Ashford residental home . middlesex

[THOMASWADAMS]

My admitting to Ashford Residential School was in 1947 staying until 1950.The day masters in charge were Mr Walton and Mr Hammond. Walton was a strict disciplinarian, old sea dog, and looked it. Hammond was firm and kind with it, his wife was an angel. Mr Gibbs, along with two ladies, were the nighttime carers who tucked us up at night. They had rooms close to ours, we all knew that Mr Gibbs was courting one of the ladies, because when needed, he was always to be found in her room, and she blushed uncontrollably. They were all very kind caring people.

My day school education teacher was a Mr Buckle, he was an old ex pugilist fighter, and it showed all over his face and cauliflower ears.He had a long hook pole used to open the top ventilation windows, which he could wield with one hand, to bring down on you, without rising from his seat, if he noticed your attention had strayed. A good man we all liked. Our Metalwork teacher was Mr Lloydd, who took to repeating, "Always leave a little bit to play with". Welsh, and lovely with it, he emigrated to New Zealand, choosing to travel overland, all the way on his motorbike and side car. he made it safely after many detours and adventures, breakdowns and hikes, all recorded briefly on his many postcards.

The school paid me two shillings and sixpence weekly pocket money, and a return train ticket home any and every weekend I wished to go home. I sang in our church choir, and we performed in the schools competitions at Festival Hall, London.

Looking back they were among the best days of my life, my age is now ninety, a long way from the slums of London where I was born. My thanks and prayers to all those who contributed to my well being during those early years, especially for the Magistrate who booked me in to Ashford Residential School.

[Ma410mRon]

Hello Frederickay,

I don't know if you still visit this site, I hope that you do.

My mother and her 2 elder sisters were at Ashford from about 1923 - 1935.
They were from Fulham and names were Hilda, Gladys and Winnie.
Just like others on here, my Mum always spoke fondly of her time there despite the strict regime. She felt that they were lucky to have good food, education, hospital etc. 
She used to always talk about the wonderful times she had on holidays in Dymchurch and as a child we had to go and visit there a couple times!

Her lifelong love of listening to Gilbert and Sullivan came from the performances that the school put on, though she never got to watch a performance as an adult - except on the TV.
It obviously must have been tough too. No visits from home as no-one could afford it although I do remember her saying she did have a few visits from her Aunty May.

Maybe she did look at it through rose coloured specs, but I don't think so. She was smart and understood how fortunate they probably were. In fact, my Mum always called it her Boarding School and when much later it became a Borstal she was really upset!

My sister has a postcard wishing her a happy birthday from the school. It also has with a photo of her in what seems to be a girls sports team - well they are in shorts!

I would love to hear from anyone who remembers any of them. Or indeed just about the school in general.

Thank you for reading my ramblings. 

[frederickay]

Hi your mother would have been there with my father and his four siblings . They were there 1928 until my father left at approx 16 . He was born Dec 1924 and entered the home as a 3 year old . I tried to look up records which are in the metropolitan archives but between  my visits from NZ the search time frame went from 60 to 100 years .
I do have two journals but I think they are later than your families residence . They may have been publishing them earlier and the ones I have are very full of names , stories and letters with the odd photo . It would be worth trying to find some . Mine were sent in hard copy from a kind soul so I was blessed . My family were Winifred , Arthur , Dolly , Mabel and Jim .

[Ma410mRon]

Thank you so much for your reply Frederickay,

So we both had an Aunty Winifred!
It is so frustrating that we now have to wait 100 years to see the archives. I will continue researching though.

Take care
Marion.