Holiday Home For Under Privileged Children

Hi
I went back to Roseberry house yesterday it's closer to the sea front than you might think and easy to find I google mapped it. I drove into the back yard and the class rooms are still there obviously the slide and swings have gone but it's still looks the same as it did in 1977 when I was there. I had goose bumps when I left a very weird feeling to be honest.

Hello, I wanted to try and find out information about where I might have stayed for a holiday when I was about 6 years old and stumbled upon this site. I stayed in Skegness around 1979-80 but not quite sure. I lived in Derby with my mum and 4 sisters, we all came together to a holiday home for poor children. I remember it was to give my mum a break being a single mum. In my mind it was a charity organisation and I always presumed it was NSPCC or Barnados but think it was the one on Roseberry Avenue after reading the memories. I stayed for a couple of weeks, it felt like a lifetime at the age I was, I was so homesick and really struggled to settle. My strongest memory is the dormitory with bunk beds but I didn't like it. I did like the pocket money, I bought rock etc on our outings and it was a huge treat. I have a memory of winning a soft cuddly monkey toy which made it all seem an easier stay as I cuddled it at bedtime. The staff were strict but I have no memories of any names of staff or other children. My sister did wet the bed and she was made to feel terrible, not sure if I did too and blocked that one out to try and forget it. I have mixed feelings of the holiday, I did enjoy some aspects but remember feelings of sadness more. Great to read what other people have written, helps you to recall information. I visited Skegness for the first time in years yesterday and wished I'd gone to try find the place to see if I would remember any more. Michelle from Lincolnshire, 29/05/2015

I stayed here in 1976 along with my older sister and younger brother. I have very vivid memories of the whole experience.
I remember bath night on a Sunday night, 4 tubs in the large bathroom. The bunk beds in the dormitories. Sports day playing rounders.
They also took us all to the cinema, a first experience for me as we were a very poor family. The movie was a double bill, super Argo followed by david Niven in the "the paper tiger".
We went to some wildlife place too and we were allowed to pick a banana
from the banana trees..!
We also went on a trip to the beach, although I recall it being a private and quite secluded part of the beach..perhaps we weren't allowed to mingle with normal holiday families..!
I also remember getting a fat lip from a boy called Barry Tuckwood for chatting his girlfriend up.
We had a boxing bout too, proper boxing ring. I was knocked out by an opponent much bigger and older than myself, complete mis-match.
Holiday to remember for me. David England

Michellestephenson1973

Hi ....I actual think I was there with you at the time you was there.....I remember it well as your sister was the opposite side of the room to me as I was up near the fire exit....I had an accident in the dorm room and fell and bust my lip open....I also won something at bingo there and still have it to this day!!!! The oldest girl there had been badly scolded with water and I remember the top n tailing in the bath tubs....I also live in Lincolnshire but lived in Nottinghamshire at the time..I had to go there as I associated death with holidays and my teacher was concerned for me.....there was a girl that had a poo accident in her bed too and they went mad....I remember going to a little sanded area and was just looking for it when I stumbled upon your post....I went in 1979/80.

Hi guys I went there in 1977 I was to young but my mum beg for them to take me as she had lots of kids I hated every minute.walked us miles everyday.the showers wer creepy and the staff wer bullies.i asked for a big helping of chocolate moose then realised I hated it they made me eat every bit,my god I’ve never been so sick.i use to wee the bed and staff would make my walk to the showers piss dripping of me allowing other children to laugh.i got beat up most days I tried to fight back think staff placed Betts no one helped.always remember they wrote in our clothes I was y1 that meant team yellow.loved church on a Sunday that long walk there to be rewarded with a glass bottle of coke.when I see pics of the place my eyes fill up and feel so let down I was six think I went for 5 years anyone remember me Lesley Bancroft xxx

Think we all should meet upx

It was a place I went in 1965 to recouperate after major surgery. At the time there were two on the avenue, one for girls and one for boys. The Surgery was extensive and involved cutting me open leaving a scar from my navel to shoulder blade recently had stitchers removed and they thought it a good idea to try and get me in a boxing ring but my elder cousin was there and some how stopped them. The man in charge (Mr Nicholls) was evil. My surgery had not been successful and I could not keep food down and when so was sick. They sent someone to the toilet with me, then they would not let me leave the table and when au was sick into my tee shirt pocket they made me wear a tee shirt without a pocket. So I then just lifted my tee shirt up. Each time I was given the Cane or the strap and made to wash my tee shirt. They told me nothing was wrong and if was in my mind. Finally however they called a doctor and after that I was made to sit in their kitchen with their daughter and eat custards and sloppy food. 10 years later I had the operation repeated to correct the problem! Evil people who I would love to meet but suspect they are no longer alive.

I can't exactly remember when I was there. I think it must have been around 1964 (?) Not too sure but Mr and Mrs Stuart were in charge. Does anyone remember them and what memories do you have? I'm just curious and as an add on ...... I hated those beach walks in cold, windy weather! Did did anyone enjoy that???

My brother and I were there in 1974 or 75. I didnt want to go but ended up loving it. I remember the Dorm. My brother got slippered for talking by the head man. I think his name was Mr Nicholls. It was great to get 3 good meals everyday and the tuckshop. I remember watching the cartoon Tarzan Lord Of the Jungle on tv. We were put into teams and competed for points. The team with the most points at the end of the week won extra treats . My team won all three weeks. Each team member was given the name of a creature. I was the Cat, my brother was the Flee lol. I remember the boxing competition. My brother won his fight and I was disqualified for pushing my opponent over the chairs ( makeshift ring). He was from St Anne's in nottingham and was from Aspley, Nottingham, he was ok and we got on well ( part from the boxing ). I remember going to the cinema for the first time. 101 Dalmatians was showing. Seeing the sea for the first time and feeling disappointed cos it was grey, not blue like I'd imagined. I helped miss Waterhouse move a bed and it fell and hit me, resulting in a black eye. Miss Waterhouse, who I think took a shine to me, couldn't do enough and kept me stocked up with Mars bars. ( my mam slapped me on return home, thinking I'd been fighting ). Brilliant memories. We were originally from the slums in St Anne's and moved to Aspley Estate.

I remember how I came to be at Roseberry House. I was in school and my teacher at the william Crane South School in Aspley, Nottingham, Mr West was talking about the seaside. During the lesson he asked if anyone had never seen the sea and without thinking I popped up my hand. Something I would never normally do because as a kid I was ashamed of how poor my family were. I was the only kid to put my hand up. I remember my face burning with embarrassment. At the end of the school day Mr West asked me to stay behind so I did. He asked me if I'd ever been on holiday and I said no. A couple of days later at tea time there was a knock at our front door, I opened it to see Mr West standing there. My blood ran cold because I thought I was in trouble. He asked to see my Mam, who gave me a slap, assuming I'd been causing trouble at school. Mr West asked my Mam if he could arrange a holiday for my brother and I, all expenses paid. Of course my mother agreed and that's how I ended up holidaying at Roseberry House God bless you Mr West.

I also went there in the late 70s with my brother and sister and although i do have fond memories of it purely because it was the 1st holiday i had ever been on,the staff was very strict and when thinking back on my memories of the place,i can clearly remember being very scared of the staff and extremely happy to be going back home to nottingham,it felt a bit like an approved school (basically a prison for kids) and tuck shop really was the highlight of the day and we used to go to what they called the private beach and also play on the POGO sticks they had in the shed where they kept all the play things.i went down there today for my first look at it in 45 years and went into reception to speak to staff,,,it is still called Roseberry house but it is now a court appointed access centre where courts arrange for parents to visit their children.

My brother and l went to this home for three weeks around 1973. I remember the different coloured teams blue, green yellow and red. We were made to compete with each other for points. At the end of the week the winners were given a special treat on the Sunday. I remember the walk to Church on the Sunday and going to the Cinema although l cannot remember what l watched. Even though l was quite a shy girl l loved every minute of it although my brother loathed it and some children actually tried to run away. I always wondered whether l missed my calling in the Army as l think it was the strict routine that l loved. I have checked out this place on Google earth. It is on Roseberry Avenue and is now a hostel. My brother’s name was Darrell Hay and mine was Cheryl.