Open Air / Convalescent School For Infants

I was there 1956 I hated ever single second except I had a lovely Nurse Her Name was Heather i hope it still is.. Be a shock if Heather a healthy 85yo and remembers me My names John. I remember waking up in my bed and she was sitting beside me looking very upset. I have a few pictures Taken on a Brownie 127 my mother took.

Did you hate it to K?

Yes, I was force fed with the nurse pinching the cheeks in my jaw so hard it force my mouth open.. then force fed this stringy fatty meat and she would hold my jaw closed until I swallowed.. I would always gag on it. My father came to visit at one meal time and was discusted to see that the bread they had given me had green mould on it. He took me out of that place righ away, there and then. I wonder id anyone else remembers this. O
Probably 1950 or 51, 52.

If I could add to the above. My name is Chris Pullen originally from Erith in Kent. As of 2017 I am now 71 years old. The memories of that children's convalescent home in Dedisham are still with me and distasteful. I recall the potty room where any number of little kids were sat on a potty and told to shit. A nurse would come and inspect and if you didn't you were told to try harder. There was one kind nurse there I remember, nurse Simpson. She took time and showed a gentle compassion.

John Again: DOB 1951 I was 5yo when i was there. As I said it was documented in Photographs by my Mother.

More memories. in case you were there when I was. Do you remember being taken to see the Circus? This was possibly the Hi-light of the whole fiasco. I remember my Mother and Brother and sister coming. On my Birthday 02 07 and she brought me a Bus Conductor set.

The Farm opposite had a grey Donkey I seem to like. Which I named Neddy. Being taken for a walk with all the other children and i cut my finger on a lawn mower blade or tractor blade and being rushed back to the Prison (I remember it felt like)

Someone Nice: Nurse Heather. She was rather taken by me. looked after me much later in my stay. She took me to Horsham. We waited by the bus stop. Big American car stopped and offered us a lift which we took. The memory bank goes blank after getting in the car.

Those woods behind the Bus stop the broken down trees looked like dragons and crocodiles to me as a kid

Two things I would like to know.

1. where is it on google maps

2. How long was we there for.

Well as I recall it was not an unpleasant experience, I remember Neddy the donkey very well , as I recall I quite enjoyed myself, I was there about 1 year.

I was there in the early 1950's & certainly have mixed memories of the place... most bad.
I do remember children being plunged into cold water baths if they wet the bed. Further, any child misbehaving was consigned into a large cupboard and locked in there as punishment. I do remember the Donkey.