Enfield - Press Report

ST GEORGE’S RC SCHOOL TURNS BACK THE CLOCK

The clock was turned back by 67 years when three visitors arrived at St George’s RC Primary School this week.  It was the first time Norman Taylor, Eric Nutcher and Mike O’Brien had returned to the school since attending there in 1939. 

As boys, they had all been residents of St Joseph’s Children’s Home, Enfield which was run by the former Crusade of Rescue – now the Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster).  Their trip back to Enfield ended with a talk at St George’s School about life in a children’s home in the 1930’s and what it was like to grow up with 180 other boys during the Second World War. 

Ninety children, in year six at St George’s listened intently while Norman Taylor regaled them with stories of life in Enfield and were particularly interested in the weekly meal menu, which Eric Nutcher can still recite today.  Norman described his first meal in the Refectory at St Joseph’s as “dreadful”, so much so, he refused to eat.  Before he knew it, an older boy had happily relieved him of his plate and scoffed the lot!

Mike O’Brien told the children how difficult it was for nine nuns to keep strict order over 180 boys.  He amused them with tales of how he continually got into trouble and was very often caned by way of punishment.  This obviously caught the imagination of the children and the Question and Answer session was peppered with questions about his escapades and how the nuns had dealt with him.  “Did you ever play tricks on the younger children” he was asked.  “No, there was more pleasure in tricking the older boys and getting away with it.  If you didn’t, you had to run!”

A special tribute was paid to Miss Elizabeth Crimmins, a teacher at St Joseph’s who went on to teach at St George’s Primary School until Christmas 1960.  Norman Taylor spoke of the boys’ gratitude to her for being a wonderful teacher and always allowing the children to express themselves through the written word.  As a result of this, Norman’s memoirs have featured on the Catholic Children’s Society (Westminster) website and Mike O’Brien has published a book of poetry.

The talk ended with the three gentlemen agreeing that although difficult, their childhood hadn’t been all bad.  They have developed a comradeship which has lasted all these years.  The ‘Old Boys and Girls’of the Crusade homes meet twice yearly, with people travelling from as far away as America and Canada for the reunions.