Old Boys and Girls share memories and laughter
Every year, those who were in our care get together for an annual reunion. This year’s was held on Saturday 6 August at the Methodist Central Hall in London.
Action for Children's CEO, Paul Carberry, and Chair of Trustees, Sarika Patel, attended the reunion where they enjoyed meeting and chatting to Old Boys and Girls and former staff of National Children's Home.
Paul took part in a Q&A session with attendees who maintain a keen interest in Action for Children’s work.
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Paul told attendees he was delighted to be part of the day and that the Old Boys and Girls network was still incredibly important.
He explained how Action for Children was expanding its range of children’s homes today, as we continue the legacy of our founder Thomas Bowman Stephenson.
We are buying homes, we are refurbishing these homes and... this is where we are giving [children and young people] the love and support they need.
Paul, Action for Children's CEO
Guests such as Margaret Hewitt, a former Sister of the Children at Elmfield, in Harpenden shared her memories with us:
It was hard work, but I loved it. I met some really wonderful people including some of the Sisters I worked with.
Elmfield cared for disabled children and was attached to our larger children’s home at Harpenden that looked after around 200 children.
Another guest, Frankie, who grew up in a National Children’s Home from the age of seven to 16, said: “It was like somebody wrapping a blanket around you and making you feel you were important enough to have that blanket."
I think I am who I am because of my time there and it allowed me to become a mental health nurse and to understand and help others.
Rosemary was another one of our guests. She grew up in a National Children’s Home in Wales and later became a social worker. She had fond memories of her time in Wales: “I had stability and structure and there never seemed to be a dull moment. There always seemed to be an activity and I look back to those times with great fondness.”
Godfrey Stern grew up at the home the NCH ran in Jamaica. “I remember security, love and a lot of fun,” he said, describing the home like: “a big extended family.”
He said the home was full of activity – and that included a royal visit.
“We used to go to parties – there was always something happening. It was lots of fun. I remember Princess Anne came to Jamaica. She opened the children’s home and I got to meet her. I didn’t realise the Royal protocol, so I reached out and shook her hand. I was about 10 years old. I just reached out and shook her hand and she shook my hand.”
Former Old Boy and Trustee Clive Williams also read out memories from some of the attendees about their experiences of growing up in the homes, leading to plenty of laughter around the room.
If you were previously in our care, we'd love for you to be at our next reunion and receive our Extended Families magazine.
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