall her ever being ‘mean’ as such.

Anyway, I could go on and on.

Hi Rod, I went to school with you and we knocked around together after you got out of the homes & went to live with your mother down school Rd somewhere, she had a room in a big house on a hill, not far from Western Park. You were always interested in the stars & planets. I also live in Oz, Wollongong to be exact, I've been here since 1970, I've been trying to get in contact with you for about 4 months after seeing you on Friends Re.
Regards
Trevor Powell

Originally posted by skippy
Hi Rod, I went to school with you and we knocked around together after you got out of the homes & went to live with your mother down school Rd somewhere, she had a room in a big house on a hill, not far from Western Park. You were always interested in the stars & planets. I also live in Oz, Wollongong to be exact, I've been here since 1970, I've put my email address on the other thread, Crookes Endowed.
I've been trying to get in contact with you for about 4 months after seeing you on Friends Re.
trevorpowell@aapt.net.au
Regards
Trevor Powell

This is a double treat for me, skippy! Yes, we DID hang around together. This is almost too much to take in! We (my mom, little sister, and I) had a room in a big house on Conduit Road.

Yes, I was always fascinated with astronomy and space travel and even tried to launch (appropriate word) a 'Space Club' at school. My screen name is Sputnik ...does that suggest something to you?

I, too, had wanted to contact you after seeing your name on Friends Reunited but I don't have a credit card from which to pay the subscription fee.

Anyway, I'll be contacting you via email very soon!

Many thanks to Peter who has supplied me with some great pix and info concerning FCH. Great job, Peter!

What a delight to read this thread! :)

Happy reminiscing Sputnikboy! :)

Originally posted by koritsi
What a delight to read this thread! :)

Happy reminiscing Sputnikboy! :)


I agree :clap:

I HOPE THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A VERY HAPPY YEAR FOR YOU ALL. :clap:

Great talking to you again Sput, 50 years since our last contact and half a world away, we'll keep in touch now & get together sometime in the future.
Skip.

Originally posted by skippy
Great talking to you again Sput, 50 years since our last contact and half a world away, we'll keep in touch now & get together sometime in the future.
Skip.

You bet skippy and a big ditto! Ssshhh with the 50 years. People will think we're gettin' old.

Originally posted by koritsi
What a delight to read this thread! :)

Happy reminiscing Sputnikboy! :)

Thanks very much. I feel like a lost little boy who's been found!

Hay Sputnic..Wasnt there another person in that big house in Conduit Road???

I went to Lydgate Lane Junior School, Crosspool where we had quite a few FCH pupils. One was Melville Deakin who I have been in touch with via Friends Reunited.

Mike

Hay Sputnic..Wasnt there another person in that big house in Conduit Road???

Huh . . .how did we get on to Conduit Road? I hadn't noticed these couple of posts previously so it gives me the excuse to bump up this thread ...heh, heh, heh.

Conduit Road? Sounds familiar from the dark, distant past. If I recall, there were a number of persons who resided in that big house. Let me see, there were Lois and ? Knapton and their little boy, Alan. Alan spent a lot of time with us since his folks worked and mom took care of him. People used to think he was my little brother and I'd get offended.

There was a guy that my mother nicknamed Buddy Bear . . .never did know his real name. Maybe it WAS Buddy Bear. There were also a couple by the name of Ken and Betty ?? I've ALMOST got the names but could you fill in the blanks for me? I wonder if any of these people are still around?

Do you recall anyone else?

I went to Lydgate Lane Junior School, Crosspool where we had quite a few FCH pupils. One was Melville Deakin who I have been in touch with via Friends Reunited.

Mike

Thanks for the post, Mike. I only now noticed it. The name Deakin sounds familiar but I'm not sure. I wonder if he would remember me. I was the good looking kid in FCH. :D

Thanks for the post, Mike. I only now noticed it. The name Deakin sounds familiar but I'm not sure. I wonder if he would remember me. I was the good looking kid in FCH. :D
Eh wait a mo I was the best looking kid in Fullwood you'er going to get Mikey confused ,when looking at my angelic face at 5 i always wonder who could beat that head.(Only the Bull)

Eh wait a mo I was the best looking kid in Fullwood you'er going to get Mikey confused ,when looking at my angelic face at 5 i always wonder who could beat that head.(Only the Bull)

Miss Bull? I'm not sure that I recall her personally although the name sounds familiar. She possibly WAS a house-parent during my tenure at the home. I'm not sure if I suggested this once before; however, we could start up a FCH Rogues Hall Of Fame with the house-parents as exhibits. Problem is, depending on which cottage one lived in, any number of the house-parents would be numero uno! Having said that, I trust that most of us have 'moved on' and are able to forgive the old battle-axes for their cruelty. It might be a case of 'forgive them for they knew not what they were doing'.

Hey, your post brings up a pertinent point. I wonder if we would show more tolerance toward prison inmates if they wore a photograph around their necks of themselves at 5 years-old? We tend to forget that every criminal was once an innocent little kid who was once doted upon by fawning adults. Then again, your angelic 5 year-old face didn't prevent 'the Bull' from beating it. So, bang goes that theory, I guess.

Oh, by the way, I guess that some may be confused by my question, 'Anyone remember me?' Maybe any number of people were residents of FCH at the same time I was but don't ever recall anyone by the name of SputnikBoy. Maybe they are even trying to envisage some good looking kid with pointy ears and an alien 'Mr Spock' look. Well, I DO have pointy ears, am certainly still good looking and have an alien 'Mr Spock' look but my name was NOT SputnikBoy when I was a resident of FCH. Just thought that I'd mention that in case it's preventing some from coming forward and claiming to have known me. My name then was Rod Fearnehough.

Come to think of it, THAT name sounds more alien than SputnikBoy . . .

I do believe that the other person that lived in conduit road had a dog's name and a cat.

things i remember about fulwood cottage homes..winnie edge the house mother giving us all a token so it could be spent in the tuck shop at the water tower on friday nights...that was a sop given to all the kids...then bringing the sweets back to her and she scofted the lot...all those rowan trees with the red berries all over the place...there are none now...before we went to school she gave us a spoonful of cod liver oil,we all lined up and she gave it us off the same spoon...all talking to one another how we were all going to "run away" .....how we went to fulwood church on sunday mornings in all weathers..which was a walk of about a mile or more...then she listened to the weather forecast before sending us in the afternoon to the timber church on blackbrook road about 300 yards away....those white and burgundy striped pyjamas...when i was seven years old the old bag sent me or others to town by ourselves to fetch her flowers from coates down dixon lane...the caretakers beehive at lydgate lane school......harvest festival at david lane chapel...all that lovely fruit just waiting to be eaten and we couldnt get any of it....watching the other jkids dancing round the maypole on the grass area in the middle of the cottages......being given the brown shorts before we went "to camp" at marske...

My nan was in the fulwood cottage homes as a child she was born in 1907 and I think she would have been about 10 when she went in.She then went into service.Her younger sisters were also in there and went to mayfield school.

I do believe that the other person that lived in conduit road had a dog's name and a cat.

Hmm ...the other person with the dog's name would have to have been Rex. Not sure about the cat ...Blackie, I believe, who happened to be a stray. So long ago but still very clear in my memory banks.

How are you, Rex? Are you still in the Shetlands or are you by now Australia bound? I look foward to catching up with you in late-March.

I haven't participated on the forum for some time. I just call in every now and again to check it out. However, I would like to thank the other posters that have contributed since I was last here. You have raised a few names and places, anlabystreet, that I'd all but forgotten. The David Lane Chapel, for instance, brought back memories of a long walk to and from from FCH. I seem to recall blackbery bushes along the way. Was it a Mr. Marsden who preached at that chapel? He was VERY old - perhaps 40 :hihi:- and, bless his soul, very boring to we young kids. I would love to know what happened to both he and the chapel.

If there are any newcomers to the forum who had previously missed this thread and can contribute ...PLEASE DO.

Hmm ...the other person with the dog's name would have to have been Rex. Not sure about the cat ...Blackie, I believe, who happened to be a stray. So long ago but still very clear in my memory banks.

How are you, Rex? Are you still in the Shetlands or are you by now Australia bound? I look foward to catching up with you in late-March.

I haven't participated on the forum for some time. I just call in every now and again to check it out. However, I would like to thank the other posters that have contributed since I was last here. You have raised a few names and places, anlabystreet, that I'd all but forgotten. The David Lane Chapel, for instance, brought back memories of a long walk to and from from FCH. I seem to recall blackbery bushes along the way. Was it a Mr. Marsden who preached at that chapel? He was VERY old - perhaps 40 :hihi:- and, bless his soul, very boring to we young kids. I would love to know what happened to both he and the chapel.

If there are any newcomers to the forum who had previously missed this thread and can contribute ...PLEASE DO. well david lane chapel is still there..as are all those cottages round the corner ...in fact most of those farms in the mayfield valley ....yes i remember those blackberries on the left side of the hill going up back towards fch..it was worth the long walk to get at them...all gone now though....in those days before the mass ownership of cars they grew profusely with only a few locals and the "homers" to pick them.i can't remember the old boy at the chapel ...i was more interested in all those apples at harvest festival...do you remember at christmas the old "news theatre" later to become the classic cinema in fitzalan square gave us all a treat to a film show..and as we went in they gave us all sweets and an orange...it was like winning the pools.....and the staff were lovely...how nice to be treated like we were loved..and such a change...a management and their workers with genuine compassion for all those kids.... i remember thinking how much i would have loved to be taken home by one of them......i remember climbing up the wall at the top side of fch and seeing those glider enthusiasts in the corn field ...people with plenty of money to buy one of those in times of austerity for the working classes....i was in there from 1951 to 1956 so i must have seen you at some time in there cos everybody knew everybody else...it was a social gathering on those swings on the bottom field...

When talking David lane chapel is that the tiny little one almost alongside the old village school ,during my stay at F.C.H only about 6of us attended, most everyone else went to the CofE church,the old minister would bring us water in an old pewter jug(no running water),revisiting with my new wife in 65 how tiny it looked ,but that walk was the best about my stay in Fullwood.&yes i remember the blackberries well , also the turnips we stole fm the farmer's mound,braking them on the rd munching on chunks all all the way to school,the farmer must have just felt sorry for us because he never said anything.

well david lane chapel is still there..as are all those cottages round the corner ...in fact most of those farms in the mayfield valley ....yes i remember those blackberries on the left side of the hill going up back towards fch..it was worth the long walk to get at them...all gone now though....in those days before the mass ownership of cars they grew profusely with only a few locals and the "homers" to pick them.i can't remember the old boy at the chapel ...i was more interested in all those apples at harvest festival...do you remember at christmas the old "news theatre" later to become the classic cinema in fitzalan square gave us all a treat to a film show..and as we went in they gave us all sweets and an orange...it was like winning the pools.....and the staff were lovely...how nice to be treated like we were loved..and such a change...a management and their workers with genuine compassion for all those kids.... i remember thinking how much i would have loved to be taken home by one of them......i remember climbing up the wall at the top side of fch and seeing those glider enthusiasts in the corn field ...people with plenty of money to buy one of those in times of austerity for the working classes....i was in there from 1951 to 1956 so i must have seen you at some time in there cos everybody knew everybody else...it was a social gathering on those swings on the bottom field...


How comforting to know that the David Lane Chapel is still there. I seem to recall that the entire area was somewhat peaceful and rural. Is it still like that or did the greedy land developers move in and muss up the place?

It's great to be able to converse with someone who 'was there' even tho' I can't place you personally in the picture, anlaby. Since I was probably the oldest boy in Cottage #9, I was later assigned office duty at the main entrance of the home. Since it was rather an honor to be office boy I never complained about being there at night all on my lonesome but, the truth is, I was scared stiff. I survived many a potential heart attack when someone would appear out of the darkness thru' the main gates. There were not many vehicles so most people were on foot and would appear without warning. Had I been there longer I might have suggested that everyone returning to the home at night be given a cowbell to wear around their necks. Little wonder that I'm now emotionally scarred ...just kidding!

I do recall the play area of course ...the swings and some kind of a metal rocking horse if I remember rightly. I remember one boy (whose name I know but will with-hold) who would perform some rather lewd practices at times ...just to gain attention probably. He was also subject to taking epileptic seizures which I and others found to be rather scary. Those images stayed with me into adulthood. I now have a friend of a friend who is an epileptic and, while I'd much sooner they didn't occur, of course, I'm much better these days at dealing with these situations.

I'll pobably keep recalling events, names, and places pertaining to FCH. Nice to have you around, anlaby (and others), to help me relive some of the memories.

yes....nobody suffered on their own in that place....the more i think about it the more comes to mind......bad as it were then i would love to live there now....all executive housing...makes my suburban semi a little plain....they never come on the market for sale...i keep checking..it was frightening living there then but we only ever get one childhood and no matter how wretched it is its still remembered.......i remember when i was in there two songs always on the radio...one was doris day singing que sa ra ra (thats kay ser ra ser ra in english money and one called i love to go a wandering...dont know who sang that.i think i might know who the lewd practice kid was...did it involve a drink and a rusty tin at the bottom of the field where the swings were....???...

yes....nobody suffered on their own in that place....the more i think about it the more comes to mind......bad as it were then i would love to live there now....all executive housing...makes my suburban semi a little plain....they never come on the market for sale...i keep checking..it was frightening living there then but we only ever get one childhood and no matter how wretched it is its still remembered.......i remember when i was in there two songs always on the radio...one was doris day singing que sa ra ra (thats kay ser ra ser ra in english money and one called i love to go a wandering...dont know who sang that.i think i might know who the lewd practice kid was...did it involve a drink and a rusty tin at the bottom of the field where the swings were....???...
no....thats one area that still looks the same almost....all the way to forge dam....we often go up there for sunday walks.....you can see it all on google earth.......all that grass area in the middle of fch has been made into gardens.......and....you can no longer go through the top gate near the water tower....its now somebodys garden....

i think my mum and her sister were in the homes.........although im not sure.if anyone was there in the 40s send me a msg

My dad was also there from 1929-early 1940s,has many tales to tell!!

I seem to think that for some of the poorer folk it was almost automatic ,that when mum was having a baby the rest of the kids got put in short term home's Fullwood (ithink)was more long term,Iknow some kids got put in two or three time's.over the yrs .

well i dont know if anybody remembers this about winnie edge the foster mother from hell in cottage 1....there was one little lad in there called edward stacey who always came home from school and had wet himself every day....the poor kid had gone through a lot of trauma...so winnie edge said "the first time you come home dry i will put the flag out...sure enough when he did she put the union jack out of the window....thats all that kid needed...to be shown up in front of the whole crowd...

well i dont know if anybody remembers this about winnie edge the foster mother from hell in cottage 1....there was one little lad in there called edward stacey who always came home from school and had wet himself every day....the poor kid had gone through a lot of trauma...so winnie edge said "the first time you come home dry i will put the flag out...sure enough when he did she put the union jack out of the window....thats all that kid needed...to be shown up in front of the whole crowd...

I think the Bull fm #2 39-46 plus could go one better for nastyness ,I remember one lad dragged in fm the blitz both parents killed,wet the bed first night, the penalty for wetting the bed was a good pasting with the flat paddle,fm the blitz to when i left in 46 he got a pasting every day of his life I think the Bull & winnie edge must have been taking lesson's fm each other for the right to become the queen of evil (i do know Edge was one evil bitch).

Of course we must give credit to Millner #3 during the 40s also looking for the title "Queen of evil" she carried a huge knobbly stick(well it seemed huge) she would beat the kids over the head with it & left a lot of permanent damage, a lot of kids where not quite the same after leaving her tender care

Hi again Anlaby I reember all of what you said even to the flag,Marske by the sea.We were all in those long wooden sheds.Can you remember the concerts we had in the dining hall ?The trip on the bus seemed to last forever,that was the highlight of the year, Freedom for two weeks.I also remember the chappel,I had to go there three times every Sunday as i had to take the kids.The scromping of those beautiful apples.I went to Greystones School then on to Hunters Bar.Memories

Hi again Anlaby I reember all of what you said even to the flag,Marske by the sea.We were all in those long wooden sheds.Can you remember the concerts we had in the dining hall ?The trip on the bus seemed to last forever,that was the highlight of the year, Freedom for two weeks.I also remember the chappel,I had to go there three times every Sunday as i had to take the kids.The scromping of those beautiful apples.I went to Greystones School then on to Hunters Bar.Memories

Glen are we talking the little Methodist chapel in fullwood quite close to the old village school,I went to this chapel in the 40s also to the village school,that was closed around 43-44 i also was sent to Greystones so far ahead of its time,boys & girls believe or not in the same room & they could sit together Wow:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I was in a similar institution in another city for the entire war (1940-1945) and it's amazing how many of the same sadists there were in our home as well. When I was there I wondered what motivates a 20 stone nun to punch a 6 year old to the floor or beat kids with a strap day after day and then tell us WE were going to hell.I came to realize that if I didn't find some way to forgive them and put it behind me, they were still abusing me or as somebody said " they are living in your head rent free".God bless you all.

I was in a similar institution in another city for the entire war (1940-1945) and it's amazing how many of the same sadists there were in our home as well. When I was there I wondered what motivates a 20 stone nun to punch a 6 year old to the floor or beat kids with a strap day after day and then tell us WE were going to hell.I came to realize that if I didn't find some way to forgive them and put it behind me, they were still abusing me or as somebody said " they are living in your head rent free".God bless you all.

Words of wisdom, Redneck ...thanks. The act of forgiveness is something that can set one free indeed!

Oh, and everyone ...please keep the posts coming.

Glad to see YOU back, Glen. Where've you been?

Words of wisdom, Redneck ...thanks. The act of forgiveness is something that can set one free indeed!

Oh, and everyone ...please keep the posts coming.

Glad to see YOU back, Glen. Where've you been?

Father Sylvester recent sent to & died shortly after in prison London Ont ,his crime was sexual abuse of young children in his charge over a long time.Do i forgive him a big No i'm just not that noble, in fact i would cheerfully hang him and all his fellow priests who hid his crime's and or did the same themselves.
So do i forgive some of the long dead housemothers of F,C.H ,NO,i know a lot of kids driffed through F.C.H without to many long term effects ,but i also know lots with damage that lasts a lifetime :mad: :mad: :mad:

Hi Flyer.I am not suggesting that society should not punish these offenders- I really don't think there is any punishment too severe for abusing a child. What I meant was that I had to get these people out of my life because, although the pain from the physical beatings was over in a few days, the outrage that this could happen and the desire for revenge was threatening to scar me for life.
Incidentally,Flyer, I snitched a swede from the school garden and was caught wth it in my raincoat pocket ( I woder how). It was put at my place at the table and I didn't get anything else to eat until it was gone.It took me 3 days to get rid of it - not as lucky as you with your turnip.

Redneck you're right of course & i had forgot about it for so many yrs ,I guess i'm just getting old & cranky or older & much more cranky.
(You can tell a redneck By Ha Ha cable guy)

Hi Flyer.I am not suggesting that society should not punish these offenders- I really don't think there is any punishment too severe for abusing a child.

I personally was abused (one of modern society's favorite words) mentally and physically and emotionally as a child but I certainly WAS NOT scarred for life. Nor do I seek any form of vindictive retribution for the perpetrators of the abuse. I would strongly object if an 'over-the-top' punishment was administered to any of those who hurt me. I harbor no bitterness and I forgive them all. They were different times. VERY different. This was way before psychology told us that we were scarred for life by abuse. And, for the record ...NO ONE is scarred for life unless they CHOOSE to be scarred for life. You apparently agree with this.

My intent for starting this thread was not necessarily to open up 'old wounds' but to hear from those who might have shared FCC with me (or others who were also 'residents' of the homes) in order to share some of our childhood memories and life beyond the homes.

By the way, FCC was not ALL bad ... ... ... ...

Hi There .Here i am Rod not been far.I think the best thing to do is talk about all the things that happened then.I watched a movie called After The Promise.I was heart broken,that was my life in that HOLE.I havent been able to watch it since.It will always be in our heads but we have to let go :rolleyes:

Hi There .Here i am Rod not been far.I think the best thing to do is talk about all the things that happened then.I watched a movie called After The Promise.I was heart broken,that was my life in that HOLE.I havent been able to watch it since.It will always be in our heads but we have to let go :rolleyes:

As wards of the state FCH was the only alternative available for us. It might well have been a 'hole' for some of the kids but our own parents were evidently not up to the task of raising us satisfactorily either. We must also remember that children then were not the mollycoddled-by-the-state-spoiled-wusses of today and so the house-parents also had a very different mentality towards children in general. While that doesn't lessen the harsh treatment that some of them dished out to their charges, this WAS in keeping with the culture of the day. I would guess that most - if not all - of the house-parents never even considered that they were being cruel. This was simply the way they were.

As wards of the state FCH was the only alternative available for us. It might well have been a 'hole' for some of the kids but our own parents were evidently not up to the task of raising us satisfactorily either. We must also remember that children then were not the mollycoddled-by-the-state-spoiled-wusses of today and so the house-parents also had a very different mentality towards children in general. While that doesn't lessen the harsh treatment that some of them dished out to their charges, this WAS in keeping with the culture of the day. I would guess that most - if not all - of the house-parents never even considered that they were being cruel. This was simply the way they were.
Although i'm pleased to see you'er so well adjusted i can't say i agree with you total ,i know too many people with lifetime affects from F.C.H,both mental & physical ,i think quite a number of house mothers went way beyond the harshness of the day, in fact some of them could be label downright sadistic,i must also say not all kids parents were not up to the task (i don't include mine)after the blitz we had 4 who's parent's had just been killed move into #2,the reason i remember so clear is one of the lads wet the bed 1st night, the cure was a good pasting with the paddle ,this lad was beaten every day for 3-4 yrs ,i don't know if the constant pasting worked,i left V,J night 1946 but i'm sure she would keep trying to the bitter end.

Although i'm pleased to see you'er so well adjusted i can't say i agree with you total ,i know too many people with lifetime affects from F.C.H,both mental & physical ,i think quite a number of house mothers went way beyond the harshness of the day, in fact some of them could be label downright sadistic,i must also say not all kids parents were not up to the task (i don't include mine)after the blitz we had 4 who's parent's had just been killed move into #2,the reason i remember so clear is one of the lads wet the bed 1st night, the cure was a good pasting with the paddle ,this lad was beaten every day for 3-4 yrs ,i don't know if the constant pasting worked,i left V,J night 1946 but i'm sure she would keep trying to the bitter end.

I've no doubt that a few of the house-parents at F.C.H. were extreme in the area of discipline. And, as you point out above, the excessive measures used by some to enforce their power had nothing to do with discipline anyway. I guess I was more fortunate than some in that Miss Bower of Cottage #9, while rather strict, did not have those sadistic tendencies to which you refer. Then again, I must have been SOMEWHAT fearful of her because I recall one incident that left a lasting impression on me in more ways than one.

We kids would return from school and take off our boots in the porch before entering the cottage. This particular day the other kids had pulled off their boots and had gone inside. Meanwhile I was struggling to take one boot off because I had a knot in the lace. Try as I might I couldn't untie the knot. The other kids were inside seated at the table ready for the evening meal. Miss Bower called for me to hurry. The more I fumbled with the knot the tighter it became. Knots have a habit of doing this. Miss Bower kept calling and was by now losing patience. I called back, “Coming …coming …”

Why I didn’t simply call out and tell Miss Bower that I had a knot in my lace and couldn’t take off the boot I don’t know. It was as if I’d done something wrong and would be punished for it. Try as I might the knot had become a permanent feature of the lace. I became desperate. I sneaked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the bench with the intention of cutting the lace. I would worry about the severed lace the next day. I might even be able to tie the remnant to the main lace since there was still enough length available to do so. No one need know. The here and the now had priority. I sneaked back to the porch with the knife.

I placed the tip of the sharp knife under the lace and pulled with all my might. The blade severed the lace but the elation I felt at having my boot released from my foot was only fleeting. The blade also penetrated deep into my finger. Oh my God! I didn’t know that a little kid could contain so much blood until it came spurting out. I instinctively grabbed for a shirt or whatever the piece of clothing was that I grabbed. Whatever it was I wrapped it around my finger and held it there as tightly as I could. Such pain. Such fear. Not only had I destroyed F.C.H. property (a shoe lace and whatever item of clothing I had around my finger) but I was now bleeding to death and dare not tell anyone. I began to feel light-headed. Meanwhile, Miss Bower had lost patience and had come to the porch door to find out what was going on. She stood there aghast. I was a bloody mess. I feebly called out from the corner in which I crouched, “I’m feeling dizzy …”

Just before Miss Bower pulled me to my feet and rammed my head between my legs I heard her say, “You’re about to pass out.” Whether or not I did pass out I honestly don’t recall. I have a vague recollection of being rushed to the sick bay for treatment. To this day I have a tell-tale scar on my finger of that incident that occurred so long ago. I look at it occasionally …almost with fondness. Why, I don’t know. Yes, I DID have a fear of Miss Bower’s ‘discipline’ but I don’t believe that she had the sadistic streak of some other house-parents that I hear about. HOWEVER ...the relief-parent, Miss Herring …well, SHE is another story …!

Oh my ...it's been so long since I posted the response above. So, I decided to bump up the thread just to see if anyone new to the forum has anything they might wish to contribute to this particular topic.

Are there any former residents of FCH who can share with us their good or bad or reminiscent testimonies of their tenure at the homes ...?

Oh my ...it's been so long since I posted the response above. So, I decided to bump up the thread just to see if anyone new to the forum has anything they might wish to contribute to this particular topic.

Are there any former residents of FCH who can share with us their good or bad or reminiscent testimonies of their tenure at the homes ...?

waiting in front of the office for the month end goodies (2oz frys chocolate) instead i would get double cane for running away which i did quite often, the reason i got double was they said i was ring leader, which wasn't true i just ran off with any one who asked (just plain dumb ) ,this time assistance sup was dishing out &calling the run aways to one side said he was going to punish us like never befor uh-o i had been promised Borstal the very next time.so standing in front he said what are you going to have chocolate bar or orange you cant have both,so we had our pick and wander off NO cane,something must have worked i dont remember running away again.

my mother & father aways visited at different times so bag of sweets from each & half-a-crown, my mother always dropped off half-a doz duck eggs(war time) which was scoffed by house mum.but my question is where is my 5 bob a month gone ,apart fm the odd half-a-crown i would tuck away for run day i think someone owe me about 10-15 pounds sterling,plus interest of course fm 1939 -46 i'm wondering where to collect my money fm:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

so i guess nobody wants to know anymore

The sad truth is , Flyer, that nobody ever wanted to know and that is probably why places like your school and mine were able to keep going so long. I know that people out in the community were aware of our situation but chose to ignore it. Would you believe that one pillar of society reported me for being in a fish and chip shop - a crime for which I got " six of the best" with a strap.

I have two happy memory's of fullwood one would be the rare summer trips to Rivelin dams (can't remember how to spell it) & the caves along that same road,& the second would be on going to Greystone school when fullwood village closed around 43, boys & girls sat in the same class &twas there i met my first true love i think she wanted to adopt me & taken me home to mum,i would have gone in a heartbeat:):):)

My Mum was in FCH after coming up from Lewes. Her Mom had died and her Dad didn't want to know. Eventually some family took her in but treat her like a skivvy and had some abuse. Still can't bring myself to forgive them either <sigh>

I will try and get some dates from her. I believe it was sometime in the early/mid 50's.

*Smiles*

Angi

Glen are we talking the little Methodist chapel in fullwood quite close to the old village school,I went to this chapel in the 40s also to the village school,that was closed around 43-44 i also was sent to Greystones so far ahead of its time,boys & girls believe or not in the same room & they could sit together Wow:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Yes i think that was the one.We used to sing hymns off a big wooden object with parchment sheets.Three times on Sundays, boy.!!! I think it was in the 50s though.I suppose it used to get me away from the old bag Miss Barnet :mad:

PS I also went to Greystones School.Then on to Hunters Bar

As wards of the state FCH was the only alternative available for us. It might well have been a 'hole' for some of the kids but our own parents were evidently not up to the task of raising us satisfactorily either. We must also remember that children then were not the mollycoddled-by-the-state-spoiled-wusses of today and so the house-parents also had a very different mentality towards children in general. While that doesn't lessen the harsh treatment that some of them dished out to their charges, this WAS in keeping with the culture of the day. I would guess that most - if not all - of the house-parents never even considered that they were being cruel. This was simply the way they were. No Rod as i recall Dad left Mum with 3 kids and it wasnt so easy in those days,and no, also to those cruel house Mothers who should have known better.It was disgusting treatment and those poor kids didnt deserve what they got.I dont think about it every day but i sure think of my life there pretty often.:mad:

Yes i think that was the one.We used to sing hymns off a big wooden object with parchment sheets.Three times on Sundays, boy.!!! I think it was in the 50s though.I suppose it used to get me away from the old bag Miss Barnet :mad:

In the early 40s a very old preacher looked after our souls &every sun we always asked for a drink of water which was served fm a lg enamel jug as there was no water in the chapel he had to go & get water fm nearby? i think we was taking his tea water, in the early 60s I took my new wife to the village to show her the area ,Chapel & school where still standing also F.C.H i dont remember what use they was all put to

No Rod as i recall Dad left Mum with 3 kids and it wasnt so easy in those days,and no, also to those cruel house Mothers who should have known better.It was disgusting treatment and those poor kids didnt deserve what they got.I dont think about it every day but i sure think of my life there pretty often.:mad:
Yes its a very tight line we walk we can't think too much or it would eat away, in fact I had buried F.C.H for 50yrs and only by asking a simple question on S .F brought some very upsetting memorys , so i try not to think tomuch

MikeG & Sputnik
This is all new to me and have just spent the last 30 minutes or so reading all your posts'
You have both mentioned my name: I am Melville Deakin and would like to know how to contact you both further

Mel Deakin