Nostalgic memories of Delamere's local history
Share your own memories of Delamere and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 24 in total
My best friend was sent here in the 1980s and the mental/physical abuse he suffered was profound. He was sent because his mother had a disability not him. He became successful but was never able to make sense of any close relationship and became a functioning alcoholic. His pain about this place was profound. He was pushed out at leaving age with no support about where he could go and when 10 years later he emailed the head to ...see more
I can’t believe the messages people are leaving on here
I had a lovely time there and we definitely were a big family
I was there 1973 1976 and have nothing but very happy memories x
Yep I agree with what I have read. The school should had been shut down years before be I left. Was there 1975 to 1985. Special schools should be shut down. Sadly residential special school leads to being detained in psychiatric hospitals. Parents never believe pupils. Out of sight out of mind.
While we are on about Delamere... when I was three I spent a week in a jewish mother and baby home in Lymm. Happy memories but the matron didn't know what to feed Jewish children so we got pickled herring!!
Delamere ws certainly a formative experience for an eight year old in 1955, I witnessed no overt cruelty as reported in some posts here, but merely a babyish regimentation by a few well meaning spinsters which was often usurped. For example, those of us on sugar free diets would simply swap their ,healthy' after tea rewards with their friend's sweeties. Maybe I was more perceptive than most...noticing for ...see more
I agree with a lot of what you are saying, Who are you though please? I will keep it in confidence?
I was abused at Delamere Forest School by someone called A, he did not care who he interfered with, If it was not me then a younger girl would have been treated the same way. This happened 3 times In 1971 to 1973. Although it cannot be proven the boy was a wild child and knew what he was doing, The Headmaster could not understand why I left in a hurry, as soon as mum found out she she took ...see more
Hi, I attended Delamere Forest, a Jewish special needs school,from 1956 until 1961. My name back then was David Reeve and; I will always be gratefull for the love,tenderness and caring that the nurses and teachers showed me. I never experienced abuse that other children reported just unconditional love nor do I remember any child at Delamere being abused,if someone had,they would have talked about it as we were ...see more
Remember being at a school in South Manchester called, Egerton, (where kids from Moss Side, Rusholme etc hailed from) and often, we'd be packed off, and taken to various parts of Cheshire to sniff with awe at freshly cut grass, look at the endless blue skies and walk through various parks - with Delamere Forest frequently being visited; and don't forget, the M56 was not yet built, and so it took a while for ...see more
I was at Delamere school for around 2 years in 1959/60. My memories were not positive and found the whole experience traumatic. From reading other comments it appears that this is a common experience and I was shocked to read that abuses were going on well into the late 1990s. I do have some positive memories though, especially the kindness of Miss Lichenstein, however there were other staff at ...see more