Boxing Day treats

Christmas day is over for another year. What will you be doing today? Travelling to see relatives? Off to the football? Continuing to force down chocolates and left overs from yesterday? For the Manchester Refuge boys' Boxing Day at the Strangeways Refuge was a time of giving. In the evening the boys would throw a party for children even worst off then themselves...

Manchester boys on the street 

‘Boys’ own’

In the early hours of the evening the boys would wander back out onto the streets of Manchester to find three guests to bring back to the Central Refuge and shower them with food and gifts. For many months beforehand the boys would diligently put away a few pence in which to contribute to the party and help relieve another child’s suffering.

Three was the regulation number of guests for each boy to invite but this was often exceeded. One boy marched in triumphantly with a little friend mounted on each shoulder and another pair clinging behind: “The happy family, Sir.”

Another boy led in three guests, one a little girl with a baby in her arms. “Only a make-weight”he said with an apologetic glance at the superfluous infant. 

A good time was had by all and the boys felt the joy that comes from helping others. A time for reflection for all of us perhaps...