Hutton Poplar Pin Board

Audrey D Francis (nee Wilmot)

14 January 2010

Photograph of the Nursery

Graham Wye

23 November 2009

Additional Keywords: ernie potter

Ernest Potter - Teacher

I was a resident of Hutton Poplars between 1964-1965. I remember Ernest Potter, the teacher in what we referred to as the remedial unit, and I want to thank him for the help he gave me.

He probably won't remember me but he made a huge positive difference to my life in a very short time - for which I have always been very grateful.

Edward Dorney

Plymouth

10 November 2009

Additional Keywords: ed dorney ted dorney teddie dorney teddy dorney eddie dorney

Reunions

Please contact Edward Dorney (of Plymouth) about any reunions because he wishes to attend. Phone 01752 290 450.

Kavin Robert

London

17 October 2009

Further Recollections of Hutton

We had a section we called "The Unit". This was at the back of Windermere House aka Nassa Senior House. although it had been where Housecraft etc was taught during the 1960s to 1971. It was used by those who could not go to outside schools or had been expelled from one.

When William Morris House "Medway House" closed in the fall of 1965 - which was the transitional period of Hutton Poplars. There was talk of making three flats out of it. This had previously been done with Shakespeare House (aka Thames House). In the event William Morris House became a community centre. The centre did not last long, fell into ruins and was demolished in the late 1970s.

They also built two new houses on the site of the famous orchard. Work began in 1965 and was completed in 1967. Some of Grassmere House moved to it. They were named Randel and Sorota house. I was often at Sorota house myself. Both survived right up until 1994, when they were demolished. Today houses now stand on the site of them the houses and the front lawns both houses both had.

Audrey D Francis (nee Wilmot)

2 October 2009

Additional Keywords: audrey francis audrey wilmot i am a mole and i live in a hole

The Southsiders

The photograph below was taken on 29 May 1958 - my Christening Day. Roy Holman was my God Father, From left to right me, Sister Alison, my cousin Gary Wilmot, Sister Sandra and my cousin Larry Wilmot.

Click for larger photo

This Photograph is of "The Southlanders". From left to right Vernon Nesbeth (the founder of the group), Harry Wilmot (Gary and Larry's father) Frank Mannah, Allan Wilmot (mine and my sister's father).

Click for larger photo

Southlanders Official Website Wikipedia Wapedia

Kavin Robert

London

15 September 2009

Bombing - Recollections of The War Years‏

I am a veteran of this place and I have been adding comments about Hutton School onto its Friends Reunited section for some time.

During the war bombs fell nearby and, although other people had Anderson shelters, at Hutton Poplars we had single storey brick buildings built in our courtyards.

My aunt, who worked at Hutton in 1944, told me “"We would bring down all the cots and place them in the shelters". This was to escape the shock of the bombs exploding nearby. After the war these same places would become bike sheds and one even became a garage.

They survived right up the time when the entire site was redeveloped in the 1980s (although the houses on what was known as the east side were demolished in 1972).

Audrey D Francis (nee Wilmot)

18 May 2009

Additional Keywords: audrey francis audrey wilmot

Mr & Mrs Boswood (Residents in Shenfield in the 1960s)

Mr Boswood was the local Veterinary Surgeon and Mrs Boswood was a Teacher at Brentwood High School. They now live in Cornwall, I'm still in contact with them.

Audrey D Francis (nee Wilmot)

18 May 2009

Additional Keywords: audrey francis audrey wilmot

2008 Reunion

I have some photographs of last year's Reunion taken by one of the lads that had lived in Hutton Poplars. Last year I found and invited quite a few of the 'Home Children'. They had not heard that there is a Reunion and hopefully this year the numbers will increase.

At present the Reunion is Structured round the folks who had lived there prior to the 1940's. Hopefully with increased numbers of our 'generation', they might, eventually, make some changes to acknowledge us. They call the 'Church' 'The Boy's Dining area', this is an example of the different terminology used.

Valerie Bouic

4 April 2009

A Nursery Nurses's Memories of Hutton Poplar School 1956 - 57

I was born in Hutton and worked at the school in 1956 – 57 in the Baby Unit as Assistant Nursery Nurse while waiting to start my paediatric nurse training. I have happy memories of my time there with the children even though it was so long ago and many names come to mind.

Ernest Potter

24 March 2009

28 December 2008

A Teacher's Memories of Hutton Poplar School 1963 - 1965

When I worked at Hutton Poplars it was run by the LCC Children's Committee for Area Five (Tower Hamlets). I was employed as a teacher there from September 1963 to July 1965.

The Homes were built when George Lansbury was Chairman of the LCC.

The classroom block was in the middle of the campus. There were two classrooms and the other teacher was a Miss Mary MacBride who had lived at Hutton Poplars for a number of years. I had lunch each day with Mr and Mrs Fred Stearman in their house.

My job was to settle secondary age girls and boys back into a school routine, giving remedial teaching where necessary, then arranging the children's placement in a local school. Each week ( usually on a Wednesday) my wife and I would have two children home for tea. They invariably wanted chips! In the case of one girl, Linda Bowers, she was placed in Sawyers Hall School, near my home. To give her a break she came to my wife for lunch each day. On one occasion my wife thought the lunch hour seemed rather long and found that Linda had put back the clock in order to delay her return to school.

Maurice Horowitz was the Superintendent. I have a number of photos of my time there. The large swimming baths in the middle of the campus were a novelty at the time.

I have fond memories of the children and staff at the home and many photographs from my time there if anyone wants to see them.

Simon Hall

21 November 2008

10 April 2008

Photographs

Simon tells me Hackney Archives have an old Hutton Poplars photo album with many good photographs. Unfortunately they charge £5 for each scan.

Please contact Simon if you have any photographs of the school you would be prepared to share with him.

Jackie Hobbs

Bursar, St Columba's Catholic Boys' School

3 November 2008

Hutton Training School‏ Board of Guardians Record at the London Metropolitan Archives

Can you please tell anybody that needs early information that we found lots of information in the Board of Guardians Records at the London Metropolitan Archives

It was all well documented – every review and application.

Ron Arnold BEM

17 October 2008

News from Ron Arnold BEM

Hi Peter. Just read your digest on Hutton. I recall you emailed me some years back re this school and introduced me to Friends Reunited. I met a lot of old pals from the school on the site. I was at Hutton from aged 4 to 15. We were three in all and we all did well in life.

My brother and I became detectives at Scotland Yard and excelled. The school was okay for me and I was treated well during my tenure there. I excelled in sports and enjoyed myself. Of course I did not know my parents who both died in 1949. I have some small glimmer of my mother though. A lot of the boys did not fare well though.

In any event it gave me some backbone and while I was in Malaya and Borneo in the early 60's I survived these times in the jungles. I also did OK as a police officer in the Met. London with my brother and we worked together for years. We were close. I think he was effected more than we were by the loss of parents as he was older.

We did have two older sisters that did not go to Hutton and who became our surrogate moms. Sure it was lonely not having a mother and father to tuck us in at night and read us stories. I have no doubt we will meet in another life for sure.

Many times I have been close to death (hence the BEM) but am glad I met the right girl and have a wonderful family now at aged 65.

Hutton was good to me. I was well clothed and educated and had wonderful staff who I recall very fondly. They were my family for sure and the LCC did a great job. I can never repay them. This is one lad that grew up with very few problems as a result of Hutton Poplars.

By the way the poplars were huge trees in the school and I climbed them all. I also climbed the main dining room roof and lived in the large bell on the roof which was my second home.

Take care.

Ron Arnold BEM, Former Scotland Yard Detective, Private Investigator (Canada)

Eric Keys

22 September 2008

Research on Hutton Poplar School

Eric has an academic interest in the history and development of Hutton Poplar School and would like to be kept abreast of any research. He is currently writing a dissertation on the establishment.

Webmaster’s comment – I am very grateful to John for the correct list of names of the establishment with dates at the top of this page and elsewhere on this website. Academic research may seem some way from the many personal experiences relating to Hutton Poplars, but in fact people often need reliable, factual information to get the jigsaw pieces of their recollections sorted into a meaningful picture.

Nina Blyth

Alabama

18 June 2008

Message from America

I would like to say that Hutton will always be part of me, I was there in 1956 in the baby unit when I was 3 months old until I left in 1970 from Bala House.

I live in Alabama in the Deep south and it was just great to find Hutton poplars on your site!

Audrey D Francis (nee Wilmot)

22 May 2008

Additional Keywords: audrey francis audrey wilmot

Annual Reunion 2008

This year on the 26 May 2008 there will be quite a few of us that resided at Hutton Poplars Children's Home that will be attending the Annual Reunion. We lived there from 1955-1967+ years.

Recently because Friends Reunited no longer charges subscriptions there has suddenly been an increase in people signing up hence recently I have already had contact from approximately 10 people. We have been able to reminiscence. These stories have helped immensely to bring back our childhood memories.

It would be interesting and helpful if you could share any information that you have gathered.

I am the blood cousin to actor/singer Gary Wilmot and both of our fathers were singers in a Group called "The Southlanders" Their famous song was "I am a Mole and I live in a hole".

Click on image to see a larger picture.

Simon Hall

10 April 2008

Snippet of Information

My name is Simon Hall I was in Hutton poplars with my brother in 1973.

Webmaster’s comment – This is a snippet of information from a much fuller message.

Name Withheld by Webmaster

16 March 2007

Additional Keywords: physical abuse sexual abuse

Alleged Abuse at the Home Mid 1940s to Mid 1950s

I have received a message from a former pupil (who gave me her name and contact information) stating that when she was there (mid 1940s to mid 1950s) she was physically and sexually abused by staff. She also states that this was discovered by the authorities and covered up (although at least one senior member of staff was dismissed because of it). My correspondent went on to say that she was not aware of any widespread abuse at the home and that her personal circumstances – unusually for the School she was an orphan with no supportive relatives turn to – made her particularly vulnerable to such abuse.

Webmaster’s comment – I personally take no position on this matter. Although it is not appropriate on the forum to go into details about accusations it is appropriate to note the fact of an accusation. If I receive other messages about this matter, subject to the agreement of the senders, I will put all those contacting me in touch with one another.

Violet Brace

12 December 2006

Additional Keywords: bill brace william brace john brace

Recollections of the School in WW2

My late husband Bill was the youngest of six children from a very poor family living at Orchard Place, Poplar. He was born in 1933 and what little he remembered of his childhood wasn't pleasant at all. The three youngest children of the family - two boys and one girl (including Bill and his older brother John) - were put into the orphanage in Hutton, though they didn't live together. He lived in Hutton/Shenfield during during the 1930s and 40s. Bill was living at the orphanage when WW2 broke out and, like his brother John, was fostered out in the community to make room at the orphanage for evacuees from London.

After Bill had left the orphanage, on the rare occasions when he met the brother and sister who also lived at Hutton/Shenfield, he was always half-starved. He was so thin that, when he was eight, his older brother could pick him up with one hand. Bill suffered from rickets and had to have building-up treatment for years. By contrast John, who was also been fostered out, lived with very nice people.

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