A cream and red medium-sized softback book of 158 pages divided into nine chapters. In an earlier autobiographical book The Captains and the Kings Depart the author provides 'A wonderful unvarnarnished insight to life at the end of the Raj' to quote a 'retired Admiral'. This autobiographical sequel is also played out on a worldwide stage that includes Chapter 2 Dr Barnardo's Homes. 1951-62.

The post was offered to him, and his wife, at a regimental dinner at which he met an old comrade in arms, Colonel Atkins, by then Governor of the Village Home at Barkingside. It was to take charge of the Reception Centre that had been set up in the Village after World War II when the London basis of Barnardo's was severely disrupted: Stepney relinquished its reception function, the Boys Garden City at Woodford was gradually closed, and the Girls Village Home residential care altered to include boys.

The Bazalgette family were given Pussy Willow Cottage as a family home with free board and lodging, and a small allowance, leaving his Army Pension with which to meet boarding school fees: a good example of the organisation's modus vivendi.

There follows a good account of Barnardo's work in the admission of children made homeless for various reasons, and their integration with government welfare services at that time. The Bazalgette's initial role was very much a family affair whereby during holidays their own three children were involved in the life at the Village Home.

The author shows good insight into the administrative reorganisation of that time, which not only resulted in his own responsibilites moving to the Education Department at Stepney, but it also resulted in his wife remaining to do the Reception work at Barkingside until a house was found for them at Snaresbrook, and she then became the 'Boarding Out Visitor' for the 'whole of London less the Northern districts'.

On page 23 is an overall account of the how the Barnardo Education Department supported every child under its care through a dossier system attributed to Tom Lucette, the General Superintendent at that time, and also a distinguished previous contributor to the Raj. 'Bright children' were supported through grammar schools, Public Schools, Colleges of Further Education, and Universities, using bursaries and grants financed by the state, county authorities, and occasional private resources. He writes appreciatively of Mary Carlyle, their Education Adviser, from a family with a distinguished and relevant background, in her role of travelling around the country in support of these special children. Similarly, he writes of the care for disabled children, giving anecdotes of individual children, distinguished sponsors, and outcomes.

It is also made clear that Barnardo's at that time not only provided its own special schools for training the able children, but also ran a number of residential schools for physically and mentally disabled children. All of this work is related firstly to Barnardo's own insight and initiative in establishing them, and secondly to ongoing improvements in staff appointments and organisation. He adds detailed descriptions of how these instituions were run.

The author includes, with detail and humour, a section on his wife's work for Barnardo's, before finishing the chapter with a number of sections devoted to the private education in schools and universities of his own three children, their sporting and social activities, their settling to live on an island in the Thames, and an odyssey round the London Hospital that would have defeated many of less resilient body and mind, all reminding the reader of the background of this contributor to Barnardo's.

Comment: Colonial feedback?

Return to Barnardo Bibliography (click)