Shipped to Australia itv 9pm

This is the story Nottingham social worker Margaret Humphreys told in her excellent but harrowing book Empty Cradles.

Those bowling balls just about finished me off ?

OakDryad

This is the story Nottingham social worker Margaret Humphreys told in her excellent but harrowing book ^Empty Cradles.^

It was made into a film called Oranges and Sunshine with Emily Watson playing Margaret Humphreys.

My mother's friend's grandchildren were sent out although she begged to be allowed to bring them up. I always wished I could find them and tell them how much their grandmother loved them and how desperate she was to keep them.

I watched this tonight and it was absolutely heartbreaking to watch, to be told of the horrendous things some of the children had to go through, its a wonder, as 1 man's son said, he knew how to show love, after the terrible childhood of abuse and no love shown to him.

I did not continue watching as it's too depressing. My own mother's two little brothers were sent away one to New Zealand and one to Australia. It's too bad things had not changed up until the 1970s.

Margaret Humphreys very kindly helped me trace my father's journey to Australia in 1929. He was sent to Fairbridge Farm School by Barnardos. They were not bad people and were doing what they thought was best for these children at the time. They looked after him and I've even seen his school reports. He was not abused and his experience was not bad really. Also he knew he had an aunt in England and hadn't been told he was an orphan. He was very fortunate, because as we know the Catholic children received the most appalling abuse.

You should watch a two part Australian drama series called The Leaving of Liverpool which won several awards and tells the story of two young people sent to Australia.

It consoles me slightly about my poor young uncles that my younger aunt did exchange a few letters with one of the little uncles. Also they were C of Ireland protestants which may have helped them to be in a better place. My mother had nothing but good to say about the C of Ireland orphanage she was in from age ten, , near Bellfast.

Chestnut: On which channel can I find The Leaving of Liverpool?

There are a few offerings on You Tube but some of them have very poor picture quality. Try this one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKiSTk4bf6s
It's a series in two parts but Part 1 has 2 parts and Part 2 has 2 parts. So you have 1/1 and 1/2 followed by 2/1 and 2/2.
I think it's also on Netflix and the picture may be better.
It's a pretty harrowing story so prepare to be upset.

Thanks Chestnut. Not home this evening but will have a look on Netflix tomorrow.