In 1944 my mother went for help after she was told "To get rid of me" She got in touch with Sister Laver, (a Methodist Missionary, who was considered too weak to go to China)....She survived in Gateshead until in her 90's!). During her time in the overcrowded, polluted N.E. she set up food kitchens and practical social help; Boys Scouts - having the largest group in England, I'm informed. Practical groups for knit and natter; days out at the coast and country for all ages. Put on Concerts etc., and she also set up a mother and baby home - firstly in street houses, and eventually a properlyorganised base for women in time of need when coming up for the birth of their babies, and help to place children into new homes, after giving birth in Bensham Hospital, Gateshead.
Sister Laver is one of many who served local communities in the U.K., instead of going as Missionaries abroad.
Perhaps there are many such charities that went under the radar 50 years or more ago. It may be worth cheking archives and libraries to see if any of these smaller units, AND/OR PRIVATE ADOPTIONS ARRANGED BY RELATIVES AND LOCAL DOCTORS? Many family members took over the responsibilty of illegitimate children as their own, and tried hard to hide the fact that 'an Aunt, or Cousin' was in fact the mother of the child whom they brought up as their own.
My full sister, was unaware of my existence, until the day she was married! All her cousins, Aunts and Uncles knew of my existence and kept it quiet until 1 9 6 5 so we aren't talking about the 1800's and Victorian times that Charles Dickens wrote about in his stories!
After years of campaigning, I located my birth mother, before the 1975 Childrens Act came into force - AND WITHOUT KNOWING HER NAME BUT IT TOOK ME TEN YEARS TO BREAK THE REGISTER CODES, and a lot of good luck and faith of a rookie journalist to apply for my certificate...and a big mistake in a Seconded worker not knowing the rules about refusing to give a certificate to a member of the public (when it had the word ADOPTED SHOWING IN THE MARGIN!!!) Four hours after seeing my mothers and my own name - I managed to bridge 33 years of ignorance.
I am still trying to identify my father, and sort out the web of lies and false leads given over the years. He was serving in the Army in WW11. Down to two possibilities. All I need is to prove his Service Record, that he was in England at the time of my conception, before I follow my final lead with his family name and check with his ancestors if we have the same DNA.
Happy hunting.....
S
