tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post4663708751711100497..comments2024-03-13T10:32:22.656+00:00Comments on thanetonline: St Mary's Convalescent Home BroadstairsMichael Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09499435016469020417noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-42582787941401085572022-07-26T10:16:59.696+01:002022-07-26T10:16:59.696+01:00Hi! I am trying to do some research on my fathers ...Hi! I am trying to do some research on my fathers time in the home in Broadstairs. His name was Johnny Hill or John Watkinson. He went by two in his youth. He thinks that he would have been at the home in 1954-1958 and would have been 4 or 5 when he was admitted. He was born in 1950. He also tells me that he had decent enough memories of it there but always says how cruel and harsh the nuns were. Please can anyone email me if they remember him or have any pictures. His past is somewhat confusing to him and I would love to help him to remember.Alexandra Watkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13107980166414785260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-4592156674792129422022-04-05T16:36:08.119+01:002022-04-05T16:36:08.119+01:00Same I was here late 70s and visited the building ...Same I was here late 70s and visited the building before Covidkenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05555549770342699548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-89965170168091686182022-02-09T20:11:23.820+00:002022-02-09T20:11:23.820+00:00I was at St Mary's in November of 1953 or 54. ...I was at St Mary's in November of 1953 or 54. I remember three things about that concentration camp. 1. Being made to eat cauliflower cheese including the vomit I'd produced when first faced with it. 2. Being made to walk along the beach in all weather's for two hours without coats and 3. The only saving grace- an older boy who kept us all entertained after lights out with great stories and teaching us songs. Woe beside us if we'd been caught. I'd love to know if that person was still aroundTerrybhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03857953681378741658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-1110434939399491932021-12-11T16:14:17.024+00:002021-12-11T16:14:17.024+00:00I think I may have blocked my memories, I recall t...I think I may have blocked my memories, I recall the walk to the beach and a plane going over making a sonic boom. My sister was sent home alone (to London) and I was kept because I had tonsillitis. They didn't even let my parents know and we were one of the few families with access to a phone. This was around 1955-56 I was about 6 and my sister 3. If all these stories are true no wonder we didn't get well, she was unwell and had her tonsils out and I was anaemic and had malnutrition.Gothgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10989107190884595221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-9123454944276511512021-11-09T19:42:43.170+00:002021-11-09T19:42:43.170+00:00Hi just found this site not sure are you talking a...Hi just found this site not sure are you talking about my sister camilla. She was from East Acton sometimes known as Shepherd’s Bush or Acton camilla would have been 11 or 12 when at this homeSandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562336142823062815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-19542160065884327492021-10-14T11:57:36.954+01:002021-10-14T11:57:36.954+01:00Hi there this comment is for my dad he was in this...Hi there this comment is for my dad he was in this home in 1951 and can't remember much apart from the walk down to the beach the tunnels and big gates he is trying to find out more as his name also could have been changed his surname was ewington please any information would be helpful Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08472370196478788807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-21892138848252818272021-04-12T15:59:48.103+01:002021-04-12T15:59:48.103+01:00I was at there in 1951 aged 6 x icwet the bed one ...I was at there in 1951 aged 6 x icwet the bed one night and the nuns went mad shouting at me and telling me off when they noticed a boil on the top of my leg x in the morning they lanced it and I got another felling off x parcels that arrived were opened at breakfast fkr all to see but we never got the contents x I remember the walk to the beach via the tunnel x it was not a nice place and the only smile you got from the nuns was when the clergyman appeared x Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11678777002868809256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-41836187436966223252021-01-12T19:18:42.366+00:002021-01-12T19:18:42.366+00:00My dad was stood in a bath with the window open kn...My dad was stood in a bath with the window open kn a November morning and gad jugs of cold water poured over him!! All because he'd got out of ved and pee'd into his shoe. It's a wonder he survived that place!!Margaret Stedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494090534535289023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-57476918264248117282021-01-12T18:56:49.709+00:002021-01-12T18:56:49.709+00:00I am disappointed with myself that I didn't fi...I am disappointed with myself that I didn't find this site while my dear Mum was still alive. Mum's elder sister died of TB in 1934, she was devastated and then was dragged to the 'convalescent home', separated from her grieving parents, the cruel treatment that was meted out by the nuns there stayed with her ALL her life and she lived to 93. She vividly remembered having to eat terrible food, shocking conditions instead of care and was still ashamed when she wet the bed by having to wear boy's trousers and having her bedding put out of the window by her bed not to air but to show everyone what this 'terrible child ' had done ! Her dad used to cut her nails for her but she said that after her stay she had ,'bitten her nails down to the quick and continued to bite her nails for months afterwards.Having just read the report on Mother and Baby Homes, I wonder whether the Church has ever addressed their convalescent homes? I am truly so unhappy that the terrible treatment was allowed to continue into the 1950s for these innocent children who should have had extra care after the trauma which they must have already experienced. . Kay Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04062699177408581855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-28815832239617593642020-11-14T17:17:11.788+00:002020-11-14T17:17:11.788+00:00Surely you have the dates wrong, as I was there in...Surely you have the dates wrong, as I was there in 1963 at 11, and remember only too well the huge old building, its massive dining room with long tables where everybody ate together, as well as the rose garden. missredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284909288285259348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-61343673894417013432020-10-10T13:25:02.373+01:002020-10-10T13:25:02.373+01:00Hi, I and my sister was in the home in the 60'...Hi, I and my sister was in the home in the 60's it was not the greatest place to be in at that time.<br />We both have really bad memories of that time right upto now and have never been back since that time. <br />All that is sad about the home is trueall the bad bits are really true. Charles LodvAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13981662005439763150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-17835102323633030602020-08-25T01:15:19.766+01:002020-08-25T01:15:19.766+01:00Just found this site. I was at Broadstairs around ...Just found this site. I was at Broadstairs around 1952/53. Remember running away several times with my friend Betty, only to be found by by the nuns at the end of the tunnel to the beach. Do remember the smacks on the bottom and the terrible food.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419093061603516942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-90624683036922299582020-07-29T18:40:27.960+01:002020-07-29T18:40:27.960+01:00Hello!
Just found this site! My dad was an orphan ...Hello!<br />Just found this site! My dad was an orphan at St Augustine's, Kilburn, London from 1918 (18 months old) until 1932. Their summer residence was St Mary's, Stone Road, Broadstairs. He loved the beach but had an overall dreadful time in London and Broadstairs. The nuns showed no compassion and were extremely cruel. It's amazing he survived with the treatment! After 1954 we used to go to the orphanage reunions at St Michael's Convent, Ham Common, Surrey. <br />We also used to visit the home at Broadstairs for summer holidays and stayed at the gate lodge with my "aunt and uncle" (uncle was at the orphanage with my dad). <br />I went back to St Mary's a few years ago but while the gate lodge is still there the main building was gone. I used to run around the massive grounds. No more.Margaret Stedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09494090534535289023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-34263958886326637942020-06-21T09:08:55.730+01:002020-06-21T09:08:55.730+01:00Sorry, I forgot to add my name and location to my ...Sorry, I forgot to add my name and location to my above comment. David Rayner, Stoke on Trent (David Welsh in 1956 when I was at St Mary's).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039397545434639372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-29501121795176614122020-06-19T21:37:41.862+01:002020-06-19T21:37:41.862+01:00I hope that Robin Dutton or, to give him his other...I hope that Robin Dutton or, to give him his other name, Robin Chapman, wasn't the boy who was given the job by the nuns of being with me all the time and not letting me out of his sight after I had run away twice from St Mary's and on my third attempt I tricked him into leaving me for a minute to get me something and as soon as he'd gone, I high tailed it for the railway station. If so, I'm very sorry. I've always felt guilty about letting him down like that and it was all to no avail, because once again I was caught and taken back to St Mary's.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039397545434639372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-27908244670376437972020-06-19T21:27:47.486+01:002020-06-19T21:27:47.486+01:00I was amazed to see that Tony Euden's book on ...I was amazed to see that Tony Euden's book on The Convalescent Homes of Broadstairs, which Tony sent me a free copy of in 2007, is on amazon uk for a staggering £878:99. Surely no one would pay such a huge amount for it. <br /><br />David Rayner, Stoke on Trent.<br /><br />https://www.amazon.co.uk/Childrens-Convalescent-Homes-Broadstairs-Euden/dp/1905477961Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039397545434639372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-27558080247500826272020-05-21T14:59:06.658+01:002020-05-21T14:59:06.658+01:00I may have met him, but I don't remember any o...I may have met him, but I don't remember any of the names now, with the exception of Dennis Compton and I only remember his name because he was a neighbour of mine. <br /><br />David.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13039397545434639372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-2579167941742966692020-05-11T15:03:24.340+01:002020-05-11T15:03:24.340+01:00Hi David, my brother Robin was there around 1956 d...Hi David, my brother Robin was there around 1956 do you remember him, he was born Robin Dutton but my dad adopted him so he might have been know as Robin Chapman.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18282428059782641525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-53816233058226074202020-03-02T09:10:13.517+00:002020-03-02T09:10:13.517+00:00It seems I am vastly outnumbered on here with rega...It seems I am vastly outnumbered on here with regard to my memories of the nuns treating me kindly during my stay at St Mary’s as a nine year old in 1956. Everyone else says that they had a very unhappy time there, while I have no memories of being ill-treated by the nuns. Nevertheless, it has got me wondering as to what the real reason was that I kept running away and being brought back. Was it really just because I was homesick and missing my mummy in Stoke on Trent as I have always believed, or was there something else going on that I don’t remember because it was something that I blocked out of my memory? It’s a bit of a mystery after 64 years. David Rayner.David Raynerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06995196711095471409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-42537083288035950232020-01-12T21:16:57.282+00:002020-01-12T21:16:57.282+00:00and there i thought i was the only one . only just...and there i thought i was the only one . only just found this site and was hoping to call in broadstairs later this year i was there in late 50s no scars just bad memorys of nuns. just looked at old photo of the place and can still pick out the window i throw a mug of milk out of after made to to sit for hours with it in front me hot milk still makes me feel sick .loved the tunnel down to the beach . the place was bad but stoke on trent was worst . Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00370281976111888164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-8506727353056758452019-06-23T13:40:04.075+01:002019-06-23T13:40:04.075+01:00I can't remember any men being on the staff th...I can't remember any men being on the staff there at St Mary's (the one overlooking Stone Bay) when I was there as a nine year old in 1956, just nuns and female nurses. Were there any men there at that time? If there were, I simply have no memory of them. <br /><br />David Rayner in Stoke on Trent (known in those days as David Welsh).David Raynerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06995196711095471409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-31618859798525546942019-01-10T20:32:53.486+00:002019-01-10T20:32:53.486+00:00Just found this webb page and astonished at the me...Just found this webb page and astonished at the memories of most people. I was at st Marys (1952 ish) and confirm most of the comments of cruel nuns. and that tunnel of steps through the chalk cliff down to the beach. I don't think our parents were aware of the way this place was being run. Although i must admit that i didn't suffer as much as some others, i think the reason for that was that my dad made a point of visiting me every weekend.<br />Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16554229621157911452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-21838423004134923212019-01-07T16:55:52.057+00:002019-01-07T16:55:52.057+00:00I was there sometime in the 1950"s. For most ...I was there sometime in the 1950"s. For most of my life I have had nightmares about a tunnel leading to the sea. After researching the home I now realise why. No happy memories of the place.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12303862444550179303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-22168867234861617652018-12-15T15:37:09.134+00:002018-12-15T15:37:09.134+00:00my name was pat porter i was at st marys in 53to 5...my name was pat porter i was at st marys in 53to 55 2 years of hell i was so scared of the nuns i remeber having being forced fed the nuns held me down and rammed food down my throat and also had my finger nails cut down till they bled so i wouldent bite them they were so crule i used to wet the bed in the morning they made me stand in front of all the kids to show me up they were evil im 70 now but never forgot my misrable time there i would love to hear from other people that were there at that timeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075263466472110027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575321478441277410.post-47751067361301455632018-12-15T15:10:02.869+00:002018-12-15T15:10:02.869+00:00i was there about 53 to55 2 years it was hell i us...i was there about 53 to55 2 years it was hell i used to bite my nails so one of the nuns cut them down till they bled to stop me biteing them i used to wet the bed so in the morning the nuns showed me up telling all the other kids what id done also had food rammed down my mouth gooseberrys i remember still cant stand them now i used to hate potatoes i had an apron with pockets so i would hid them in my pocket and dump them when i got outside now im seventy and it still upsets me now to think about it nowAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16075263466472110027noreply@blogger.com