17 December 2025
The book by Elizabeth Lloyd (on CA website) has recollections by her and also from other long departed former Caldecott staff from old times. One was Roma Easton who joined the staff in 1923 (retiring in 1967), remembering the diverse aspects of young children from the back streets of King's Cross experiencing country life in Kent:
"They were a hurly-burly lot - uncouth, uncultured, often lying, stealing, fighting and rebelling or destroying: some were fond and gentle yet all were so alive, so responsive and loveable; many of them gave great care to the younger ones."
Staff learned by experience how to persuade children to behave properly. Shortage of staff meant that a new member could be left in charge of numerous children even though she had little prospect of controlling them, as Rome Easton ('Miss E') recalled:
"There was, for instance, the first Sunday afternoon walk: the children tended to unite in a rampaging gang when not with anyone who could manage them. I knew no names or anything about the country round. Some thirty children were collected for me and I was told that the older ones among them would lead the walk for me, which they did; straight into a wood where they became primitive man dividing into gangs and it ended in a fierce and literally bloody battle. / Knowing no names I could only shout "Hi! You!", naturally with no result. Grabbing the two nearest, I dragged them out of the wood, the rest followed later dishevelled and dirty. One little girl had taken all her clothes off but put them on again after much shouting at her. / I arrived back with one child and was thankful to have at least that one."
Another example which she recalled was 'taking tea', supervising the children at high tea: "The first time I took this meal there was uproar until one of the older girls suddenly leapt across the room to the most unruly table, administered slaps all round, redistributed the plates of food and said a 'few words', - there followed a wonderful hush."
Miss Ruth Rowson, who was Elizabeth Lloyd's aunt, had assisted Leila Rendel from the start of Caldecott in London (I recall the elderly Miss Rowson helping in the pantry at Hatch in 1961). Elizabeth started visiting Caldecott at Charlton Court from age five. Miss Elizabeth later joined the staff in February 1936 at the Mote (retiring at the end of 1968). She explained that she was stimulated by life with children at the Community:
"To be suddenly mixed up with petty crime, delinquency, truancy and every sort of behavioural problem among boys and girls, of any age from seven to seventeen, could be exciting and was certainly, for me anyhow, novel; even though such problems were the result of the tragic circumstances of the young offenders, it was impossible not to find them deeply interesting."
That was one reason for staff to stay at the Community, working long hours for token pay.
Best wishes for Christmas to all friends, old and new.