Mark has been on the National Council of Barnardos Old Boys and Girls since 1997. In the Barnardo Guild Magazine of 1981 Mark looked back at the Good old days and family life at Barkingside, he talks about Christmas and kills the myth that the Matrons used to walk us to the local cemetery at this festive time so we could all see where Father Christmas was buried.

Looking back to my childhood I can recall having had a very happy one. Since leaving Barnardo's nine years ago, I realise just how lucky I was in having such a secure childhood. In fact, I can honestly say that I was far better off than most children were at that time.

My family and I lived in May cottage and then we moved to Sweet Briar. My 'mums' were Miss Scawthon and Miss Waters, although they were, and still are, affectionately known as Auntie Arm and Auntie Pearl respectively. My only 'brother' was Maxwell Waite. My, sisters’ were Rita Moxham Linda Bowley, and Diana Reynolds. All the family except Rita still live in Barkingside, so we are still able to see each other frequently.

Once a year we have a reunion when we reminisce the happy times we had in the good old days. The highlight of the reunion is a showing of the many slides taken by Auntie Ann and Auntie Pearl during our childhoods. Of the many facets in my childhood, Christmas was the most prominent one. Not just because of the razzmatazz, but it was the spirit that Barnardo's created. I can remember the weeks leading up to Christmas when we helped decorate the cottage and the Christmas tree, and when we wrote letters to Father Christmas telling him of all the presents we wanted. I can even remember the traditional ceremony of stirring the Christmas pudding and making a wish.

Another highlight each year was the annual 'Cottage Camp'. This took place at one of the many Seaside resorts along the south east coast. Our favourite venue was Ramsgate in Kent.

If people ask me about my life in Barnardo's, I tell them that I was very happy. Sometimes they tend to look towards Barnardo's as being an institution but my views are entirely different. I look upon Barnardo's as my home; after, all, a home is where you are cared for, a place where people will always find time to listen to your problems and offer guidance, or when you're ill there is someone to nurse you back to health. But most important of all, a home is where you are loved. All these occasions I had experienced thanks to Auntie Arm and Auntie Pearl.

Mark Gill
Member of The National Council of Old Boys and Girls.

The Village Home 1953 ‑ 72

Reproduced from The Barnardo Guild 1981

The photo was taken in the front hall of the Australasian Hospital, year not known. The only year I stayed in Barnardo's for Christmas was 1959. Below is Marks memory of Christmas at Barkingside. 

Christmas was my favourite event of the year. This was because Auntie Anne and Auntie Pearl worked so hard to make it a happy and memorable time for the family. Preparations started in November. One evening we would all assemble to stir the ingredients in a large mixing bowl that would eventually be made into several Christmas puddings. During the stirring ceremony we would all make a wish. In late November or early December we wrote our letters to Father Christmas informing him of three presents we would like to receive (most years our requests were fulfilled) then the week before Christmas the decorations were put up, the Christmas tree was placed in a corner of the dining room and when presents arrived in the post they were put around it.

Meanwhile Auntie Anne and Auntie Pearl worked like Trojans, making mountains of sausage rolls and mince pies. The fridge and larder were packed with even more goodies for the forthcoming festivities. Come Christmas Eve the excitement was at fever pitch. Shortly before bedtime we gathered in the playroom to write our names on labels and attach them to a stocking ‑ there were even stockings for the pets! Before the stockings were draped over the fireguard to await the arrival of Father Christmas.

Once all the children were tucked up in bed, Auntie Anne and Auntie Pearl really came into their own. The dining room was transformed into Aladdin's cave as presents given to the family were carefully laid out on the two sideboards. The two dining tables, normally separate from each other, were arranged to make one long table down the middle of the room and the table then adorned with white tablecloths and seasonal table decorations.

At long last the day we had all been waiting for arrived. As early as 5.30am there would be a knock at the front door; Auntie Anne went downstairs to let in none other than Father Christmas! After greeting everyone with 'merry Christmas' and a 'no, ho, ho,' Father Christmas opened his sack and pulled out the stockings one at a time. When Father Christmas departed, Auntie Anne brought our breakfast to the bedrooms. On Christmas Day it always consisted of sausage rolls, bread and butter and coffee, supplemented with any goodies found in our stockings.

Soon it was time to tidy up the bedrooms, get dressed in our Sunday best and go downstairs where a pillowcase full of presents was waiting for each of us.

Mark Gill
The Village Home 1953 ‑ 72

Reproduced from The Barnardo Guild winter 1997

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