The House Beautiful

A Memory of Bournemouth.

Does anybody remember the big house on the corner of Derby Road, it was at the junction of a main road, the name of which I cannot remember now. We used to call it 'The House Beautiful' whether that was the proper name for it I never knew. This house was where children used to go to for a holiday, my holiday there was arranged by our church at that time (we lived in London), my parents could not afford holidays in those days so mine was arranged by our church. It was a big place large beautiful gardens and all the children were looked after by nurses. At meal times we all went to the big dining room and I remember the Matron there always used to have a parrot sitting alongside her table on a perch, when Matron wanted to keep the children quiet the parrot used to schreech out "QUIET" and everybody became silent to listen to what Matron had to say.
When it was time to go to the beach we all had to line up in twos and walk across the main road and down through a walkway to the top of the cliffs and then down a winding path to the beach. When it was time to go home we were given gifts, on my last visit just before WW2 broke out I was given a pull along railway engine which I could sit in, I had that engine for years afterwards, it was dark green in colour.
I hope somebody can remember 'The House Beautiful" and whatever happened to it, more than likely it became a hotel I suppose, but I shall always remember it as a marvelous place to be.