Old Boys and Girls Annual Reunion: Our Legacy and History

National Children’s Home (NCH) was founded in 1869 by Thomas Stephenson, Francis Horner and Alfred Mager, and grew to run many large branches throughout England and Wales. NCH was to eventually become Action for Children.

Alex Tanquee spoke to the Old Boys and Girls about his own experiences growing up at the NCH Princess Alice School just outside Birmingham. He said that he treasured all the very ‘normal’ memories of childhood. Princess Alice had about 15 houses on site with 12 to 14 children in each house. 

“It’s those normal memories that will stick with me. It gave me the stability to move on. It gave me a good grounding. I was able to carry on an apprenticeship and progress from there."

Antiques Roadshow presenter Ronnie Archer Morgan grew up in our care until the age of six, first at Woking in Surrey before moving to Westdene in Southport, Lancashire.

He spoke about the relationship he and his best friend Anna had at the home.

"They made me and my best friend Anna feel valued and able to deal with all the trials and tribulations of the world. For her 15th birthday they gave her a sewing machine and now she travels round the world teaching people how to make patchwork quilts and she’s probably one of the best patchwork quilt makers in the world."

Lifelong friends Nancy Norman, Judy Hamblin, and Margaret Hewitt all worked at NCH, and chatted to Old Boys and Girls once in their care. 

Judy joined NCH in 1958, the same year as Nancy, while Margaret started in early 1959. All three trained together. 

Nancy cared for Richard Holdsworth at our Harpenden home in Hertfordshire, and the pair got the chance to chat about old times at the reunion. 

“Richard was one of the children I cared for,” said Nancy. “He was 12 when he arrived at Harpenden, as was his sister Frances.” 

Nancy met her husband Laurence while working at NCH. “I met him when he came home on leave. He was training to be an officer in the Merchant Navy and he had grown up in the National Children’s Home,” explained Nancy. 

They married in the Methodist church at our Harpenden home, with Judy and Margaret acting as bridesmaids, and all the children at the home were guests. 

Laurence then changed careers, joined NCH as a staff member, and he and Nancy worked together for the next 20 years. “He was not only brought up from the age of three in the National Children’s Home, he became a senior member of staff,” explained Nancy. 

As ever, the Old Boys and Girls were keen to hear about the past year at Action for Children and all the positive updates about the tremendous work happening across the charity. 

There was delight when they were shown a video tour our Willow Lodge home in Derbyshire filmed by the young people living there. The audience heard about our new children’s homes in Hackney, Bath and Somerset, and Scotland. 

Brigitte Gater, our Managing Director of Children's Services, added how humbled she was that Action for Children had ‘touched so many people’ and described the Old Boys and Girls as the ‘beating heart of Action for Children’. 

Sarika Patel, our former Chair of Trustees, who stepped down at the end of June following a seven-year term, gave a heart-felt video message: “This is such an important part of what Action for Children used to be, is, and continues to be.” 

Neville Shulman CBE, also spoke at the event. He is a passionate supporter of and Ambassador for Action for Children having raised many hundreds of thousands of pounds down the decades. 

He spoke for many when he said Action for Children was, “One of the great, great charities of this country.” 

In a speech to the guests, Leah, one of our Young Ambassadors drew a connection between Action for Children’s past, and the present.

If you were previously in our care, we'd love for you to be at our next reunion and receive our Extended Families magazine.