"The Homes for Little Boys, Swanley, Kent"

[skip]

I was at the Boys home from 1954 to 1958. I lived in House 4 and then we were all moved to House 9. We were bused to Swanley Secondary School evry schoolday.

[jensenboy]

I was in the Farningham Boys Home from September 1954 to February 1958 and then emigrated to Canada in March 1959. I was in House 4 and then we were all transfered to House 9.

[CRIPES]

My grandfather, Leslie Whitford Wilson was at the Orphan Boys, Hextable, Swanley in 1911. His father was a shipwright and died in 1908. So he may have been there before 1911.
He went on to join the navy...not sure if it was merchant or Royal...but became a Lt. I do not know when he left the school.

[helena869]

Did any of you watch Rupert Everett's programme in the 'Who do you think you are?' series on BBC1 recently? His grandfather, Cyril Everett, was at the 'Farningham Homes for Little Boys' in the late nineteenth century.

The programme showed the area where the home was, although it has mostly been demolished now.

[CRIPES]

There is a small documentry on the Swanley home on Youtube. Its in 2 parts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUBAl0NrepQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5HgwmnDNNk

I have tried phoning the school a couple of times and they said they would get back to me as regards archives for the school, yet they have not been forth coming rather annoyingly.

[ehodges]

I would like to get in touch with any one who was at the Swanley, or descendents of any one who was there as a boy or staff member between 1883 and 1955.
It was known as a Naval Orphanage and many boys joined the Merchant Navy or the Royal Navy.

We believe my father in law's Dad and two brothers were there from around 1913. We know they letter joined the Navy but don't know how long they were there. Surname Hodges?