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Messages - jomar

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Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Sunday 04 May 08 18:24 BST (UK)  »
Hi Mighy

Yes, I can imagine your mum will have some difficult and unhappy memories but thankfully, she is able to share them with you. That sharing will be very much a part of healing for her.  I was there between 1943 - 1949!
I had some prob sending you PM so will limit the content of this info.  For me, Hollymount was a cold, hard and uncaring place. It still haunts with memories of hunger, unkindness (bordering on down right cruelty) and I doubt if anyone left there feeling of any worth.   Thankfully, like your mum, I have a family who are special!  I have had a career working as a child psychologist and childrens' wellbeing, protection and security are very important to me.  I will, when I sort it out, find a way to give you more detail when I can PM you.

Don't worry about photos.  You have done so much, and no one can call u lazy!  I know you will forward them as and when you are able.  So sorry that I haven't got any to pass on to you!  It wasn't something we were given in those days.

Thank you Migky and best wishes to your mum

Jomar

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Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Sunday 04 May 08 15:09 BST (UK)  »
Hi there Migky

I noticed that you responded to CeeJay2 regarding info or insight into life at Hollymount!  Perhaps also you might find a post to Jinxy helpful.  I, personally, was there and have very strong memories.  If you wish, I could PM you rather than open forum.  If I can be of any help please let me know.

Thank you again for all your hard work re photos!

Take care


Jomar

3
Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Sunday 04 May 08 14:59 BST (UK)  »
Hello CeeJay2

It was kind of you to say what you did and I do appreciate your sincerity. Thank you!
Like Migky, I wonder if you have any knowledge of family, friend or,maybe yourself, with direct experience of how it was at Hollymount? As you may have seen, Jinxy (fellow rooter), certainly has had some clear insight from her own family which strongly resonates with mine.
Mighy's photos are quite something!! These will be of tremendous help to many looking to make sense of their own or loved ones' lives back then.

Thank you CeeJay2

Take care

Jomar

4
Lancashire / Re: Holly mount records?
« on: Wednesday 30 April 08 19:35 BST (UK)  »
Migky - Thank you so much for all your endless effort and trouble collating and posting the piccies re Hollymount.  Wow!! I found them mindblowing!!  My image and memory of time there was like walking back into a time warp.  I am sure many past "residents" will feel the same ,as will anyone who has dearly loved ones as part of Hollymount history.

I am not very computer literate, but I wonder how you acquired these pictures? Are they from a book, press cuttings or what?  Not to worry. I will get an 'expert' friend to help me follow your useful instructions to print them off.

I know some of your photos will fill a gap for lots of people!!

I only wish I could be more positively supportive for people who have Hollymount connections. Public image will, necessarily for many, present a constructive perspective yet we should acknowledge that there were many experientially destructive aspects.

I know this is an image shared by others but somewhat confused as to why it seems not permissable to offer equal validation to an alternative yet honest dialogue. This, to me, is an essential balance to the 'virtures' of 'good intentions' and the recipients of life-long trauma.

What you have provided is many avenues of support via tracing, records, and historical narratives for those who need to learn and understand more. Thank you so much for that and your hard work.

 I, myself, carry the ground-in guilt of screaming at my laptop screen that there are always two sides to everything. Perhaps I am just bitter and twisted. Even so, I could never deny the truth and will always look to understand why so much pain was delivered in the name of God.
 
Take care Migky.

Jomar

 

5
Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Sunday 27 April 08 09:50 BST (UK)  »
 Hi Donna

Thank you for your posting which I found extremely interesting.

I'm not quite sure what to say to you in that, although, as you say, some effort was made to feed and clothe the children, much has gone unsaid. Perhaps it was better than being on the streets. Perhaps the nuns couldn't offer the essence of what all children need as there were so many of us.

I too went back occasionally to take some children out for a day and offer some respite to them. I always took those children who were described as "bad children who didn't deserve to go". Perhaps I was  rebel fighting back against the veil of hypocrasy. Don't be offended please but I know how it was. I am also not too naive to recognise that there were odd moments of reasonable treatment and particularly outings like picnics and a trip to Freshfields.  But these were not for everyone and often some of us were deemed "too wicked" to go even at four, five and six years of age!!

However, I'm pleased that some had a different experience and am sure they will give their own credence to that.

I am not a victim of those events by any means - simply because it taught me that the well-being of children is paramount in all areas of their development, spiritual, emotional and physical. Perhaps the rebel in me gave me strength and determination in later life.  For that
alone, I am grateful.

Yes, I do have some info re my mother, although it is  very limited. Thank you for your suggestions which I will certainly explore.

Take care

Jomar

6
Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Saturday 26 April 08 15:58 BST (UK)  »
Hi Jinxy

It was so kind of you to respond to my posting. Thank you!!

Your poor mum and her siblings. What you say sounds to me no exaggeration!! I was at Hollymount 1943-1949 and your mum and siblings paths may have crossed with mine. I lost all faith in anything to do with "Catholic" but never lost belief in God!  In fact I was led to working (in a professional capacity) with vulnerable people, mostly children, who were in need of love, care and protection.

I don't know where we can go from here, but, if you think it may be helpful, perhaps setting up a "Hollymount reunited" would be a starting place.??  I would be happy to work with you on this and perhaps it may help you to have some insight and closer connection to your late mum!  It is the sharing that offers some peace and something that, maybe, your mum found difficult. There must be many of us with information and detail to fill some of the unknown gaps for you. If you decide to consider this avenue, please contact me and maybe, we could go pm or meet up.  As a six year old girl at the time of leaving Hollymount, memories and details are very vivid.

It was disturbing to hear about a book written about Hollymount with the words "labour of love" in the title!!

I will never completely get over the events there, but I have moved on and feel grateful that the cruelty I met at Hollymount has only served to ensure that our role in this world is to endeavour that we value, respect and treat people with love and dignity!!
 

Take care Jinxy and keep in touch.


Jomar X

7
Lancashire / Re: HOLLYMONT CONVENT/ children's home,BURY
« on: Friday 25 April 08 17:06 BST (UK)  »
Hi  - this is a new experience for me but couldn't resist chipping in re Hollymount Childrens Home. 

I was an orphan there myself from the age of 9months to 6years between 1943-1949. Then I was adopted!!

I wonder if anyone else has similar memories of the place during that or any other period?

Would love to communicate with anyone connected with Hollymount.

Am also,  thanks to some of the info re Mghy's query, aiming to locate any possible relatives of mine. Bit of a tall order, I know, after all these years but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained!!

By the way, am I out of tune with everyone else when I suggest that memories of Hollymount were far from good ones?  One exception was a dear friend whom I had to leave behind!!  Love to all, Jomar X

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