In the late 60s being a single mother was becoming more acceptable and with the greater use of contraception meant that there were fewer children that would be placed with Barnardo's, add to this a much improved social security benefit meant parents were able to look after their own children. These developments and the changes in legislation mean the battle had been won that Thomas had started all those years ago  in 1870 with the opening of his first home at Stepney.

Adapted from Social Work Today: During the twenty years or so since Trasler's Study highlighted the alarmingly high proportion of failed foster home placements, efforts have been made to improve practice and social services departments have increasingly invested resources in the setting up of fieldwork teams specialising in family placement. Despite these developments, the Barnardo's cottage complex at Barkingside, Essex (The Village) was still at the end of the 1970s receiving referrals from social workers seeking long term residential placement for children whose foster placements had not worked out.

Not much had changed for in 1882 Dr Thomas Barnardo wrote: "I must declare most emphatically that even the Village Home, with all its advantages, is not so good as boarding-out; and my only regret is that from the nature of the case, the system of boarding-out is not applicable to every girl. If it were, I would empty the Girls' Village Home to-morrow, and scatter the inmates throughout the length and breadth of the land, boarding them out in ordinary homes, amid natural surroundings, among respect­able working-class people in rural districts".

In the late 60s Barkingside the Village home had started to close down some of the cottages which meant a move for one House mother Lilian Kemp, nee Hobson of Cambridge cottage who where to be moved from what was the reception green to the Baby green into Cyril Cottage, the move would mean sewing into each Childs cloths the cottage name. Lilian felt the children would have been known as one of Cyril’s at School, so Lilian requested that the cottage move lock stock and barrel saving all the work needed to sew new name tags into the children’s cloths. This was agreed so now you know the real reason why Cambridge Cottage came to be on the Babies green and at one time opposite where it is today next to Oxford Cottage. The name one of Cyril’s became a well known saying in the early 80s when a well known bread maker used it for one of their TV adverts.

A smiling Princess Anne won the hearts of more than 200 children when she paid a visit to The Village on Tuesday, 2nd June 1970  The Princess had expressed a wish to see the work being done in The Village and to meet the children. It was also Her Royal Highness's wish that the visit be private and informal and during the the hour-long visit informality reigned - it was very much the children's day. Dressed in sunshine yellow, the Princess was accompanied by an excited throng of children who danced alongside her as she walked through The Village and talked happily when she spoke to them.

Princess Ann had requested she have tea with the children in one of the cottages, Lilian Kemps Cambridge cottage was chosen to host the meal which she said in her own words was a great honour. Lilian was informed that Princess Ann had requested that it she would like to share what the children would be having with nothing added just an every day tea time. Lilian had been given a salad set which was becoming the rave about that time so felt it would be a good time to use them, Lilian had forgotten one thing, children always tell it as it is. The day arrived and the children all arrived back from school and were met by Julie Smith who was the cottage assistant under Lilian who had been charged to get the children washed and dressed for tea. HRH The Princess Ann was seated between Marjorie and Lorain. The photograph shows the table which I know we can all confirm HRH was sitting at an every day tea table, apart from the salad servers. 

The salad bowl was handed to Marjorie and try as she might the salad servers were far to big to handle when all of a sudden Princess Ann said “we had hands before these, so lets just use our hands” and helped Marjorie to a handful of salad so all tucked in without Lillian’s salad servers that were snapped in the photo which was taken by Lilian or she would have been sitting in the chair top left. 

I wonder if HRH The Princess Ann asked for more?

In 2007 Cambridge Cottage become the Heritage centre which has displays from past years of Dr. Barnardo's.

Over the next six years Barkingside the Village home would reduce further until a decision was made in 1978 to re - focus work in the six remaining cottages in The Village away from long stay residential care and this provided an opportunity for the setting up of a pre - fostering and adoption unit in Cambridge Cottage in June 1979. It was conceived as a way of exploring the idea that residential workers could contribute more fully to family placement than had generally been acknowledged and allowed.

Scotch House in the heart of The Village, It is home for twelve elderly physically handicapped ladies. Most of the residents have spent the majority of their lives in Barnardo's‑first as children and then as employees. For many years the inhabitants of Scotch House lived in a part of The Village behind the AMU which was sold to Redbridge Council, and so to accommodate them the new home was built on the land of the old Governors House, they moved into it in January 31st 1973

Scotch House was a warm, homely building with each of the residents having their own bed sitting rooms which they have made cosily very much their own. They have all made their own choice of curtains and floor coverings, and supplemented the basic furniture with well loved pieces of their own. There is a large airy dining room where meals are taken, and a comfortable lounge where the residents gather together to watch television, or just to chat to one another. In later years Scotch house became  mixed with Arthur 'Rusty' Runcie taking up residence about 19xx. with his wife Emily. Arthur was renowned in his day as the man who gave Barnardo boys their distinctive hair - cuts.

Arthur 'Rusty' Runcie passed away aged 83 years young 1988. Mrs Emily Runcie nee Pearson had passed away 14th April 1981 at Barking Hospital Emily was an old girl of Barkingside and also became a member of staff. I don't know if you are aware, but Emily is cast in black marble on Dr Barnardo's memorial. Emily is the little girl with leg callipers.

Scotch House a residential/retirement home for Old Boys and Girls and staff is closed in 1991

Scotch House was used as the headquarters for Barnardo's London East Anglia and South East Division. 'LEASE' who deal with adults that were placed in adoptive homes through Dr. Barnardo’s. Today they have joined with After Care and have been re-branded as Making Connections and are situated in the old After Care building of Ivy and Oxford Cottages

Mr Roy Clough retired from head of after care in October 1986 Roy had been in the After Care Department for 35 years. Roy passed away on 28th November 2001 click here for the tribute published in the guild

ANNUAL SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION AND REDEDICATION

This annual event took place on Sunday, 21st September 1975, at The Village Church, Barkingside, this year commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the death of Dr. Thomas John Barnardo. The preacher was The Rev. W. L. Dobb, formerly Barnardo's Headquarters Clerical Organizing Secretary, and many afterwards expressed appreciation of his words. The service was taken by The Rev. E. G. Collins, Senior Administrative Officer at Headquarters and the Lessons were read by Mr. Gerd Lubszynski, member of the Barnardo Guild Committee, and Mr. Ron Williams, member of the Barnardo staff.

Before the service there was a display in the church foyer and at the conclusion of the service there was the traditional procession to Dr. Thomas Barnardo's Memorial where Mrs. Frances Wilson. Representing Old Boys and Girls and Neville Davies, a young man from The Village, laid sheaths of flowers. Mr. S. Baker had returned to play the organ for us and young people from The Village took the collection.

Following the service light refreshments were served in the Headquarters canteen and it was a very happy occasion for everyone blessed with good weather. A real pleasure to see so many Old Boys and Girls and former members of staff.

In 1975 about THE FUTURE...Work was to begin during the summer of 1973 on a comprehensive unit for sixty physically handicapped boys and girls, which is being built at The Village. The new unit. which will replace three existing Barnardo homes for the physically handicapped, is expected to be ready for occupation towards the end of 1975.

The main objective in planning the building was the creation of a living space to meet the needs of children of all ages suffering from severe physical and social handicaps, and providing not only for their living but also for education and for medical treatment.

The building will comprise: living accommodation for four groups of twelve children. and a special care wing for twelve children, a social centre comprising a hall, games room, and coffee bar, the social hub of the centre, and a school with six class bases and craft area: physiotherapy and a pool area, speech therapy and remedial teaching rooms; staff accommodation, mainly in the outer perimeter blocks. and administration and services. kitchen. and laundry.

On the 14th October 1975 saw the opening by H.R.H. Princess Margaret, President of Dr. Barnardos. The Old Boys and Girls were represented by Mr. Reg Kellett, Chairman of the Barnardo Guild Committee, and his wife and also Mr. R. B. Clough of Headquarters.

Old Boys and Girls, will be happy to know that the 60 children and staff have settled in happily at New Mossford and are starting a new chapter in Barnardo's long history of work for physically handicapped children and young people, are naturally delighted that the target set for their donations, through The Barnardo Guild, was achieved in two years and before the official opening.

The sum of £5,070 was raised to pay for planting and grassing, a pool, stainless steel handrail, "dwarf" brick walls and built‑up flowerbeds, and a water standpipe for the adventure playground.

Up to the end of October, a further £1,193 has been raised towards our new target of £5,253, which we hope to achieve within the next two years, to pay for essential works being done‑palisade fencing and trees, shrubs and hedges for the Horns Road side, and chain link fencing and hawthorns for the Civic Way side.

Barnardo's thank all Old Boys and Girls for their wonderful support in the past, and for their continued interest and support for the physically handicapped children in their care.

In 1986 New Mossford had been reduced to 40 boys and girls and young people and still provides care and education for severely handicapped children.

THE VILLAGE CHURCH, BARKINGSIDE IN 1979: Readers may have already heard about plans for alterations to The Village Church, here at Barkingside, and changes which are to take place in the use of this building, and the Directors are anxious that Old Boys and Girls should know the reasons, as outlined in the following statement which was displayed at the Annual Service of Commemoration and Rededication in September 1978

The greater use of The Village Church: Now that children from The Village attend services in the local community The Village Church is no longer used by them except on special occasions such as harvest festivals and carol services. The church is used by staff for the Tuesday lunch time services and occasionally by Old Boys and Girls for weddings, etc. Apart from this, and the Annual Service of Commemoration and Rededication, the church is not used for services.

The construction and maintenance of buildings is becoming increasingly costly and we are making every effort to ensure that our buildings are used as effectively as possible. Concern has been expressed for some time about the under utilization of the church building. At the same time there has been an increasing need to provide an activity and crafts centre for the boys and girls in The Village. They already make limited use of the west end of the church for some activities.

Barnardo Council have now agreed in principle that plans be drawn up for the modification of the church building to make it possible to use the building both as a church and as an activity centre for children of The Village. The centre will also replace facilities at present in Linney House which are used by Old Boys and Girls and by staff, but which will no longer be available when Linney House is converted to accommodate the North London and East Anglia Appeals Regional Office, the Chief Photographer, and the Graphics Design Team.

The Chief Architect has prepared a sketch which gives a general idea of the proposals. As will be seen these involve the construction of a sliding screen at the entrance to the chancel and filling in of the arches between the nave and the aisles so that the nave and aisles can be used for recreational purposes and creative activities when the building is not required for church services. In addition it is proposed that a mezzanine floor be constructed over the committee room at the back of the church to provide more usable space and to improve the acoustics and heating of the existing committee room.

The need to preserve the church as a place of worship for both small and large services will be paramount both in the planning and carrying out of the alterations.

SONGS OF PRAISE 1981

Sunday, 8th March 1981 was indeed a date and time to remember, for the 'Songs of Praise', recorded in The Village Church, Barkingside, appeared on BBC television.

The programme featured Mrs Daphne Newton, housemother The Village; Miss Barbara Doyle, head physiotherapist, New Mossford; Lady Wagner, Chairman of Council; Miss Dora Kite, of Scotch House; Mr Albert Fallaize, who was converted through listening to Dr Barnardo preach; Mr and Mrs Gerd Lubszynski, an Old Boy and Old Girl, and some 12 churches in the Barkingside area, as well as the Barnardo Head Office choir and staff, collaborated in the making of the programme.

A children's 'Songs of Praise' recorded in The Village Church was transmitted on Sunday, 12th April. Junior and senior pupils from local schools featured in this programme, as well as youngsters from New Mossford.

THE VILLAGE 1986 then was still as attractive as it was in the early days though there are only about 44 children and young people living here as opposed to approximately 1,300 children when The Village first began. Its role now is to provide short‑term places for boys and girls awaiting adoption or fostering or to help them return home to their natural families.

In 1988 the corporate arm of Dr. Barnardo's had changed its name to Barnardo's to reflect the contrast with its Victorian past. In 1991 the Dr. had finally been dropped. This has been an emotive subject for most Old Boys and Girls as we were all brought up in Dr. Barnardo's Homes, we were Barnardo Children which most of us are quite proud of........The last traditional-style Dr Barnardo home closed in 1989.

From 'This time next week' by  Leslie Thomas who wrote "Every childhood is a meadow. Ours was stubbly and had weeds in patches, and days of sun and freedom and happiness. And, at its end, there was a gate to the outside, and it opened for each one of us, opened only once. Its notice, hung on the top bar, said; "Shut The Gate Behind You", which is an instruction as final as any. Return as you might, Dickies was never yours again. Yours was the real world, to live in.

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