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Roy Dunn

"It was something you were often threatened with…"

The story...

The birth of a new sibling is usually a joyous affair. Roy takes us to early 1959, the day his baby sister was born, and to the events that followed…

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Roy wrote...

Firstly, I wanted to pay a warm tribute to the love and kindness shown by the staff at Glendhu Children's hostel. In these days whenÌýpeopleÌýare being critical of such establishments I wanted to show that my experience was quite the opposite.Ìý

Now I hated the place to begin with and I was terribly home-sick and confused.ÌýHowever as time went by I did gradually warm to the place and began to enjoy my time there.ÌýI had lots of friends to play with, a huge area of forest, an outdoor swimming pool andÌýan air-raid shelter.ÌýIf a boy couldn't have marvellous adventures there, there was something wrong.Ìý

I also wanted to pay tribute to Mrs Barbara Crawford who came to regularly visit my brother and me - and of course brought a wonderful supply of sweets.ÌýAs I have said, there was no reason for her doing this as we were not related.ÌýBut she did it out of the kindness of her heart and we were too young to appreciate it.ÌýSadly, she could not possibly be still alive and I really regret that I never called with he to properly thank her.ÌýI was just a child and didn't know any better.ÌýI just hope that David, her son, can see this and take someÌýpleasure in theÌýmessageÌýafter all these years...

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Comment on Roy's story

Name: Roy Dunn
Date: 01/05/2008
Comment: Hi Mary,
Thank you for your kind remarks. There's no point in being bitter. I didn't understand it at the time but now I do. My mother had I think a nervous breakdown - whatever that is I am not too sure. Anyway Glendhu was a pleasant place once you got used to it. There was lots of fun. I remember I was in over a Christmas and lots of organisations were kind enough to invite us to Christmas parties. The staff were very kind and caring. There was a wonderful lady called Mrs King who used to come and visit. She drove a large Jaguar car. She used to take us for a drive. I can still smell the leather seats.
Sadly today, I think adults would be afraid of being kind to kids - for understandable reasons.
Thanks for writing

Name: Mary Jones
Date: 26/04/2008
Comment: I loved your story Roy. It was unexpected but good to hear how you are not bitter about your time in there. It must have been difficult. What had happeden to your mum that lead to you being put in the home? Well done on the story.



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