I received an email Lucy McCarraher  who worked at Shelton House, Shrewsbury, as an Assistant House Mother, for six months from January to June1973. Lucy recalls it was a gap year job, and I was probably given it because my mother, Dame Gillian Wagner, was Chairman of Barnardo's at the time!

I was on Miss Norbury's "house", with another ASM called Janet. Our "family" included a girl called Trudy, with her two brothers called Nigel and Patrick, the latter of whom was a haemophiliac, a boy called Anthony and a little girl called Katie. The other House Mothers were called Jill and Anita, and I was especially friendly with Jill's AHM whose name was Trudy and who was about the same age (18 -19) as me. I wish I could remember surnames...

At one point Janet and I took our five children on holiday by the sea for a week, at a camp in Wales.

It was an eye-opening time for me - as a residential job it was hard work, and institutional childcare was a whole new world to me. Most of the carers were dedicated and wonderful with the children; there were also some quite questionable practices happening.

I would love to know what happened to any of the children who were there at that time, and indeed the carers, especially my friend Trudy. Are there any records to say where they went on to?

Best wishes,

Lucy McCarraher (nee Wagner ).