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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I was at Beenham Lodge for one summer in 1967. We went to Brighton that year for the summer break. And some of us were taken to Stonehenge as a treat because no one visited us.
ReplyDeleteI remember Mr Usher and his family at the top table. He had a daughter who had blond hair? I was only 10 at the time so the memories are a bit hazy. It seemed to be a hard life, Up at 07:00 and bed at 19:30. In summer that was ridiculous. I remember two lads being accepted to join the army. The second one was given some "assistance" by Mr Usher who stood up after dinner to announce the news.
If I remember correctly the only real "free time" we got was a few hours on Sunday afternoon. When we were free to play in the garden.
The work was not overly hard but it was designed to keep you occupied. Peeling potatoes was one job. One companion decided the potatoes were too small and went to ask if there were some bigger ones (easier to peel, see...). The response was that he was assigned potatoes peeling duties for the whole week. With small potatoes being selected.
I also remember the evening call for "sick and dying" when remedies were handed out or prescriptions applied. One goal was to get Mr Usher to give you a spoon of malt extract which as kept in the medicine cupboard. If you were unlucky you got Milk of Magnesia....
Not quite sure about staff. Mrs Lovegrove who lived down the hill and across the main road. Another nice chap with a Cortina who took us to stonehenge. A young couple who were very "human" and kind and I remember with fondness. They contrasted with Mr Usher who seemed rather authoritarian. But perhaps that was understandable.
I also remember poor Malcolm with the "underpants" problem. They treated him mean for what was essentially a medical condition, making him parade his underpants after school to shame him into stop being incontinent.
I can confirm the staff were a little "harder" that modern counterparts, as I once drank water from a puddle because I was not given access to water while on a long walk on a very hot day. I lived.
I also remember the catholic monks at the Duoai School up the hill. They were quite fun but or visits were mostly concerned with Sunday mass (being brought up a Catholic). We did have a few fun days organised by them and they had a swimming pool they let us use occasionally. That was a welcome break. I think it was there that I first heard people talking about the "summer of love" that the hippies had initiated. Those were weird and exciting times when things were changing fast.
I never gave the place a second thought when I left in September 1967 to go back to boarding school. I was only there for 10 weeks but it had an effect on me. That mostly being the confirmation that me and children's homes aren't made for each other. But it was all part of life's rich tapestry. There were a good people there and they influenced me positively. As Niche said, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". And that was probably true of Beenham Lodge.
Hi Pete. I think you must've arrived just after I left in June 1967. It wasn't usual to have lads as young as you though. Mostly secondary school age and above.
DeleteMr Ushers daughter was Bernice, she had blonde curly hair and was a bit of a Tom-Boy and very bright!
I'd be interested to know (if you can remember) the two lads who joined the army. Was one of them Martin Little?
Mrs Lovegrove was a 'diamond' - Lovely lady, had a collie-dog called Sally (I think :-) I got on really well with her.
I think the staff that you encountered were new staff and weren't there at the same time as me, Except for The Ushers and Mrs Lovegrove of course. Although Alan Geary was there for a year or so while I was there, he was a single chap. I'm sure he left before me. Maybe it was to get married and then come back later with his wife, I wouldn't know.
I think things changed for the worse if your account was anything to go by. (Certainly don't remember any Malcolm and his underpants) It was hard, but usually fair while I was there. Great memories on my part, but I was given more privelages than the other lads on account of my being in the top stream at school - So perhaps I'm biased :-)
Thanks for your contribution. Hope life's treated you well ..... Fred.
MR BAMBER WAS MY FAV STAFF. RIP. HE DIED IN CAR CRASH.
DeleteHello other Pete! It seems you were at Monk's Barn too! I was there when I was 3 for a short time. Due to Parental difficulties I was in care for a lot of my childhood. But as you say it was not that bad and prepared me for real life and all that arrives with it. I am OK now, just shut the computer company and considering retirement.
ReplyDeleteI think the couple I remember might be called Mr and Mrs Gunner.
I came from boarding school so I suppose I arrived in early July or late June. If you did not go to Brighton in Summer '67 then you left before I arrived.
Not sure of the lads names who joined the army. I know Mr Usher had "announced" at dinner that one lad had got in and the other had fluffed the application date. But good old Mr Usher "had a word" and the recruitment Sergeant was one squaddy better off. As I came and went in some months I didn't make many friends and only just remember some vague details that come and go now and again. I only remember Mrs Lovegrove's name as I wrote and now you mention it I do remember the collie. She used to take one or two lads to her house to garden and it was a nice walk down the hill.
I liked reading and writing and composed a humongous poem one weekend entitled "the army of wet". I only had a biro.... no platignum pen! :0)
Yes, life is OK. It could certainly be worse! Getting older and more creaky is no fun but these reminiscences to take me back to the days (daze?) of my youth.
:-) Monksbarn EH? ... I was only there from Jan to July 1964, I then went to Synoden Cottages in Wallingford and BlackStone School until November 64. Loved Monksbarn, didn't want to move on.
DeleteDidn't like Synoden very much, a bit draconian :-(
Didn't like Beenham Lodge too much to start with either, but got in with 'the right crowd' eventually at Kennet School and loved the place after that.
There wasn't a Mr & Mrs Gunner while I was there, must've arrived shortly before you did I suspect, and I never went to Brighton so we definitely missed each other.
Computer company EH? That's the 'World Of Magic' to me. I like them (when they're working) but show me the insides or try to explain technical terms and I drift off into another dimension. Good for you though for getting in on the act :-)
Mr Usher was a Dark-Horse, used to be a scientist working on what was then known as 'The H-bomb' (Racked with guilt so gave it up) ... we used to have many philisophical discussions together. He was talking about 'The Eye of the Atom' and 'Reptillions' way back then. I got to really respect the chap, and Yes! he did put his oar in to get me my first Apprenticeship when I left :-)
Glad things went well for you, I wonder how many of us are left? I know of two who aren't with us any more, but again, before your time at The Lodge.
Keep Fit & Well ..... Fred :-)
WAS ME AND MARTIN JOIN ARMY. STEVE CASTLE DID BUT NOT LAST TRAINING. LOL
ReplyDeleteHa-Ha! ..... 'You' joining the Army I can believe, but Martin and Stevie Castle?? ....... I thought Martin was going to be a Pop-Star along with Peter Woodhouse ..... Remember the Christmas they seranaded us all in Mr Ushers Lounge?? - Hope life's treating you well :-)
ReplyDeleteSTECE CASTLE WENT AWOL. MARTIN JOIN SIGNALS AND MET HIM IN BULFORD CAMP WHEN I WAS IN QUEENS RGT.
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