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The Castle School

My name is Alan Brogan, though I changed my name many years ago. I was in the Castle School from 1963 to 1969/70. My six years there were an unrimitting trial of severe punishment, all for a bag of sweets and refusing to totally obey orders when in the children's homes. I am having more spinal surgery now as a result of injuries I recieved there from beatings and a walking stick broken across my back by the then headmaster Mr Bowls and from many other beatings from various 'masters' as they were called. I have written a brief extract about my time there, in a book about my 45 year search for the Irene, who is now my wife. Its called 'Not Without You' by Alan & Irene Brogan. It may stir-up a few memories of that place and you may even be one of the boys in it, who knows, as I have lost bits of memory particularly the boys' names. Hopefully someone out there will contact me and perhaps together we might tell the untold story of that place and the devastating effect it had on the lives of so many young boys who went on to become career criminals, often traumatised and as we know some have left us by their own hand, unable to cope in later years with what they were left with after their spirit had been broken. And after all, we were only children!

Written by Alan Brogan. To send Alan Brogan a private message, click here.

A memory of Stanhope in County Durham shared on Tuesday, 21st September 2010.

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Comments

RE: RE: The Castle School

Boys I remember from Stanhope Castle 1963-1967: Dennis Nixon, Tommy Mcewan, Peter White, Alex White, Joe Hinninigan, John Desforges, Keith Hartland, Chris Young, All Crawley House, George Clarke Horsley, David Eskritt, Bewdley, Ian Mcfarlane and the one that absconded and never got caught - Tony Glasper. If any of you are out there I would love to hear from you.

Comment from Tony Mac on Friday, 19th November 2010.

RE: RE: The Castle School

Hello Alan, I was there from 1968-70. I think you were in Bewdley House but you had a different name then of course. When you think what people do these days and get a slap on the wrist for, it it makes my blood boil. When you think of what we were sent there for and what we suffered, the country has gone mad. Anyway it must be over 40 years since I saw you. I was in Crawley House by the way. Take care mate.

Comment from Terry Sharkey on Sunday, 6th November 2011.

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