Ashford residental home . middlesex

[frederickay]

Who would know when I started this post that we would get 19,000 hits ?
. I have two booklets here 1937 /39 . School annuals if anyone wants me to do a look up for family names etc .
 i went to the London metropolitan Archives and I found a huge amount of information on my family . My father James David Wharton and his 3 siblings  Dorothy , Winifred and Mabel were there from 1928 until 38 . They were taken by the state and i read where the state had declared there was to be no further contact with the family .BUT it then gave a contact address which was the brother Ernest Wharton and the father Alfred Henry Wharton . Dawn has given a link in a post below .. a few numbers i looked up are .
LCC/CH /E/ ASH/1/2
1/3
1/9
same 1/5
 and there was many more .
 There didn't seem to be any censorship . I would like to hear from anyone who had family there in those years. My father didn't have anything bad to say of the place but he knew nothing different so everyone has a different perspective ,
Bye  Fred

[jane harrison]

The War memorial in Ashford Church St has a whole side dedicated to
   Old Scholars of the West London District School
     55 names  are on this list.

[stevewright]

Hi All,
For those of you looking for more information about the school, and in particular information about parents/relative etc you can ask LMA for a copy of their in care file.  Did this several years ago for my father in law who is still going strong at 86. Learnt a lot from this about why he went in there, illnesses, treatment and his work placements after leaving there.  He says he had a lovely time and has several stories, one being they made some components for Spitfires in the workshops during the war before he was evacuated to Maidenhead.  He was the last one to be picked as he was the tallest

There is a 65 year closure period on the personal files which takes you back to 1949 so you may have a good chance of getting more information, some of which may be available to the public now.  Certainly worth asking the question.

[Jerildean]

Hi,
I was at A.R.S from around 42 till 1955 with my younger brother Dougie. If anyone out out there would like to get in touch I have plenty of memories and good, bad and ugly. Looking forward to hearing from you all. By the way I am now known as Bobby Bunton.
I was sent to Ashford Residential School when in 1952 when I was five years old, in 1952, when it was a childrens home.  Being a girl, I was housed in the little girl's area, and separated from my brothers, who were all separated from each other and housed in areas relevant to their different ages, ie. 3, 7, and 9 respectively - for the next three years until we were moved on to a smaller childrens home together.  I was wondering if there is anybody out there who was there at the same time to share any information or memories with of their time there.

[Raymond Harris]

hi i was at ashford residental school about 1946 till 1954 mr sims and a mr gibbs were incharge .mr gibb went to bansted same as me in 1954 i left in1958.any one who remembers me get in touch

[RazzleRita]

Hi everyone I attended Ashford residential home early 40's and in Particular to Swampie sue asking about the school production of Toad of Toad Hall. I had the leading role of the Toad. The production was done by Mr Glazebrook.
I also remember Quigley Dennis Quigley if I remember rightly.
I remember the school trips every year to Walton-On-The- Naze  Mr Bailey the Headmaster always went. I remember the body on the beach. I can recall the body being pulled out of the sea with a rope around the neck. We all had our numbers on our toothbrushes and hair brushes.
I passed my 11 plus there Mr Iredale. I went on to Wandsworth Technical College.
If anyone can remember me Rita Cook I would love to hear from you.

[RazzleRita]

Hi Gnashers
how do I obtain a copy of the book mentioned?

many Thanks Rita

[dawnsh]

Hi Rita

gnashers hasn't been online here since 2012 but I have sent him a personal message and hope he comes back soon.

Dawn

[gnashers]

Hi there RazzleRita

Thanks for your enquiry, drawn to my attention by 'Dawnsh's' e-mail. As I explained in all my earlier messages and in my book, I had no contact with girls at 'Ashford'. Perhaps I was ugly? I was certainly very shy. Just one young lady who would now be about 80 who attended Wimbledon Grammar and a few of us lads shared a carriage on the way up to Southfields!

As to 'Blitz Kids' it is essentially an Autobiograhy of life during the war and later at various childrens homes. about 8 of the 16 chapters refer to 'Ashford' 2 of them supplied by the late Frank Gorman, courtesey of his widow Ann.

If you are happy with that and still would like a copy, please send me an e-mail (following guidance notes on this site).

Whatever you decide thanks again (I have made quite a few friends since following this site, none of whom I recall from my days there 1947/49.)

Wishes-Gnashers