At home
&
abroad
Contrasting
experiences at Christine cottage and Goldings gave Dennis Merchant a
mixed start in life. Now, at the age of 80, he looks back on a 'good
life ‘during and after Barnardo's.
Good craftsmanship. Boys admiring their cabinet making at Goldings
WHEN I came into Barnardo's at five years old, I was admitted to
Boy's Garden City. Prior to that, my history was unknown. I was
placed in Christine cottage in 1927, where I lived for the next
eight years. I have bad memories of being there In 1937 I was sent
to Goldings and have most pleasant memories of my stay there.
No
doubt about it, these were the most enjoyable years of my youth. I
was taught cabinet making under the supervision of Mr. Tempest,
better known as ‘Stormy'. As has been well‑documented, we all had
nicknames. Mine was 'Dekka Merchant'. How and why was unknown to me
and still is today!
I
was given an allotment there, where I grew things, stored rubbish
and even kept rabbits and pigeons. All the teachers and masters were
just terrific and well‑respected and liked by all ‑ a really
dedicated and special group of people.
The
war broke out during my stay at Goldings. We used to love watching
the dog fights between the English and German fighter planes. Quite
often the spent cartridges would fall in our playground and to be in
possession of one of them was really valuable.
When I left Goldings, one of the masters, Mr Stone, took about ten
of us boys to Weybridge in Surrey. It took all day to find us digs.
I was one of the last two from the group to find a place, but we all
had a place before dark. From memory, I think we all found jobs at
the aircraft factory Vickers Armstrong where we worked on the
Wellington bombers. I joined the navy in 1941, went over to Normandy
on D‑Day and then was placed as a minesweeper when the war finished.
Sweeping mines around the Dutch coast entitled us to quite a lot of
leave every so often, so we used to go to Amsterdam.
There I fell in love with a Dutch girl, went back to marry her in
1946 and stayed in Amsterdam for the next 20 years. We were blessed
with five sons during our 48 year marriage.
In
1967 we migrated to Australia with the whole family. After living in
Box Hill, Melbourne, for 30 years, my wife Ria passed away at the
age of 74.I live now with my son Richard. Looking back over the past
years, yes, I’ve enjoyed a great life and am very fortunate to still
be in good health at 80.
Dennis Merchant
Receiving house 1930
Boarded out, Eastcombe 1930
Boy's Garden City 1931‑ 38
Goldings 1938‑ 40
Reproduced from the Barnardo Guild
Messenger Summer 2005 |