Spennells (top) was opened in May 1936 as a home for boys aged five to 14 years and later becoming mixed for all ages. The new Spennells (bottom) was opened in 1966 and was a new age design that was revamped in March 1980  the home finally closed in 1982 as it was felt no need of such a large home. Spennells was demolished.

Miss Ans Pescher wrote to the guild regarding the book 'Childhood Memories':  I worked in Spennells, Kidderminster for some years but left in 1967 (from the new building). I know the old house very well with its annexe and stream by the side. The children used to love playing in it. A pity the new building was not shown as well. The new building might have been interesting for some of the children who knew Spennells but not the old house. The old car must have belonged to Mr and Mrs Vaughan see photo left and explanation from Owen Vaughan.

If you click the blue link above you will see a photo taken in 1940 of the Vaughan family  back at the Goldings Lodge. This shows a young Charles Vaughan with the rest of his family and future wife Josephine.

Mr. Charles Vaughan passed away on Sunday 26th May 1974 in Hospital after a short illness. A memorial service was held at Stone Parish Church on Sunday 16th June at 3pm. Charles had started working for Dr. Barnardo's in 1950 at Woodford Bridge with his wife Josephine. Mrs Josephine Vaughan continued  to run the Spennells home on her own until she retired some years later in 1978 which was a few day light of 30 years service working for Dr. Barnardo's.

The History

Spennells has been around, one way and another, for a very long time now. Originally a large old house (with all the usual interesting nooks and crannies) it stood some considerable distance from other houses. The age of the photograph reproduced here can be dated by the Ford Popular parked outside. I do not know what hap­pened to the car, or to what looks like a pair of antlers over the front door!

The old must give way to the new, and the new Spennells was opened in 1966, looking very much different from the old building and even having been built in a different part of the grounds. Since 1966 times have again changed and so has the whole neighbourhood; what was fields, on the Kidderminster side of Spennells, is now a new housing estate, and some of the houses have been lived in for about eighteen months. Eventually Spennells will be surrounded by the estate as building is continuing.

Spennells itself is due for new changes and these will be starting in March 1980, so we could now speak of yet another Spennells, the newest will eventually have the existing flats turned into houses. At present the flats are on the first floor but these will become bedrooms with sitting-rooms and kitchens being made on the ground floor.

People have changed at Spennells, too. Mrs Josephine Vaughan retired in 1978 and Mr Tony Churchill took her place, but she came out of retirement about a year ago to work with the Vietnam boat people. In all Mrs Josephine Vaughan was employed by Barnardo's a few days short of 30 years service.

Shortly, there could be three generations of Old Boys and Girls; those who lived in the original house, those who lived in the new Spennells and soon, those who have lived in the newest Spennells.

MR DEREK WRIGHT
Assistant Divisional Director (Child Care)
Midlands Division

Above reproduced from The Guild Messenger Spring 1980

N.B Please note the book Childhood Memories that is mentioned above is now out of print and is not available unless one come up for sale on one of the many book web sites. The book shows a photo of each old home with a few words when it opened and closed. No other memories are recorded. This web page covers the same information but is not restricted by space so can hold much more information.

Owen Vaughan made contacted via email and sent some photos and some memories. Click to view Goldonian web are grateful for the photos and Owens memories of his mother and father working for Dr. Barnardo's.

Ans Peschar recalls some her memories of when she worked for Dr. Barnardo's at Spennells Click to view

George Charles Wilson Tinney came across the web site. He arrived at Spennells in April 1965 Click  to view His Memories of being in care of Dr. Barnardo's plus some photos of his time at Spennells. Click to view  George's reunion with Ans Peschar in 2009

From George's memories Owen Vaughan emailed with some further details of the photos to see an edited version Click to view