Exmouth Convalescent Home

[DSJ]

Is there anyone here who spent time as a child at a convalescent home in Exmouth, 1940s/1950s? I cannot name the home but wonder if you have memories.

[smudge]

I can't help you with that one DSJ, but my sister & me spent six weeks at Webbery Convalescent Home in Bideford, Nth Devon. It was in the summer holidays in 1953 & I celebrated my 6th birthday there.

I have entered Webbery as a 'place' on Friends Reunited, in the hope that one of the 'little girls back then' might see it, but all to no avail.

Good luck with your question.

[DSJ]

Your memories of Webbery were obviously happy ones. Sadly, mine were exactly the opposite. I hadn't thought to put R C H on Friends Reunited as a 'place' but will do so now. Thanks for the suggestion.

[smudge]

Hi again DSJ - I'm so sorry your memories of being away aren't very happy ones & wish things could have been different for you.

Although I have some very happy memories of my sister & me staying at Webbery, I missed my Mum & Dad so much.

I remember lots of countryside, farms, walks in the woods & finding little 'castles' made of wild toadstools (the nurses told us that elves had made them & fairies lived in them)! Having a nap every afternoon on little camp beds. Discovering round flat tins of Gibbs pink toothpaste. Gagging on macaroni tubes (still can't stand the stuff)! Laying in the dorm's at night, thinking of home. Writing home to Mum & Dad on coloured note paper & matching envelopes. Going to the little Chapel within the grounds every Sunday to pray.

We went back there a few years ago & it's now a private house & the little chapel a little workshop full of cobwebs! The musty smell of damp leaves in the grounds, really made us cry too!

I hope you manage to find out a little more about your convalescent home. Good luck.

[smudge]

P.S. Just remembered a song we used to sing:

"Mummy, Daddy, take me home,
from this Convalescent Home,
We've been here a week ot two,
now we want to be with you...."

Very apt!

[DSJ]

Hi Smudge, my memories of this particular home were more horrific than perhaps you are imagining. That is why I won't name it here. I was there for a month in the summer of 1949 and was, of course, homesick. If we children had been treated well, our time there could have been enjoyable. Exmouth is a pretty place.

I would dearly like to contact other 'inmates' from that time, including two little boys who ran away and tried to walk home, just to talk over our shared experiences. That would make me feel alot better.

[smudge]

Hi again DSJ - I really can't imagine what a terrible impact that place must have had on you & the other kids who stayed in that home.

If you wish, I could add to you to my friend list & maybe you could unburdon your feelings about that awful place in private. No pressure, I'll leave it entirely up to you.

[smudge]

P.S. Webbery was an all girls Convalescent Home with really nice Nurses.

Not sure if you're a he or a she - doesn't make any difference to me, but nice to know how to address you.

[pusskin]

Hello DSj + Smudge. I am sitting here in floods of tears reading your correspondance!! my eyes are swimming in tears. I was at Webbery along with with Smudge, and most of the memories are happy one's, apart from being almost forced to eat meat, that made me feel quite ill. I hope you can talk about it CSJ, it will relieve the pain in your heart.
all the best xx pusskins

[DSJ]

Hi Smudge & Pusskin. Thanks for coming back to me. It would be really nice to 'talk' to someone, even if not to one or more of the unhappy children who were at Exmouth when I was, but how do I go about this? I'm now a grandmother of two, soon to be three, by the way!

[smudge]

Hi DSJ - I've not long got in, so will be back a bit later to chat to you - promise. -xx-

[smudge]

Welcome to AnswerBank pusskin - there'll be plenty to keep you occupied on here, with plenty of laughs & tears too!

Speak later. -xx-

[pusskin]

hello DSJ. speaking to some-one (especially smudge) and letting your feelings out , will lesson the load for you. I have carried hurt and pain for 40 yrs, about a different problem that I could never talk about. But with the help of a councellor and smudge behind me , I feel free and much happier. Problem now solved at last . I dont have to wonder any more, and life's much better. Talk talk talk , its the best thing you can do. Dont give up on the little'uns getting in touch with you though, it could still happen!!.
take care xx pusskins

[smudge]

Hi DSJ - I've tried to add you to my friends list, but am unable to find you on Beta, via Sports!

If you go to Sports, then Beta, you'll find my profile on there. If you wish to invite me, we could then chat further about the possiblity of finding people who stayed at that home.

Hi pusskin - nice kind words from you. I'm always glad to help people & in certain circumstances say to myself: 'There but for fortune go I'. -xx-

P.S. No point in us inviting each other on Beta, as we have each others personal email addresses! -xx-

[smudge]

Me again - I've just managed to invite you to be my friend DSJ, so you should receive an AB notification email letting you know. If you're not sure, you click on the link on the email, then accept my invite - that's if you wish to of couse!

I've also invited you too pusskin, even tho' we email each other - wouldn't want to leave you behind! -xx-

[smudge]

Hi again DSJ - rec'd your message thank you.

Yes, seeing as Beta is playing up, I will contact you thro', Friends Reunited. I found your profile on there & will email later - off to my daughter's for the afternoon. ;o}

[Sylvsmum]

I am new to this site, but found it by asking Google for info on Webbery. I knew it was no longer a convalescent home. I was there twice, not sure of the years but think 1950 and 1952 or 3. Somewhere I have a group photo - with the cat (could his name have been Smudge??)
How can I get in touch with either of you who remember Webbery? The reminder of the chapel, and napping on those terrible camp beds brought back many memories. Not all were happy, but it was a wonderful place. Owned then by Mr & Mrs Leach.