Who will look after me?

“There has been a rich vein of voluntary personal service for the Institution running through the strata of the years.”

- Making Rough Places Plain, William Edmondson (1921).

Very little mention has been given regarding the countless numbers of staff over the years that helped to look after the charity’s children. Many worked tirelessly in the early days to ensure those that needed it were given food, a good home and in some cases medical treatment. Some gave their time freely, their only reward being the satisfaction of providing care to those in need.

Matron in Bethesda garden.

Unfortunately the Together Trust archive holds very little information on the staff it employed. For those who were high up in the charity or worked there for many years, notices were often put in the annual reports or charity magazines when the staff member left or retired. Similarly happy events such as weddings or anniversary’s were also recorded and shared with supporters.

  Notice in Annual Report 1923 celebrating a staff member’s Golden Wedding.

For others however there is little recording of their role within the charity. Nurses, teachers and house mothers did their daily job without leaving a personal mark on the records on the Together Trust. During the very early days it is unknown whether records were created about staff, never mind retained for future use. This is in direct contrast to the detailed accounts kept about the children.

Nurse and baby

Despite the lack of written documentation for the staff however, the odd item referring to the staff’s dedication still remains in the archive...

Brass Memorial Plate for Thomas Taylor, Superintendent of the Children's Shelter and Remand Home who died 25 Mar 1917. The plate reads:

"This tablet is erected to commemorate his 26 years of devoted services for poor neglected children and records the Committees' sincere appreciation of his work and character. 'He comforted many.'"