Memories from Billy Murphy - 'Beenham Old Boy'

I recently heard from 'Beenham Old Boy' Billy Murphy. It was great to hear from him again after all these years. I asked him to share some memories of the 'Old Girl On The Hill' and this is his reply;

Pete,
Great to catch up and thank you for filling in memories from Beenham lodge. Like you I loved the place and remember the orchards ( storing the apples over the barn) and plenty of room to run around, we even had a tennis court! 

What a great laugh with all the kids, always something going on. Anybody remember when we were all learning how to Knit!? 
I also got busted hitching, Aunty Bee picked me up and gave me a fine lecture! 

A quick memory; Barrie was responsible for keeping the furnace going and one day I was "helping" him. Something went wrong and we set the place on fire! I think Barrie was beating it with his shirt and I got an extinguisher that worked crap - Harry Manville (Super') saved the day with a CO2 extinguisher that worked. I think the man wanted to do us bodily harm but settled for calling us every name in the book! 

Really enjoyed Kennet school too, it was great for sports and I remember running cross country past Reeds paper mill and playing football for the school. Coaches Mr. Strand and Mr. Cant? I even got a conduct mark for being too lippy to Mr. Corp. I still have my report card! Good days and somehow it seems it was a real sweet time for kids. 

How about Miss Draper always slurping her tea? 
I wish I had some photos to share but they seem to have been lost over the years which I regret. I'll have another look.

Keep up the good work! - Bill.

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Well, thanks a lot Billy. Yes, Harold Manville (Boss Man) and his wife became my God-Parents while they were there, and do you remember the time he pushed Steven Castle's face into his porridge because he refused to eat it, saying it was TOO lumpy? Or the time the lads from Greenham Common came and the Fish & Chips were cold by the time we all got to eat them - a few of us had a little snigger and dear old Harry noticed - a few blood vessels bled then I think - He either had anger issues or 'we' were just a little bit of a handful :-) 

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My Trusty Red Sobell Transistor Radio

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Anyone who remembers me from the Beenham Lodge Boys Home Days will remember that I was pretty fanatical about listening to as much Music as I could possibly cram into a day.

It was the days of the Radio London and Radio Caroline Pirate Ships who were playing 'Simply The Best!' Music available at the time and I couldn't bear to miss 'any' of the latest releases so I had a brilliant transistor radio, it was a bright red 'Sobell' that brought me more joy than I care to remember.

I would take it everywhere with me (Except School) along with my single headphone (Pre-Stereo of course) and submerse myself into a more realistic world as far as I was concerned. I always volunteered to do as many Solo Projects as possible, from Gardening, Shoe cleaning, Painting/Repairing old furniture in the workshop below the Playroom, and any other activity that meant I could get to listen to my favourite Radio Stations.

When I couldn't get on any of these jobs I'd lock myself away in the conservatory at the back of the house to 'Cogitate and Contemplate' as Mr Usher used to say. I think he was a bit concerned about me doing this because one day he got one of the lads; 'Peter Worcester' to come into the conservatory while I was there to 'practice' his Tuba. ......... I wasn't best pleased and a thumping ensued which almost got my treasured Radio confiscated. However, I think Mr Usher realised that it was 'He' that had provoked the outburst and it was soon forgotten (and it never happened again).

After leaving Beenham Lodge I remained obsessed with music and all through my working life, I just 'had' to have the radio playing the latest music + a good dose of the 'Oldies'   to keep me motivated. I used to get called 'The Pop-Master' because I had such an Encyclopedic memory for music facts and figures.

Sadly, that's all evaporated over the last ten years or so, along with most of my memories. Not Good, which is why I'm writing them down in various blogs before they've 'gone' forever.

Don't forget to share your 'own' memories in the Comments below, and of course 'share' this on your preferred Social Media platform.

Cheers .... Fred :-)

Beenham Lodge Was Great For Athletics

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Beenham Lodge Was Great For Athletics

Being a natural runner from the year dot stood me in good stead at each school I went to because if you're good at athletics, football, rugby, swimming, etc you got treated better all-round. Probably because of the very competitive 'house' system that all schools adopted back in the day.

Schools do have the house system these days but thanks to the Lefty, Nanny-State where we have to protect our 'little dears' from all sorts of competition, let-downs and disappointments 'real' competition between pupils isn't as forcibly encouraged nowadays.

Anyway, getting back to the point. At the lodge we all had bus-passes to get us to and from school every day. (Freedom!! …. And didn't we treasure it?) But often, because of after-school activities or just laziness getting to the bus stop, we'd miss the bus and have to wait forever for the next one to come along. Being a bit too impatient for that I'd set off and run back to Beenham Lodge with my duffle-bag filled with books and P.E kit to keep me in check. Very often getting home before the other lads who'd waited for the bus.

(I 've enclosed a video of the trip here. Be sure to wach it on Youtube as I've added extra info in the description.

(Click Here! it will open in new window :-)

This used to happen once or twice a week and I just loved running anyway so it was no chore. I'd run down to the bus in the morning and back up the hill again in the afternoon/evening. All that running kept me in good shape for Fighting, football, rugby 'and' athletics of course. Especially cross-country. There was the other method to my madness of course, because if I got picked for the teams (which was always) I'd get to escape from the lodge for a few hours – BONUS!!

So, although I felt 'caged' not being able to just walk down the road or go and call on friends etc anytime I felt like it, (because being in 'care' those days was a hell of a lot stricter than it is now) I did get the benefit of accidentally keeping very fit and my mind much more alert than the others who just lazed about, biding their time until they were old enough to leave the care system.

Catch You Later ... Fred :-) 

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Welcome To The Beenham Lodge 'Old Boys' Blog

Sooooo, you've typed 'Beenham Lodge' into your browser and you've found this blog EH?

 
Well I'm Pete Moring otherwise known as Fred and I was at Beenham Lodge from November 15th 1964 until late June 1967.
If you were there during that period please comment below and share your memories, photo's, whatever (especially your grumbles).
Even if you were there before or after it would still be great to hear from you and share your experiences.

Personally, I loved the old place. Didn't really want to leave, but needs must when you're in care, you do as you're told (most of the time) and I was told to leave school and become an apprentice Chef. Probably because I had the job of chief cook and bottle-washer a lot of the time, amongst Beeston duty , Shoe-cleaning in the cellar every night and gardening at week-ends :-)

I admit I had it a lot easier than most there because I assumed a lot more authority and trust from Mr Charles Usher (the super') in particular. It seemed that if you could stay in the top stream at school you got rewarded for your efforts, and as I had a natural ability to do just 'that' it all came a bit easy.

I hope I didn't rub too many of the other lads up the wrong way as a result, (but I know I did ;-)

Anyway, I shall be posting more stories and photo's here on a regular basis, so please call back. Subscribe using the widget in the sidebar or footer and pleeeeease add your own two-penneth in the comments below.

It can be a favourite memory, 'Good or Bad'  and if it's a good'un I'll publish it as a Post here (Not a Comment).

Cheers ...... Fred :-)
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P.S. Please check out the Merchandise Shop Below by clicking-the-clock! ...........

 
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