| The Culvers, Carshalton - 7 |
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..."When the time comes at last for us to depart, you may rest assured that we shall carry away with us memories of the overwhelming kindness shown to us by our British friends." In the news-sheet, interest-ing personal notes about "The Culvers House-hold," as seen by Pirmin, are set out as follows:- Felix--Is hardly ever at home. He works in London and has a lot of activities at the Spanish Club, but when at home he is a useful member of the community. Terechu--His sister, is a good mother to us boys, and takes a great part in the running of the home when she comes back from her nursery job. She is a group leader... |
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| Carshalton Colony |
| Nine years ago there arrived in this country many children, refugees from Spain. They came to England destitute, friendless and, as far as was known at the time, ophans. They were the little victims of the most tragic event that could happen in any country--civil war. The characteristic beneficence of the British people was stirred and soon these little Spaniards were housed in colonies in various parts of the country, and one of these was at the Culvers, Carshalton. In these havens of rest the children were given a fresh start in life, and over the past nine years... |
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| The house at Carshalton. You can just see the small wooden bridge to the left of the picture. "Sadly, the house has been demolished"--Manuel. |
| Tea-time at The Culvers, Carshalton. |
| Splashing in the stream, (we think it's part of the river Wandle?) which runs along by the Culvers is one way of enjoying a hot summer's day. |
| 1. Pacquita Abad, 2. ? , 3. ? , 4. Manolita Abad, 5. Feliciana Sanchez Pena, 6. Teresa Urrutia, 7. Carmen Ganivet, 8. Eduardo Martinez, 9. Cesario Bueno, 10. Kerman Iriondo, 11. Jose Martinez, 12. Pirmin Trecu, 13. Jose Luiz Fernandez, 14. Valeriana Llorente, 15. Nicolas Escubi, 16. Pepito ? , 17. Alejandro Finning, 18. Balazatequi Angel, 19. Laurita Garcia. We would like to thank Feliciana Martinez (nee Sanchez Pena) and Juan Moreno for suplying us with the names of the above photograph. We have just two missing? |
| What seems to be a footbal team, but the photo shows 14 boys and 1 girl. Maybe she's the ref? |
| I had their names, but I've mislaid the paper they were written on - HELP!! |
| ...Joe--A farmer, and the envy of most of us for his sun-tanned skin. He can be a keen attendant at meetings and discussions, but is too fond of films and going out in the evenings. Feliciana--His sister and our shy girl. She is now beginning to lose some of her shyness. She is very fond of Ramon, and these are the only two lovers at home. Coque--Is one of our artists and the most popular boy at home. Everyone admires his good heart and sense of humour. He is our president and is working hard for a forthcoming exhibition. Javier--His brother and our shy boy. He has a good job in a garage, where he has been over two years. He cycles to Brighton regularly on Sundays to see his second brother... The article on this page is titled "VICTIMS OF A CIVIL WAR" and appeared in the Croydon Advertiser 1945. |
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| The Culvers Household, Carshalton |
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...they have been educated, have sung and danced the Spanish way before large audiences, and many have returned to their native country to be re-united with their own kith and kin. An outstanding feature of the local Association is the production monthly of a bright news-sheet. Illustrated with originality, thumb-nail sketches give life to each individual paragraph devoted to the latest topical report about the activities of the various members of the Culvers household. Front-page news expresses a certain degree of wonderment that, after nine years away from home, they should still be living in England. "We wonder what our parents look like." they state. "They wonder what we look like. Alas, some of us will not have the joy of a reunion, for during our sojourn in this country some parents have been taken away from us." "Many of us have no real home in Spain to go to, as our parents were driven away, and they, too, are living in foreign lands - maybe France, maybe South America."... |
| A relaxing afternoon in the drawing room. |
...Depression has, however, no "home" for the Culvers, for their writer continues: "Please do not think that we are a doleful set of human beings down at the Culvers. We are not. We make our life as happy as possible and many a time, if you were a passer-by, you would hear laughter, and singing, and shouts of merriment, for sad though our hearts may be, we do not wear them on our sleeves." "Most of us have found a job of work, maybe in an office, or on a farm, or in hospitals, or nursery schools. |
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| We subscribe all we can for our maintenance and upkeep, in proportion to our earnings, but we connot yet be entirely self-supporting. We honestly wish we could. We dislike having to appeal for funds."... |
| ...a message |
| To be keeping the work of the Chshalton Basque Children's Home after fivew years of other wars and claims on the funds of human interest and generosity, is an unspoken tribute to three things. First, to our undiminished admiration of those who fought the first found of our war. Second, to the tremendous generosity, and sense of obligation to the innocent victims of a Fascist tyranny, that animates every one of those who have contributed. Third, to the charm and character of the children themselves who have won our hearts and convinced us that they are among those who will build the new Spain when the people of the unhappy country have chance to rule it again. With these thoughts of gratitude and hope, I sincerely trust that the Home will soon outlive its usefulness, because Peace and Freedom have returned. n introduction President Message written by George W. Cadbury in the Basque Home Newsletter 1937-1942. |
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| Mr West with a group of Basque children peering out of a window at The Culvers. |
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| Coque and Javier. |
| A group from The Culvers. |
| Were these two young Basque cyclists, from The Culvers, members of the Clarion Cycling Club? |
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