High Days, Holidays

HIGH DAYS AND HOLIDAYS

Although we usually had a week away each year, there were years when we had day-trips instead. (This was far more than many children outside the home ever got, so we were well off in comparison.) This was probably during economic blackspots. We were certainly better off materially than many other children. Which we were reminded of "It's only us paying our taxes that keep you lot in here" was often heard.

TENTS & HUTS - WALTON-ON-THE-NAZE, FRINTON AND DYMCHURCH

Ah! The sound of the horses and horse brasses jingling through Blackwall Tunnel on our journeys to and from holiday (Now how come I could remember or hear that sound?) On holiday in Dymchurch we slept in WW1 ARMY BARRACKS. Canvas topped beds strung between four wooden posts and 2 blankets - no mattresses. One girl I saw was always sitting on a chair - I assumed she could not walk. When we reached 11 years old we were allowed to sleep in tents. Bell tents. I liked to climb up the outside of the tent, shake it and to see what happened when the earwigs fell onto the people inside. I got a burn from the canvas - still got the mark. At Frinton we would go down to the beach and pass rows of ladies reclining in deckchairs. I was surprised by the amount of make-up they were wearing. At camp the straw was kept in the MARTELLO TOWER. Mr Jones gave out the straw for our palliases, which we had to stuff. He took a shine to me because of our surnames. I promised to write to him. I did, but didn't really know what to say - the letters tailed off after a while.

DAY TRIPS

What stays with me most about our day-trip to the zoo is this: being allowed to whoop and holler, in imitation of the animals, when we got back to Rose Cottage. The noise we made was exciting and all the more thrilling to be allowed to do it indoors - on the stairs!

SWIMMING

As we had our own (unheated) swimming pool by the time I got to Senior school I was a fairly good swimmer. I don't think the children ouside the home could afford to go swimming. I think that's the reason I won my medals. The swimming galas took place through Drury Falls school. Mrs Girling OBE presented me with a watch. Once when I took it off to wash my hands I forgot it - went back and it had gone!

SPORTS DAY

Extract from newspaper July 1921:"The annual sports at the Cottage HOmes, Hornchurch, took place on Thursday in splendid weather. There was a large attendance of members of the St Leonard Board of Guardians, Shoreditch, and other visitors from the district from which the children are sent to Hornchurch. The visitors travelled by train to Romford, and on arrival at the Homes they were received by the children, and light refreshments were served on the lawn. Afterwards there were swimming races in the bath, MR. G. SMITH being the starter. The visitors subsequently inspected the workshops, bakery, stores and needlework room, and went into the different cottages to see the children at dinner. They also visited the infirmary and other parts of the Homes. Luncheon was served in the boys' schoolroom, MR THOMAS TUCKER (Chairman of the Homes Committee) presiding. Amongst those present were SIR H. BUSBY BIRD and LADY BIRD, MR P. KELLEHER, J.P., MR. W.H. GIRLING, J.P., MR W.E. YARROW, MR. W. DAVIES, MR JOHN CLAY, the REV. B. HARTLEY, and many others. A short toast list was submitted, the Superintendent and Matron (MR and MRS H.E. STEED), and the other officials of the Homes being highly complimented on the general efficiency and the healthy and happy appearance of the children. >A display was afterwards given by the children in the Drill Hall, and was highly appreciated. The drilling was under the direction of MR. G. SMITH. Small children in attractive costumes contributed pretty dances under the direction of MISS PHILPOT. Skipping and other exercises were gone through by senior girls under the direction of MISS WAGHORN. The display was followed by childrens' sports on the playing field, the events being well contested. There was much friendly rivalry between the various homes for trophies which are held for a year in the Homes of the winning teams. Selections of music were played by the Cottage Homes Band, under the Bandmaster H.W. ALDEN, late Bandmaster 8th Hussars. Tea was served on the lawn, and the prizes were afterwards distributed by MRS TUCKER

Saturday, 15th June, 1935 at 2.30 p.m. Annual Sports and Reunion of Old Boys and Girls. Superintendent MR W.L. OLDHAM. Prizes presented by MRS H. GIRLING, J.P.

Saturday, 3rd June, 1939 at 2.45 p.m. Annual Sports and Rer-union of Old Scholars. MIDD MONICA WHATELY* (Chairman)MRS M.I. HIGGINS (Vice-Chairman), MRS H. GIRLING, O.B.E., J.P.*., CAPT G.E. PIERREPONT, M.C., J.P*., (*Membersof the London County Council), MRS H. ALSFORD, MRS E.E. BLEVINS, MRS C.M. CLIFFORD, MR. W. DAVIES J.P., MRS E. MARTIN, MISS E.L.ROBSON-YOUNG. At one of these sports' days we were dressed as a pack of cards and the adults "played" whist with us!

PEARLY KINGS AND QUEENS

We had visits from the Pearly Kings and Queens - it was probably they who performed the following: The Shadow Theatre - thrilling. Behind a white sceren, on the stage we could see an operation being performed, all sorts of things being pulled from the body- in shadow, including sausages. Then the huge shadows would run from the back of the stage and appear to be leaping onto us - I thought they would land on me.

CIGARETTE CARDS

I don't know where I got them from but I would swap them over the fence with a friend in Myrtle Cottage.

GAMES

We would throw all our coats in a pile (outdoors) on top of someone and guess who was underneath - I loved that game. Looking back I wonder at how easily we were amused.

We would stand in two rows facing each other and each of us was the name of a town. Someone would say that they were "sending the post from (eg) London to York" and those children had to swap places - good fun!

The Boat Race: the radio in the playroom was on. We sat down and rowed in tune with the commentator.

KING GEORGE V AND V1

I remember being in a crowd of people with MISS ROSE, after I visited County Hall, watching rehearsals for the celebration of the 1935 Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V of Great Britain ( 6th May 1910-20 January 1936). Taken from the Romford Recorder Friday, May 7, 1937: "On tuesday every child attending elementary school in Romford (and every Romford child attending an elementary school in neighbouring districts) will receive a copy of the book "GEORGE V1, KING AND EMPEROR.". I kept that book for many years. That was in celebration of his coronation (11th December 1936-6th February 1952).

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