Comments on: St Edward’s Home for Boys – Coleshill

By: Adrian Pownall

Adrian Pownall — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:40:47 +0000

Hello Terence, or indeed anyone reading this message, I was looking up St Eddy’s to see if I could get an idea of where my father Cyril Pownall spent some time. He would have been there around 1941 or 1942. Do you remember him? Coincidentally my wife, who was born in Sussex where we live, said that her father Ron Reynolds was in care in Liverpool around the same time or a little later. Does that name ring a bell? Sorry to trouble you but any clues would help. Kind regards, Adrian Pownall.

By: josie Jones nee STAIEN

josie Jones nee STAIEN — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:50:10 +0000

Hi.
I remember lots of the kids that were in the homes. My dad worked on gardens around Father Hudsons. Dont knw if anyone remembers JOHN ?
Feel SO sorry for the poor boys in there. I heard some tragic stories x

By: john steers

john steers — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:57:27 +0000

hi Linda , thanks for your reply , i will not deny that there were some evil acts and deeds carried out but i think sometimes things need to be put into perspective. i do not for one second condone what took place and i feel genuine sadness and remorse for the victims of these acts. Remember over a period of time thousands of children must have passed through these homes and not all off them were subjected to abuse , myself included and i can only say it as i saw it. These acts of abuse were not carried out in public and only the minority of children suffered , that does not make it right i know , one child suffering is one child to many , however we didnt all suffer, that is the point i wish to make
Discipline was important , you would need some type of discipline to control hundreds of children , many off whome where teenagers and naturally not to keen on authority , but i was never beaten or did i ever witness any beatings in my time , every child in the homes had an allocated social worker who was indipendant and worked for the local council.We had regular visits from them which were not attended by the nuns so we had full reign to raise grievances if needs be , i would suggest that some social workers failed to do their jobs properly by not spotting abuse too.
I am not here to defend the homes and it seems i am in a minority in this but i did genuinely have a lovely childhood and was afforded many chances and opportunities that i would not have experienced liviing at homewith my parents.
I am not trying to change your mind Linda about how you feel about the homes i would just like to point out that for many off the thousands who passed through their doors over the years some off us did actually do it with a smile

By: Christine Walker

Christine Walker — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:37:20 +0000

Lucky you, The homes were an evil place abuse and beatings I would love to know how you seem to be the only one to have had a wonderful time seems you were on holiday…

By: john steers

john steers — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:33:56 +0000

Hi Linda , i was in the homes from 1967 until 1978 , probably in the rooms that you look at as you pass by. I have read comments on this site and others relating to the evil and wicked activities that took place over the years in the homes and it saddens me because , I LOVED MY TIME THERE. I was never lonely, i had loads off friends to play with , hang out with all the time. I had friends in school who were only children who would go back home to their parents each night and sit alone in their room watching telly , totally bored. Not me , i had football , swimming , cricket , table tennis , friends and mates to listen to music with , chat with and fool around with, there was always something to do , yet there was enough space and large grounds on site for you to disapear into if you wanted peace and quiet , the best off both worlds. The pictures posted above are off the Chapel and the Cloister, which leads into the chapel , by the foot of the stairs leading to Saint Anthonys. The Hall was not a school hall ,it was a central area used for pantomines and film shows and towards the end of my time their for the occassional disco , it was also a natural meeting place for the children from the four different houses within the complex , namely St Josephs , St Vincents , Our Ladies and St Anthony,s .
Iff you want to know anymore , i have a fantastic recollection off people and occassions during my period there , i sometimes think i should write a book and call it ” The Umm Kids “

By: helen mcneill

helen mcneill — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:18:14 +0000

Terence, I have just received the file on my great Uncle Harry/Henry Howells who was in St Edwards 1927 -1934.. do you recall him? he was age 7 upon admission and 14 when he left. His mother Leah Howells my great grandmother visited him often and paid 3 shillings a week for his care. I have a photo of him taken in 1932
Regards Helen

By: linda

linda — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:01:52 +0000

i fond the home fascinateing and ofton go by just to look at it as i live not to far away , can anyone tell me what it was like to live there ? i see the old net curtains half way up the windows and imagine the poor children that lived there , can anyone shed some light on what it was like there please

By: keith whitehead

keith whitehead — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:16:15 +0000

i wasn’t at father hudsons but i went to st. pauls school (the central) in coleshill left in 1959 would love to hear from anyone who remembers me .
regards to all the old lads & lasses keith

By: Mick Mcgrath- Known as Sandy Mcgrath

Mick Mcgrath- Known as Sandy Mcgrath — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:48:08 +0000

At Father Hudsons from 1942-1956, worked in the kitchen with Sisters Fabian & joseph. anyone remember me?. regards to all. Mick

By: keith lenton

keith lenton — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:48:38 +0000

you remember me ??