Fegans Old Boy: George P
George F P (No. 145)
George is one of our senior 'old boys'. He was born on the 6th June, 1923 in Kensington, London.
His mother left the family home when he was about 5 years old, and left her husband with four children to look after. It cannot have been easy as George says his father lost a leg in the First World War. George remembers hardly anything of his home life.
He went to Stony Stratford in October 1932 and left in 1938.
He had two sisters who were in a 'home' in Leamington Spa. His brother Les joined Fegans at the same time as George, but as he was younger, went Yardley Gobion for a couple of years. George felt very sad at first, but after a while Fegans gave him a very happy and secure childhood, leaving him with no particularly sad memories.
He remembers eating bread and dripping and pease pudding. (I am editing these stories and I'm in my late 50s - these were were two of my childhood favourites too!) To keep fit, he remembers playing football and cricket.
With George's fantastic memory, he remembers a few of the masters: Mr (and Mrs) B, Mr M, Mr K, Mr C, Mr S and Mr P. Many of these were Housemasters.
George doesn't remember going on many day trips but does remember the daily chores all the boys had to do: scrubbing floors, cleaning basins and taps, washing up and sweeping the playground. Who needs a Caretaker when you have 200 boys? It must have been one of the cleanest buildings in England!
We often remember the mischief we got into as children and George admits to 'nicking sweets' on one of the few days out they had.
He really enjoyed school and found himself Head Boy for a while. He recalls more staff: Mr and Mrs S (the headmaster and his wife), Mr F, Mr St and Mr G.
He was involved in WWII, joining the Royal Navy in 1938 and leaving in 1947.
Throughout his working life he recalls having several jobs, but says he was "mainly a postman". George has enjoyed good health throughout his working life, so, "life came easily".
He was married in 1949 at St John's Church, Crawley. He is sorry to report that his wife sadly died in May 2015. He has one son and one daughter who have given him five grandchildren.
George lives in Crawley, Sussex.
George F P (June 2016)
We are proud to have worked with children and families for more than 150 years.
In both our Spurgeons and Fegans orphans' homes we were able to give amazing opportunities to children in their time of greatest need. We were proud to be there for them when their families couldn't be. However, with the gift of hindsight we now acknowledge that some practices which at the time were considered acceptable, were not so, and for this we unreservedly apologise.
If this was your situation, or you have been impacted. Or you just have questions about you or a close family member's time in our homes please do be in touch with our supporter care team.
