click on the pictures to view
The
very impressive
Fazakerley Cottage
Homes
 A
picture taken at Fazakerley by Mrs. Roberts of the African Churches
Mission. The occasion was the "Visiting Day" when friends and
family were allowed into the Home to visit us. The playing field where
the photograph was taken holds many memories for me. Some of the
children on the snap are from left to right, Gladys the only white girl
at the Mission who joined us at the Cottage Homes, Adrian who appeared
in the Brown Babies film, and who I had not seen for 42 years until
then. I am pictured at the far right front row, with Sylvia just behind
me. I have never met either Gladys or Sylvia for in excess of 49 years.
I am sorry about the quality of the picture but I have carried this snap
about with me for many many years. |
Many children never received a visit from their
real families, and although my mother unknown to me lived only 3 miles from
Fazakerely, I never did receive a visit or a Christmas & birthday card from her. Shortly
after I arrived at the orphanage I was admitted to the Fazakerely Hospital, and
the doctors feared for my life and called for my mother. According to the Social
Services of Liverpool my mother "does not seem to have been in touch with
the department" Such behaviour from a mother leaves one wondering if she
was suffering from dry rot of the soul. Certainly my mother seems to
lack the affection that the mother Rudyard Kipling writes about. IF I
were hanged on the highest hill,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
I know whose love would follow me still,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine!
If I were drowned in the deepest sea,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine !
I know whose tears would come down to me,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine !
If I were damned of body and soul,
I know whose prayers would make me whole,
Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine! |
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Emmanuel Church of England in Longmoor Lane Fazakerley where I
and so many children from the Cottage Homes were baptised just prior to taking
our first holy communion |
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Cottage No 18 Was my first cottage in 1949 |
Cottage
No 9 my last home at Fazakerley in 1958 |
|
From left to right Miss Warrington
who was the assistant matron. Next to her are Mr & Mrs Phillips who were the
head of the Home. The picture was taken at the marriage of Mr. John Griffiths a
member of staff and a former resident of the Home. He is Chairman of the Cottage
Homes Association which meets every year at Fazakerley. John can be e-mailed here |
Christmas
Picture You can see Mr.& Mrs. Phillips on the far right and left of the
front row, and their daughter Daphne is the lady standing |
|
A host of
children being entertained at the Christmas party by the workers of
the English Electric
on the East Lancashire Road, Liverpool. It was occasion that we all so much
looked forward to, and we "Stuffed" ourselves silly. The children of
the home
would send the choir to sing for the workers of the factory a few weeks prior to
the Christmas holiday, it was our way of saying thank-you for the kindness they
showed to us. Our great musical number was the "Lord's my shepherd "
sang with the descant, and some of us boy sopranos sang our hearts out, and the
workers would come and thank us after their lunch for our efforts. The factory
is now closed, but I for one will always remember those very special times that
we spent there. There are not a few children in the picture, but there are no
prizes for spotting me. |
Ken
Greatrex and his dog
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Children and staff waiting to be transported to the ferry for
their holiday in the Isle of Man
|
 This picture is taken of the Cottage Homes football team at Douglas
on the Isle of Man. The soccer team would tour the Island in order to promote
the game amongst the Islanders. On this tour the team never lost a game, playing
about 9
matches, and winning by substantial margins. When the tour was over it ended in
some of us giving a musical festival to the civic dignities in Douglas the
capital city. My inclusion in the tour was not down to my ability to
play football, but in providing some of the
music at the festival. Although I do love to play soccer, there were to many good footballers for me to get a
game.
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