No 22, Colinton Road, Edinburgh - formerly 'Lord & Lady Polwarth's Children's Home for Under Fives'

Recollections

Chris Mallett

Mackay, Queensland Australia

Thank you to Chris Mallett who wrote:

1956-60

"I've just discovered your photo of the former Lord and Lady Polwarth Children's Home. I was a resident there from when I was 2 weeks old, to when I was almost four years, between 1956 to 1960

I came to Australia in December 1971, when I was fifteen. I travelled by myself. My mother's brother and family were here. He had travelled to Australia under the 'Big Brothers' scheme when he was sixteen.

I have had a wonderful life here, and now live in Mackay, Queensland, Australia, about 1000km north of Brisbane."

Chris Mallett, Mackay, Queensland, Australia: January 1 + 3, 2010

Recollections

Mary McGhee

Edinburgh

Thank you to Mary McGhee who wrote:

1967-71

"I lived in Polwarth Children's Home from 1967 to 1971 with my older brother, Walter. I have lots of happy memories of my time there from age 2-7 years old.

How can I go about finding information about the home, and possibly getting in touch with others who lived there around that time"

Mary McGhee, Edinburgh: July 22+23, 2011

Reply to Mary?

If you'd like to send a reply to Mary, please email me then I'll pass your message on to her. Thank you

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: July 23, 2011

Recollections

Reply

Angela Bunt

South Gyle, Edinburgh

Thank you to Angela Bunt who replied:

1972 to 1977

"Hi Liz:

I also stayed at Lord Polwarth's Children's Home with my twin brother from around 1972 to 1977. I think I had a room at the top left of the stairs

I remember the garden at the front with the fence, playing with my big orange space hopper.

I also remember having a friend there who was in a wheel chair"

Angela Bunt, South Gyle, Edinburgh: May 3, 2013
Angela tells me that her twin brother is also still living in Edinburgh, at Clermiston.

Recollections

John Paul

Cove, Borders, Scotland

Thank you to John Paul who wrote:

1970-74

"I lived in Polwarth Children's Home in Colinton Road, opposite George Watson's School from 1970 to 1974. I was a boy, 6 to 10 years old, then.

I have many happy memories there, and used to go to Bruntsfield Primary School. We used to get up to all sorts of mischief.

I met the Lord Provost once at the home and was photographed for The Evening News wearing his hat."

John Paul, Cove, Borders, Scotland: February 21 + March 8, 2012

Recollections

Liz Scott (nee Redfearn)

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thank you to Liz Scott who wrote:

1970-74

"I trained in nursery nursing in Lord & Lady Polwarth Home from 1969 until 1971. I remember Mary McGhee (2 above) and her brother, Walter with great fondness. It was lovely to see that she had enjoyed her time at the home.

I'd love to hear from others who were there. I remember:

- Matron McLellan

- Miss Adamson

- Miss Cattanach

- Grace Collins

- Jenny Wordsworth"

Liz Scott (nee Redfearn), Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland: Mar 27 + Apr 1, 2012

Reply to Liz?

If you'd like to send a message to Liz, please email me, then I'll give you her email address.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: April 1, 2012

Message for Liz

Hello again Liz:

I've now received 'Reply 1 below' I hoped to be able to let Helen (below) know how to contact you, but unfortunately I can no longer find your email address. So if you read this, can you please email me to let me know your current email address.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 8, 2012

Recollections

Reply

Helen Grant (nee Cattanach)

Scotland

Thank you to Helen Grant who replied:

Miss Cattanach

"With regards to the comments from Liz Scott (Redfearn) above, I am the Miss Helen Cattanach that she mentions. I am now Mrs Grant.

As a member of staff at Lord and Lady Polwarth's Children's Home, I have fond memories of lots of the children there.

I do remember Liz, but did she use a different Christian name then? I think she came from the same village as Margaret. I have no contact with her LIz, but I have had contact with Ann she mentioned and also with Sandra.

I have photos of some of the children that we took care of.

I worked 1967-1970 then came home to the north and worked in nursery school now I am retired."

Helen Grant (nee Cattanach), Scotland: January 8, 2013

I've now passed on Liz's email address to Sandra, so Sandra can now try to contact Liz if she wishes to.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: January 8, 2013

Recollections

Reply

Angela Bunt

South Gyle, Edinburgh

Thank you to Angela Bunt who replied:

1972 to 1977

"Hi Mary:

My twin brother and I were also at Lord Polwarth's Children's Home from 1972 till around 1977.

I have find memories of the place placing on my bright orange space hopper at the front of the house, beside the metal fence.

I also remember the big staircase, and that my bedroom was on the left-hand side.

I remember having a. friend there who was disabled or in a wheelchair."

Angela Bunt, South Gyle, Edinburgh: May 3, 2013
Angela tells me that her twin brother is also still living in Edinburgh, at Clermiston.

Recollections

Walter McGhee

Edinburgh

Thank you to Walter McGhee for adding to his sister's comment in Recollections 2 above.

Walter wrote:

Happy Times

"As my sister Mary said, we had many happy times in the children's home at Polwarth. All the staff treated me and my sister with kindness.

- We went to Kinghorn every year on holidays for two weeks.

- I went horse riding and ice skating, I think most weeks.

- I loved my trips ice skating and playing football.

- I remember playing football with the Lord Provost on his visit.

- I remember John Paul well, a small lad from Castlemilk, Glasgow.

- I'm sorry, I cant remember Liz.

- I remember calling the staff Auntie Ann, Auntie Mary, etc."

Walter McGhee, Edinburgh: July 2, 2012 (2 emails)

Recollections

Georgina Beaton

Following up on the comments from Chris Mallett in Recollections 1 above, Georgina Beaton wrote:

Happy Times

"I also resided at this Lord & Lady Polwarth's Children's Home in 1956. I have drawn a blank in finding out about this place.

I would like to trace records of my time there, 'till I was adopted. Do you have any information or links that i could follow?"

Georgina Beaton: August 18, 2012

Hi Georgina:

Children's Home - Any More Info?

I don't have any information about the children's home other than what I have recorded above. Perhaps somebody will read your comments and send a reply to me**. If they do, I'll send you an email to let you know.

I'll also send you, today, the email address in Australia that I have for Chris Mallett (Recollections 1 above). I hope the email address will still be current and that you will be able to contact Chris.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: October 1, 2012

** Update

I'm pleased to say that I've now received Reply 1 below. Thank you Mary.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: November 13, 2012

Recollections

Reply

Mary McGhee

Edinburgh

Thank you to Mary McGhee for reading Recollections 6 above and sending this reply, which I hope will be helpful to Georgina and perhaps also to anybody else who might be looking for information about their stay in Polwarth Children's Home.

Mary wrote

How to Find Information

"I see that Georgina Beaton wants information about her time at Polwarth Children's Home.

I recently applied for my care records held by Edinburgh City Council. The records that I received had very detailed information about my time in Polwarth Children's Home.

Georgina should write to Edinburgh City Council at:

Freedom of Information,
Level 3.1,
Waverly Court,
4 East Market Street ,
Edinburgh EH8 8BG.

I hope that Georgina will find what she is looking for."

Mary McGhee, Edinburgh, 8+13 November 2012

Recollections

Morag Macrae

Thank you to Morag Macrae who wrote

Nursery Nurse

"I was recently thinking of my days at Lord and Lady Polwarth Home, and was amazed to find your website. I worked as a nursery nurse aged 16, in April 1963, until December 1964.

I then went on to train at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children and have worked with children for the rest of my working life."

Matrons

"Matron McLellan came towards at the end of my time at the children's home. I cannot remember what the previous matron was called. She was a very striking woman with silver hair. At that time we had children from young babies up to age five."

Children

"The children I remember were a brother and sister, called Ian and Olivia. I'd love to be in touch with anyone who worked there, or lived there."

Morag Macrae: September 9, 2012

Reply to Morag Macrae

If you are Ian or Olivia - or anybody else who remembers Morag - and would like to contact Morag, please email me, then I'll pass on her email address to you, so that you can send a message to her.

Thank you.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh: May 5, 2013