1937 pictures of Spanish Children at Morton Banks

[Admin]

Received a plea for help - I have nothing on this particular period of Morton Banks....can anyone help?

Thanks Jan

can you help me please, im trying to get hold of any write ups and photos from around 1937 when the spanish kids came over from bilbao in spain and stayed at morton banks hospital, a very dear old friend of mine had a bad accident over there years ago and still goes back to visit the locals and would love to take something with him to show the locals that we still remember them.. hope you can help.

[fsharpminor]

Asked my father last night who was 17 in 1937, he certainly remembers the Spanish children coming over and that it was 'in the same year that KRLFC reached Wembley', he also remembered they were Basques.

[parkwoodgirl]

My mother and father volunteered to 'adopt' one of the Spanish children for weekend visits to our home. His name was Andreas (I have no idea of his surname) I was 7 yrs, old but can still remember him smoking in the garden and my dad telling to put the cigarette out. My dad made him a go-cart with the wheels from an old dolls pram and he loved going down the twine and walking to Harcourt St., to visit my grandmother. My parents bought him his first pair of long trousers. I have often wondered whether he remembers those days with my family. I suppose he would be well into his 80's. if he is still alive. Sadly I don't have any pictures of Andreas but taking photographs in those days wasn't as popular as it is today.

[cobbylass]

My parents were involved in the local community effort to support the Spanish children at Morton Banks. Two little boys came to stay at their home each weekend; both were terribly missing their mums. I still have a photo of one of them, which I found after my parents died. (My mum used to tell me that the boys corresponded for a while after returning to Spain; it is such a pity that the letters have been lost over time)
The man who did most to put together a real community effort for the children was the Keighley minister Rev J. Nicholson Balmer. He arranged entertainment parties to visit Morton Banks, organised little teas and outings, and found good and responsible homes for the homesick children to visit.

[elfremar]

Family friends used to have a Spanish girl to stay with them every weekend,and I remember her coming over for a holiday with her husband in the 50s.Her name was Alba and she was a lovely looking women.My mother's friend told her that Alba used to put her make up on before she went to bed,and the bedding had to be washed every day.