User talk:Mulberryconway

Dr Garrett Memorial Home Home 1900s -1988

Dr Garrett was a medical doctor who worked in the poor areas of Manchester, was advised to leave the smog filled city, as his heath was declining. The location he chose was the small town of Conway in North Wales, United Kingdoom.

Due to the clean air and the lack of industry around Conway, (when compared to Manchester) Dr Garrett's  health soon returned and he realised this was due to the stresses of living in a polluted and socailly deprived city. Dr Garrett brought some children from the deprive areas of the city to stay with him, and as result they too began to improve in health and out look,so he sort to expand these benefits to the children of Manchester.

Dr Garrett managed to gather funds from his wealthly backere where he bought five houses, to conveles the children during their stay and opened offically in 1916.The great doctor passed away in 1923, but his wife continued his worked and named the house he lived in as Dr Garrett Memorial Home. When she too passed away in 1938, it was given to the city of Manchester and the council duley took over the runningo of the home.

After this the home was to change in emphasis, it did not just concentriate on children from poor or deprive backgrounds, it also sort allievated the suffering of socaially deprived children who were underfed, under clothed, parents having difficultie. It was a home were children could be wieghed, diet monitored, and looked after in an area the state coudld only provide. It gave children the chance to expeirence new things, meet new people from all over the city, experience the counntry side and the sea for the first time. It also gave parents a rest espeically when mothers were expecting babies and need some one to look after the children. It was also a life saver for familes whose parents were too ill and needed to go in hospital for a short while. The children was sent off to Dr Garrett's while the parents rested and garthered there strength back.

The home closed down in 1988 and the reasons for it are not too clear, it seems the home had become too expensive to run and politics was also a factor.

It is estimated that over 70,000 children Dr Garrett'swent through the doors of this instituion from 1916 -1988.

I myself benefited from this home from 1972 -1979. I had great and wondefull time. I met many people and exprienced many delights. I remember the Christmas I stayed there, the blue sailing boat I had got for a present, the hill walks, the clothes, the huts and the way the home used to orgnised the children, from medical examines to allocations of huts based on age, sparrows, penguins, etc for boys and wrens etc for girls. I remember the plays, the skateboarding, swimming, ice skating and grass sledging, it was all goood fund and the people I met will never be forgotten.

I wish to thank Brian Gregson who provided most of the information above.

--Mulberryconway 19:26, 2 May 2006 (UTC)