Farningham Homes For Boys

A Memory of South Darenth.

Hi my name is Bryan Hall, but when I was born it was Bryan Daniels. Because of my mothers persnal difficulties I was taken in by the Surrey County Council aged three months being put into council care. In 1945 I was sent to the Farningham Homes for boys where I stayed until around 1948 when I was adopted and my name changed. In 1949 I was sent back to Farningham where I stayed to around 1955.
I was in House 2 which was the first house through the main gate on the left.
I did go into house 7, and at another time was in house 8
I cannot remember any of the boys or staff at any of the houses, but remember going to the Swanley home for school.
I do rember that the "Matron" of house 2 lived just down the hill from the main gate
I remember the swimming pool that was next to the laundry and the tuck shop was in the same block
I remember going out of the home to the railway bridge where we used to drop wire from the fence onto the electric line, to see it spark.
I remember that we were bussed To the Swanley Home for school and one day the bus run over a dog and killed it
Another time the boys from my house hid my boots and I missed the bus. When we found the boots I was made to walk to Swanley school in four foot snowdrifts
In the 1950s the Wells Fireworks Factory in Dartford exploded and it caused the Hortom Kirby fire station doors to be forced open
In 1952 we were all called into the assembly hall in Swanley to hear the announcement of the death of King Geoge VI
I am now 78 and trying to trace the begining of my childhood whilst in the care of the Social Services of the Surrey County Council.
If anybody remembers me or can tell me anything they remember about the home from 1945 to 1955 I would greatly appreciate it

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