‘We were like a family’: Children of Abbey Wells reunite after decades

Many had a hard start in life, but they made Abbey Wells their home.

Abbey Wells operated as a children’s home in the North Hampshire village of Woolton Hill from the mid 1950s until 1984.

At least 23 boys and girls passed through its doors in that time.

And they have staged a reunion decades later — one even travelling back from Ireland to be there.

There were smiles and tears as the children revisited the rooms they once called home.

Shirley Davis-Fox, who organised the meeting, stayed at Abbey Wells from 1959 to 1967 with her four siblings.

“My life would have been very different if I hadn’t come here,” she told newburytoday.

“They kept the four of us together, which was unusual then.

“It is massive here. But of course, it seemed so much bigger to us then.”

From walks past the nearby Post Office and Cooper’s Arms pub — both long gone — to trips to the seaside and Savernake Forest, the children shared fond memories of their time here.

In the 1960s, they made kneelers for St Thomas’ Church. The vicar’s wife gave them hot chocolate and biscuits.

And most children attended school at Shaw House.

They were supported by a staff of carers, cooks, cleaners and a gardener under the governance of superintendents Eric and Miriam Topping — fondly known as ‘Uncle’ and ‘Auntie’ — who retired in the 1970s.

RAF Greenham Common also gifted radios and duffle bags to the home.

Barbara Wallace came to Abbey Wells with her twin sister Linda in 1960 when they were 11 and stayed for five years.

“It hasn’t changed much,” she said. “After all these years, it feels exactly like it used to.

“We came from another children’s home in Kent, a really bad one.

“But it was great here. We were like a family.”

Hermione Sheldon, who now owns the building which is a family home today, explained how she became involved in hosting the reunion.

“They [Shirley and Barbara] were wondering outside one time, and I went to see if they ok.”

She then invited them inside and learnt their story.

“We knew about the history when we bought the house 14 years ago,” added Mrs Sheldon.

“Most people seem to have had happy memories here, which is really lovely to hear.”

The reunion took around two years to organise after setting up a Facebook page, and the former residents hope it will become an annual tradition.