:: About The Book ::

"What was it like there"? A friend recently asked me this question after being informed that I had been raised at Norwood. I am sure that many 'old scholars' have been asked the same question and, like me, find it is difficult to give an answer in just a few sentences.

Since its gates were opened in 1866, several thousand children  differing circumstances, and for various reasons, were sent to Norwood. Every one of them has their own experiences opinions and memories of life there during their own particular period of residence and only each individual can describe what it was like for them personally.

For instance, there were many whose earliest memories began in an institution, never having known their parents, or, if indeed they had any family or relatives at all.There were children who had suffered the trauma of being abruptly parted form their loved ones and way of life, suddenly experiencing the shock of finding themselves deposited in the orphanage after a bereavement, or where a surviving parent or relative could no longer cope. 'Counselling' was not available to them at this crucial time in their lives, and there was no-one specifially appointed to help with their distress and bewilderment.

David Golding

From the 19th century until its closing in the 1960's, the Jewish Orphanage at Norwood South London was one of the largest and most respected institutions of its kind.In his poignant memoir, David Golding tells the story of his life as a Norwood boy during the 1930's.

One of the many Jewish children who passed through the doors of Norwood, Golding's heart-rending tale begins with his crystal-clear recollection of the morning that would become the defining moment of his childhood:

"I was taken to the Jewish orphanage in West Norwood on a cold day in late January 1935.My mother had me get up and ready very early in the morning. I remember sitting at the kitchen table,which also served as a bath when the top was raised, having my breakfast..."

Like many of the children in residence, Golding was not an orphan but was taken to Norwood because of difficult family circumstances following the death of his father. His nostalgic story describes what it was like growing up under the umbrella of the orphanage; how the highs and lows of life at Norwood shaped the childhoods and coloured  the futures of its young residents.

From his charming accout of a failed attempt to escape the orphanage with his friend Henry , to his vivid descriptions of daily life, including the victorian style punishments... to his memories of the war years and evacuation... Golding's memoir brims with fascinating detail evoking orphanage life with incredible accuracy, humour and a good measure of affection.

The bullies, the friends,the masters... the unforgettable characters who played a significant role during Golding's years at Norwood come to life in lively anecdotes and delightful vignettes that capture the spirit of the orphanage- and the atmosphere of the period.

A remarkable and engaging story, Golding's book is ultimately an uplifting tale- a tribute to the character and resilliance of the thousands of children who spent their formative years within the gates of the famous Jewish institution.

Quoted from the back of "Reminiscences of A Norwood Boy"

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Reminiscences Of A Norwood Boy