I was in Stanley House between 1964 and 1967, one of the most positive experiences of my life. The staff were amazing, dedicated to saving us delinquents from a life of crime. I remember in particular Mr ''Enery' Cooper, our housemaster at Stanley house, and Mr KGE Swan, the science teacher. Also Mr 'Jack' Thomas, who at almost every morning assembly, after hymns, would exhort us to 'never say you succeeded because of Ardale, always say that you succeeded in spite of Ardale. Thanks Ardale and the staff, you showed me a better path
@@phraalanjames6184 Hi, I was there 165-67, but can't remember anyone called 'droopy'. 'Turdley', yes, Oxo Pratney, yes, but no droopy. Mr Goldsack was known as 'toothy' or 'Mr Toothsack'. When were you there? Maybe I was just a flash new geezer when you were there. Ping et regards, george wake
Went to school in Stifford Clays not far from Ardale and knew a few who were there. Left Grays in 1986 and joined the Royal Marines, live close to Dartmoor now, a world away from Essex and the South East but fond memories of a happy childhood.
There must be few around now from back in my time.I was there early sixties .It was a steep learning curve to a boy from south devon trying to fit in with the hard men from the smoke.I ended up with an east end accent which the girls liked ,so not all bad.I reckon I could still do lead welding ,but it wasn't allowed on plumbing jobs I did as a builder in the 80's.Mr parker I think was ex merchant navy.I never did plastering as taught in the plastering shop,nor made any architraves on a shellacked table.It did however give me confidence to do plastering as a general builder.I met up at different times with 2 old boys,not in the best of circumstances but that was in my mispent youth.I ended up for the last 20 years of my working life as a computer engineer ,still doing training to keep up with current hardware and software. we need these kind of establishments back again,there are so many gifted people who seem to waste their lives these days.How many must have been "afflicted" with Autism,ADHD and aspergers and had it undiagnosed.There were certainly some exceptionly gifted people there with way above average IQ's Hope all who survived are in good health,cheers to you.Pete ,ex Nelson house
@@ruadhagainagaidheal9398 Hi ,I expect we did know each other.I remember a hungarian refugee taught in the gym.We used to do pirates and i never got caught by him although he was an exceptional gymnast.Wish i was that fit now 😁.I got into the gym team and remember doing a display for some visitors.We started off to the tune of the saints come marching in.Also tried the duke of edinburghs award but wasn't too good at that.
Hi any of you lot still alive, Been in touch with Rogan (Mick) Bryan, trying to contact Colin Betts; everyone I was there with seems to be Doctor this, Professor that (me included), thanks to the staff, who actually believed in us. they don't make it like that any more, hope you're all happy rehabilitated geezers, flash, new, it doesn't matter any more, respect you lot, ping, razz, etc. George
@@phraalanjames6184 Hi Phra, There was also a 'Bonk-eye Mc Geachy, famous for catching crabs, and a 'Nicky Derr'. Keep the flag flying chaps, regards, G
I remember"horse" who could play william tell on his teeth.I was in the gym display team,we'd come out to the sound of when the saints come marching in.
Great video, after it closed in 1994 and was left derelict, as a kid we used to climb up on the roof and get in to the buildings to explore, fascinating place. Very interesting to see some of them buildings in their glory days.
I was there 1962 to 64.Good memories of dedicated teachers.It never kept me out of trouble but did get me to pass GCSE,s and city & guilds which helped me later in life when I finally settled down.Nelson house,Ally man and Ally woman.Memories of lighting the aga in the morning and helping cook the breakfast as part of my house job in the kitchen.
I remember it as an Approved School with boys a bit better than Borstal must have been - and all in all a good one but no one seemed to know that when I was there from about 1956 - 57. I became a leader/Foreman in the Plumbing shop - with good old Mr Parker. there were 4 houses, two big ones and two smaller, I was in the 'best ' of the big houses. I passed three or four GCEs but very few lads did GCEs in my time there. Luckily I was quite strong and tall which helped. I ran off for a week or two and then was released after about a total of about 17 months - into the merchant navy - never been so sick - after that 23 years in the army where I was fine ! Now retired with enough money at 80 years and happy in good health. It probably did me good- - and taught me a few things ! My dad had a chemist shop and never mentioned why I went to an approved school - he was a good chap. I wish I could tell him that. An approved school was the stepping stone to Borstal - no one seems to know that sort of thing nowadays!
@@stevem1208 I didn't expect a reply ! I was there from 1956 - 57 , in retrospect I think I was lucky - some of the other schools must have been pretty awful but who knew anything at age 16/17 - I think it did me good - I served 22 years in the army after Ardale and I did a lot of plumbing on my own house too. My father was not pleased at my life in those days - He had a chemist shop - but we we got on ok later.
@@dannydead37great to hear you made a successful life. I think it made me realize that I liked going out drinkin, and Dancing and meeting girls. If I had continued with my life I might have ended up in jail. I curbed my worst behavior just enough lol. I now live in California been here for nearly 20 years.
@@stevem1208 wow, your stories are amazing, I grew up in Purfleet, now live in Chadwell St Mary, but I drive through north Stifford often. Are you still in california?
I was there around 71 remember mr Parker, great man, mr Bird, Henry Cooper, Some of the lads dave Richardson, mutley, Steve neave and a few who's name escapes me the place taught me a lot but not enough to still me going to borstal .....
@@brianbedford3435 I remember Mutley. I think he came from Southend. Mr English who had no thumbs. Yes Parker was a great man. I learnt plumbing from him.
@@stevem1208 Steve leave, the archway king had blue John Lennon glasses, a few from them days made it good, Pierre sylwyn, believe he got into movies wonder where they all are today
@@brianbedford3435 do you remember Tiny. I cant remember his real name. The was another chap called Ray who wore glasses and was soft spoken but no one crossed him. Tough as anything. I used to play badminton with Mr Smith. Do you have any memory of them ?.
Hi you lot, Is anyone from this time, this place, still alive? i am, and would love to hear from you. Esp. Colin Betts - what're you doing these days? Cheers, with the usual razz, ping etc, George Wake
Blimey ! Bob Morris - “The Mo”. He broke the fingers of his right hand punching me in the face during sunday assembly. Never held it against him though, as it genuinely did ‘hurt him more than it hurt me’ !
I used to live in South Ockendon as a kid and would hear talk of Ardale boys, I didn't know much about the place or really what it was until now. Somehow the Ardale boys got a tough reputation but I had never met or seen any and wasn't quite sure what it was all about. But funny thing is it looks simular to the children's home where I grew up (Hutton Poplars) then I just learned it later got turned into a common home, well I ended up going to one and hated it, it was in Wiltshire, don't know why they chose to send me all they way up there when I had a community home just a stones throw away. Also the place where I was at was also previously an approved school. I actually thought approved schools were for hard nut criminals with strict prison like rules and punishments. Just wanna say thankyou for educating me on all 8f this. Up until now Ardale was a mystery but I now know I too was one of those boys, and brought up from a toddler in very similar surroundings wish I had met a couple of kids from Ardale now, we had so much in common but I didn't know it at the time ❤️
I was an approvee between 1965 and 1967, having been sent there by the Newcastle Juvenile courts for being too toe-raggish. Richard Crossland and Shirley Wlliams, realising that the 11+ was producing superior intellects to the entitled classes, and of course, 'we can't have this', so they abolished grammar schools in 1962, cancelling Bevan's vision of real equality of opportunity. 'Can't have these proles challenging us', bad idea, 'Off with there heads' as it were. Anyway, sent to Ardale, found that of the staff were decent people and on our side! I;ll never be able to forget those guys (and a few women), who only wanted the best for us wayward kids.
5:14. That’s not the art room, it’s the painting workshop. Among other skills, we learnt sign writing and what you see there are pub signs in progress, (mine was ‘ The Jolly Butcher’)They were part of the Building Craft-Paint and Plasterwork GCE exam (note, not the watered down GCSE of today, it was a tough ‘Pass or Fail’ exam with no ‘grades’ like today’s nonsense- designed so that every candidate gets a certificate and nobody fails.
I think Thurrock Scuba Club used the swimming pool for training. I have a memory from about 1964 of going there at least once, then the club moved to a pool in East Ham direction.
I was in Stanley House between 1964 and 1967, one of the most positive experiences of my life. The staff were amazing, dedicated to saving us delinquents from a life of crime. I remember in particular Mr ''Enery' Cooper, our housemaster at Stanley house, and Mr KGE Swan, the science teacher. Also Mr 'Jack' Thomas, who at almost every morning assembly, after hymns, would exhort us to 'never say you succeeded because of Ardale, always say that you succeeded in spite of Ardale. Thanks Ardale and the staff, you showed me a better path
@@phraalanjames6184 Hi, I was there 165-67, but can't remember anyone called 'droopy'. 'Turdley', yes, Oxo Pratney, yes, but no droopy. Mr Goldsack was known as 'toothy' or 'Mr Toothsack'. When were you there? Maybe I was just a flash new geezer when you were there. Ping et regards, george wake
I lived there from 1977 to 1985. My mum and dad were residential social workers who looked after the boys there.
Went to school in Stifford Clays not far from Ardale and knew a few who were there. Left Grays in 1986 and joined the Royal Marines, live close to Dartmoor now, a world away from Essex and the South East but fond memories of a happy childhood.
There must be few around now from back in my time.I was there early sixties .It was a steep learning curve to a boy from south devon trying to fit in with the hard men from the smoke.I ended up with an east end accent which the girls liked ,so not all bad.I reckon I could still do lead welding ,but it wasn't allowed on plumbing jobs I did as a builder in the 80's.Mr parker I think was ex merchant navy.I never did plastering as taught in the plastering shop,nor made any architraves on a shellacked table.It did however give me confidence to do plastering as a general builder.I met up at different times with 2 old boys,not in the best of circumstances but that was in my mispent youth.I ended up for the last 20 years of my working life as a computer engineer ,still doing training to keep up with current hardware and software.
we need these kind of establishments back again,there are so many gifted people who seem to waste their lives these days.How many must have been "afflicted" with Autism,ADHD and aspergers and had it undiagnosed.There were certainly some exceptionly gifted people there with way above average IQ's
Hope all who survived are in good health,cheers to you.Pete ,ex Nelson house
Hello mate, Rogan “Mick” Bryan here, ex Stanley House. We probably knew each other if we were there at the same time -‘64 to ‘66 in my case.
@@ruadhagainagaidheal9398 Hi ,I expect we did know each other.I remember a hungarian refugee taught in the gym.We used to do pirates and i never got caught by him although he was an exceptional gymnast.Wish i was that fit now 😁.I got into the gym team and remember doing a display for some visitors.We started off to the tune of the saints come marching in.Also tried the duke of edinburghs award but wasn't too good at that.
Hi any of you lot still alive, Been in touch with Rogan (Mick) Bryan, trying to contact Colin Betts; everyone I was there with seems to be Doctor this, Professor that (me included), thanks to the staff, who actually believed in us. they don't make it like that any more, hope you're all happy rehabilitated geezers, flash, new, it doesn't matter any more, respect you lot, ping, razz, etc. George
@@phraalanjames6184 Hi Phra, There was also a 'Bonk-eye Mc Geachy, famous for catching crabs, and a 'Nicky Derr'. Keep the flag flying chaps, regards, G
I remember"horse" who could play william tell on his teeth.I was in the gym display team,we'd come out to the sound of when the saints come marching in.
Great video, after it closed in 1994 and was left derelict, as a kid we used to climb up on the roof and get in to the buildings to explore, fascinating place.
Very interesting to see some of them buildings in their glory days.
I was there 1962 to 64.Good memories of dedicated teachers.It never kept me out of trouble but did get me to pass GCSE,s and city & guilds which helped me later in life when I finally settled down.Nelson house,Ally man and Ally woman.Memories of lighting the aga in the morning and helping cook the breakfast as part of my house job in the kitchen.
I remember it as an Approved School with boys a bit better than Borstal must have been - and all in all a good one but no one seemed to know that when I was there from about 1956 - 57. I became a leader/Foreman in the Plumbing shop - with good old Mr Parker. there were 4 houses, two big ones and two smaller, I was in the 'best ' of the big houses. I passed three or four GCEs but very few lads did GCEs in my time there. Luckily I was quite strong and tall which helped. I ran off for a week or two and then was released after about a total of about 17 months - into the merchant navy - never been so sick - after that 23 years in the army where I was fine ! Now retired with enough money at 80 years and happy in good health. It probably did me good- - and taught me a few things ! My dad had a chemist shop and never mentioned why I went to an approved school - he was a good chap. I wish I could tell him that. An approved school was the stepping stone to Borstal - no one seems to know that sort of thing nowadays!
@@dannydead37 I remember Mr Parker from the plumbing workshop. I liked him a no nonsense man if I recall
@@stevem1208 I didn't expect a reply ! I was there from 1956 - 57 , in retrospect I think I was lucky - some of the other schools must have been pretty awful but who knew anything at age 16/17 - I think it did me good - I served 22 years in the army after Ardale and I did a lot of plumbing on my own house too. My father was not pleased at my life in those days - He had a chemist shop - but we we got on ok later.
@@dannydead37great to hear you made a successful life. I think it made me realize that I liked going out drinkin, and Dancing and meeting girls. If I had continued with my life I might have ended up in jail. I curbed my worst behavior just enough lol. I now live in California been here for nearly 20 years.
@@stevem1208 wow, your stories are amazing, I grew up in Purfleet, now live in Chadwell St Mary, but I drive through north Stifford often.
Are you still in california?
I was there from I think between 84,5 or 6 under old assumed name Thomas Whyborn, was a good and bad time, was confused young boy back then.
I was there in 1969; a great place with a wonderful ethos. I think it went downhill after I left...............
I was there in 1971/2 . I was in Nelson house.
I was there around 71 remember mr Parker, great man, mr Bird, Henry Cooper,
Some of the lads dave Richardson, mutley, Steve neave and a few who's name escapes me the place taught me a lot but not enough to still me going to borstal .....
@@brianbedford3435 I remember Mutley. I think he came from Southend. Mr English who had no thumbs. Yes Parker was a great man. I learnt plumbing from him.
@@stevem1208 Steve leave, the archway king had blue John Lennon glasses, a few from them days made it good, Pierre sylwyn, believe he got into movies wonder where they all are today
@@brianbedford3435 do you remember Tiny. I cant remember his real name. The was another chap called Ray who wore glasses and was soft spoken but no one crossed him. Tough as anything.
I used to play badminton with Mr Smith.
Do you have any memory of them ?.
@@stevem1208 yes I remember tiny, if I remember I was in shackleton house
Hi you lot,
Is anyone from this time, this place, still alive? i am, and would love to hear from you. Esp. Colin Betts - what're you doing these days?
Cheers, with the usual razz, ping etc, George Wake
I also was there very bad memories and violent memories my saving grace was mr Morris ex army and his dear wife and sons helped me get through it
Blimey ! Bob Morris - “The Mo”. He broke the fingers of his right hand punching me in the face during sunday assembly. Never held it against him though, as it genuinely did ‘hurt him more than it hurt me’ !
I used to live in South Ockendon as a kid and would hear talk of Ardale boys, I didn't know much about the place or really what it was until now. Somehow the Ardale boys got a tough reputation but I had never met or seen any and wasn't quite sure what it was all about. But funny thing is it looks simular to the children's home where I grew up (Hutton Poplars) then I just learned it later got turned into a common home, well I ended up going to one and hated it, it was in Wiltshire, don't know why they chose to send me all they way up there when I had a community home just a stones throw away. Also the place where I was at was also previously an approved school. I actually thought approved schools were for hard nut criminals with strict prison like rules and punishments. Just wanna say thankyou for educating me on all 8f this. Up until now Ardale was a mystery but I now know I too was one of those boys, and brought up from a toddler in very similar surroundings wish I had met a couple of kids from Ardale now, we had so much in common but I didn't know it at the time ❤️
I was an approvee between 1965 and 1967, having been sent there by the Newcastle Juvenile courts for being too toe-raggish. Richard Crossland and Shirley Wlliams, realising that the 11+ was producing superior intellects to the entitled classes, and of course, 'we can't have this', so they abolished grammar schools in 1962, cancelling Bevan's vision of real equality of opportunity. 'Can't have these proles challenging us', bad idea, 'Off with there heads' as it were. Anyway, sent to Ardale, found that of the staff were decent people and on our side! I;ll never be able to forget those guys (and a few women), who only wanted the best for us wayward kids.
5:14. That’s not the art room, it’s the painting workshop. Among other skills, we learnt sign writing and what you see there are pub signs in progress, (mine was ‘ The Jolly Butcher’)They were part of the Building Craft-Paint and Plasterwork GCE exam (note, not the watered down GCSE of today, it was a tough ‘Pass or Fail’ exam with no ‘grades’ like today’s nonsense- designed so that every candidate gets a certificate and nobody fails.
I think Thurrock Scuba Club used the swimming pool for training. I have a memory from about 1964 of going there at least once, then the club moved to a pool in East Ham direction.
Look at the old world buildings, high cielings and well maintained.
What has happened to our society.
My mum and dad used to threaten me with sending me to Ardale during my early years in the 40's to 50's
if I didn't behave myself