St George's House,
Northern Police Orphanage. 1898-1956  Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

The preceding pages have covered most, if not all, aspects of the life experienced by the children who were cared for during their stay at St George's House. Some of the children enjoyed the experience, others disliked it intensely and some just accepted the regimented  and controlled pattern of everyday life at the Orphanage. One old boy, who had a sister on the premises, says he was not able to speak to her without the express permission of Miss Knocker- and there had to be good reason before she would allow it.  Irrespective of which category a person came under, one underlying feature remained strong, that is, the close bond that exists between the 'old boys and girls'. No matter what the age differences may be or the time lapse between seeing one another, the common thread that binds us all together is the knowledge that we have all shared the same lifestyle, experiences and hardships. This gives the surviving group a relationship based on a special form of friendship.

                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
To quote from The Constables of Claro, written by G.C.East , pages 108/9.

'The regime was strict, but in after life they found the training received had helped them in their future careers. I can do no better than to quote an extract from a letter written by one of the girls, Joy King of Welwyn Garden City (entrant to Orphanage No: 352)'

Yes- St George's was very good to us and for us. Although I can't say I enjoyed my years there, I have to admit, it prepared me from a very early age to stand on my own feet and to accept discipline, to live with others and very often look out for the other guy (and sometimes get into trouble for it).

I know that St George's gave me a first class Grammar School Education and a wonderful start healthwise- plenty of good food- also plenty  of clouts on the backside with Miss Knocker's size 12 slipper. What a shame it is not done today. Oh yes, there was plenty of discipline,  but there had to be with that amount of children, and we all seem to have done remarkably well- so obviously someone was right. We must not forget the lovely Policemen (and Policewomen) who funded the establishment- to you goes our eternal thanks.

My father died in 1924, and I went to the Orphanage the same year, aged 3 years. Not being old enough for the school, two of us lived in the Day Room of the Sick Wing and wore pretty red dresses instead of the navy uniform. It was lovely, but it was the only time we were given any real love. When of school age there could not be any favourites. We both moved into the 'big house' and we were quite lost- we couldn't even find the 'loo' in the night, and every Friday we had 'medicine' (Senna,Gregory Powder or liquorice), you know what for !

One of the happy events was when Miss Karn (Hylda) came onto the staff and she being so young and pretty things started to improve.  She always had time for us - never told tales - and never hit us. We all had chores to do each morning before school and on Saturdays the floors had to be polished in the passageways, common room, dining room and assembly room. The boys did the floors in their wing. The older girls did the dorms (both girls and boys). The floors polished, sheets changed, the brass plates on each bed polished. The lockers had to be washed out.

The food - well we never went hungry - it was plain but healthy. Plenty of milk puddings, stewed fruit, suet puddings, custard (often lumpy).  There were always plenty of greens  (horrible cabbage - very watery), and the breakfast porridge was atrocious, either very lumpy or very salty - Ugh ! I hate porridge to this day.  Tea was just bread and marg and jam. We were not allowed to leave anything on our plates.  Occasionally Miss Knocker came round to inspect our plates and sorted out the gristle from the fat - 'leave gristle - eat fat' was her order.

The girls who did not pass for the Grammar School were retained at the Orphanage when they left school and for the last two years they did the housework. The boys who did not go to Further Education were allowed to leave St George's at 14 years, but not the girls, the poor things led a dreary life. Many went to the Grammar School, some to Commercial/Art School.

I served in the Women's Royal Auxiliary Air Force during the War (1941-46). I have always said that I would never return to Harrogate, yet here we are, now over 70 years of age, and we cannot wait for the next reunion. When we meet we never shake hands, just hug each other, and I think that it means that we were, and always will be, a very close loyal and loveable family.

See also Memories page for,  'The First 16 Years', about life at St Georges, written by James Shepherd in 1996

                                                                                                  
                                                                                                    Deus vult