These Are Our Children

Four events that represent the typical activities provided for and documented by the Norfolk and Norwich Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, including both school and days out.

Guests arrive at a community venue for a xmas party for the Norfolk and Norwich Society of Mentally Handicapped Children. Parents arrive with their children, and so does the Lord Deputy Mayor wearing Mayoral regalia. Inside the building, the guests watch a cabaret performance and then dance the hokey cokey. Some of the guests have the genetic condition called Down’s Syndrome. Some of the adults and children wear home-made paper party hats. A child presents the Deputy Lord Mayor with a bouquet of flowers. The Deputy Lord Mayor chats to other young guests at the party. Mrs Abbs, Honorary Secretary, accepts a bouquet of flowers. Reverend Allan Carey addresses the partygoers. The children seated along a table, eat sandwiches. Some of the parents serve the children or help with their lunch. There are plates and plates of sandwiches. A man wearing ‘Father Christmas’ costume hands a xmas gift to each of the children in turn. Child patrons of the Norwich Occupation Centre arrive at the venue. A member of staff completes the register of students. Students take part in lessons; a music lesson, a religious education lesson – specifically being taught ‘the ten commandments’, a lesson in wood-work, then physical education – warming up and gymnastics. Whilst the male members do furniture making and P.E., the female members do chores in the kitchen. They do gardening; trimming hedgerow, weeding, hoeing, mowing the lawn. Returning to lessons indoors, they do arts and crafts; tapestry, weaving, and knitting. The children have a mid-morning break and a cup of milk. The third event documented is a typical day for children at Sprowston Occupation Centre NFK. The students arrive at the venue and have the register taken. Each child stands in turn as their name is called out. They pray, then play percussion instruments. Some of the children dance ‘ring a roses’, and the girls sew or knit, meanwhile the boys make rugs. Then it’s time for playing, with mini tea sets, and ragdolls. Despite the intertitle stating ‘cooking for the girls’, both girls and boys bake, rolling out pastry to make jam tarts. The children do puzzles, and they take turns going down a slide indoors. Outside, in the playground, the children do exercises led by a member of staff. They do gardening; hoeing and weeding and return the gardening tools indoors, followed by a hot dinner after all the hard work. It is now Mundesley 1955 and documented on colour film is a days outing for the children at the beach. The children get off the coach and, with the adults, make their way down to the seafront. A shot of the bus driver and some members of the coach trip standing next to the bus. Some of the children carry a bucket and spade. On the beach, some of them sit in groups on the sand and eat a picnic, others play a game of cricket, or build sandcastles. The men erect a long wind-breaker, and some of the parents are shown on the beach. A man hands out a banana to each of the children. Children paddle in the sea, although one infant avoids the water by clinging to his mum’s legs. Adults of the coach trip are sitting in deck chairs, and one girl enjoys eating a large stick of rock. More splashing about in the sea and some posing for the camera. Following an intertitle plea for help, “help us -, to help them”, there are more scenes of the coach party playing games on the beach then a group shot of the coach party – children and adults - all posing together for the camera. The group walk to a venue and have afternoon tea. There is an on-screen plea via intertitles for donations to be sent to the Honorary Secretary Gladys Abbs.

Keywords

Disability; Down's Syndrome; Health Services; Mencap; Occupational Health

Intertitles

A film of mentally backward children and the efforts of parents and friends to help them lead a fuller life as enjoyed by their more fortunate brothers and sisters. Our first xmas party. From all parts of the County Parents arrive with their children. Inside a gay crowd assembles. A bouquet for the Deputy Lord Mayor. - And for Mrs. Gladys Abbs. Hon: Secretary. ‘Bless This House.’ Rev. Allan Carey ‘Santa Claus’ gives out the presents. Our Occupation centre’s. We acknowledge with thanks the co-operation of the Norwich City Council, and the Norfolk County Council. Here a trained Staff teach to suit the child. Norwich Occupation Centre. A little patience, but they will learn. Even the household chores. They do their own gardening. Mid-morning milk, and a rest for the ‘little one’s’. Sprowston Occupation Centre NFK: This Centre for the Children from the County. Roll-call and prayers. Rug making for the boys. Play time for the little ‘ones’. Cooking for the girls, - and what lovely cakes! We must not keep them inside all the time. Ready for a big dinner, and they get one. Will you help us; please: Mundesley 1955 Having Fun? Yes! Just like normal children. What of their training? Help us -, To help them. Time for tea, and the end of the day. Please send a donation to, Mrs. G Abbs 73. Norwich Road New Costessey Norwich

Other Places

Mundesley; Sprowston.