14 August 2024
In August 1947 Caldecott moved to Mersham-le-Hatch, outside Ashford in Kent. The Community was previously at other locations including Goffs Oak, near Cuffley, Hertfordshire (1924-1932), then The Mote, near the then outskirts of Maidstone, Kent (1932-1940), later at Hyde House in heathland Dorset south of Bere Regis (January 1941 to August 1947).
The first Caldecott Reunion at Hatch was in 1948, before I was born. A group photo on the front steps included staff known in my era such as Leila Rendel, Elizabeth Lloyd, Miss Ruhl. A point to note is that the former CC children attending the reunion had not lived at Hatch.
For example, John Brown had met his future wife Sonia in 1938 when they were both 11 at The Mote (Sonia had come to CC at age 2). They had left CC in 1943. They got engaged in 1953. I expect that Simon Rodway may recall the 1953 reunion, and most likely the majority of former CC children attending that reunion had not lived at Hatch. John and Sonia attended most of the reunions, generally every other year in those times and at Hatch (when CC was there), although with the odd ones in London.
A parallel with the 1948 reunion concerns modern times when some reunions have been at Caldecott House (formerly the Paddocks), Smeeth.
The Community first extended to the Paddocks from 1957 to 1965, initially run by the Clovers and then the Kings, so some former Caldecott children had lived there (also a few in 1966 or so) and some others had known the place at times. However, most former Caldecott children were at Hatch and / or Lacton Hall and so were not familiar with the Paddocks.
Of course, Hatch with its grounds etc had been a splendid setting for reunions, but it is some consolation to have a glimpse of the present Caldecott (Foundation) even allowing for the many changes since my days at Hatch.
I intend in later posts to say something about reunions at Hatch from the 1960's to 2000 [see here and here]. In early 2002 Caldecott Foundation was busy with completing the move from Hatch and this led to the formation of Caldecott Association to take over arranging reunions etc, although in 2003 the Foundation did arrange a reunion in London (hall behind Brompton Oratory). In 2004 parties of us, attending the CA informal reunion at the Mersham cricket ground by the A20, were allowed to visit the vacated Hatch before a sale was concluded, but that is a story for another time.
This year [2024] CA has reunion in London (78 Bishopsgate, EC2) on 31 August, also an informal gathering at Caldecott House on 14 September (kindly hosted by the Foundation). Thanks to Gill Abbott, Jennie Patterson and others for making arrangements for the benefit of those of us intending to be present for instance in London.