99. 23.06.69 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to see the Mother and Philip.

The mother seemed more relaxed than usual, possibly because her sister and brother-in-law were out and she and Philip were alone with her mother.

Philip had been at home all this week; he had cut his foot on some metal that had required some stitches, a pair of thick leather boots had prevented it from been very serious. It seemed to be healing satisfactorily and he expected to return to school the next week. He had missed the examinations but thought he would have to do them when he returned. Next term Philip thought he would be going into the ‘B’ stream of the second year and he was happy about this, as the pace would be slower.

The mother and Philip spent a day at Weston during the Whitsuntide holiday, which they had both thoroughly enjoyed. The mother was not expecting to get any holiday during the summer although she might get an odd day or two when they would be able to go out. Philip seems happy both at home and school but his movements continue to be rather jerky. 

100. 12.09.69 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to enquire how Philip had settled down at school. He is now in the ‘B’ stream and is doing more practical work, which seems to be suiting him better. He is particularly enjoying doing woodwork.

The mother said that he can write quite well when he tries but usually he is in such a hurry that the result is a scrawl.

During the holidays Philip had a number of friends at the house and they played mainly in the attic out of the way. Few of his friends are from the village, as they are mainly in the town where the school is situated.

Philip is very fond of an elderly widow who lives in the cottage opposite; she takes great interest in Philip and enjoys his frequent visits. They also go walking together with her dog. The mother is quite happy about this interest.

The mother is never very enthusiastic about her life in the village but as long as her mother is alive, I think she will be content to settle there to look after her and also her sister and brother-in-law.  

101. 22.12.69 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to take a special Christmas present for Philip on the 18th.

The mother seemed very cheerful and quite happy about Philip; she appeared to have no worries and there were no complaints.

Philip came in whilst I was there; he had a half-day holiday from school which he was enjoying. He said school was all right but he had nothing special to tell me about it. He was much more anxious to show me his stamp collection. This is a new hobby; he spends nearly all his pocket money on buying stamps and he has a number of books in which he has them all classified. He was very enthusiastic.   He seemed happy and well, and full of occupations.  

102. 11.03.70 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to see the mother and Philip, primarily to ask them about a holiday in the summer.

The mother thinks it most unlikely that she could get away, even for a week, as apart from the house she must look after her mother.

I mentioned that it was possible that Philip could go on a short holiday. He would stay in a Children’s Home at Dinas Powis in South Wales for two weeks. It was soon decided by Philip that he would like to go to Dinas Powis. I said that we hoped to arrange this holiday and I would let them know details nearer the time.

Philip has become very interested in woodwork; he showed me a bedside lamp he had made at school and a bagatelle board that his uncle had helped him make at home. He is still keen on his stamp collection and he never seems to be at a loss for something to do.

When I ask him about school he was not over enthusiastic: he is now in the ‘B’ stream and his mother said that he had some good examination results and had come 10th in a class of 36.

The mother seemed more settled than on some of my previous visits and there were no complaints.  

103. 29.05.70 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to see the mother and Philip chiefly to ask if she could contribute something towards Philip’s holiday in the Children’s Home in August.

The mother readily agreed to do this and will try and let us have something between Three and Five Pounds. She will be responsible for getting to Bristol by train where he will join the Mini-bus. Philip is looking forward very much to the holiday and thrilled to know it will be for two weeks.

He is reasonably settled at school but he is never very enthusiastic about it; he just says that it is all right. I will make a school visit before the end of this term to ask about his progress. 

104. 05.06.70 Note to Child Care Officer from Holiday Organiser.

I have just realised that to pick up from Bristol will mean a detour for the group who will be travelling to Wales from Reading on the M4 route. Would you care to telephone the Swansea Branch to see whether he prefers Chippenham as being more convenient to both. He will be picking up at Reading at 1pm. 

105. 20.07.70 Report of Child Care Officer.

I called to see the mother to make final arrangements for Philip’s holiday at Dinas Powis.

Philip is to join the group at 2.30pm at Chippenham railway station on Saturday 8th August.

The trains and buses to Chippenham are not very frequent but the mother will take Philip on the train, which arrives Chippenham at 1.35pm. I said that I would be there about 2.15pm and I would look out for them.

Philip was not home from school when I arrived, but his mother was so pleased to tell me that he had done very well at school and had come 4th in his class: but Philip hoped that he would not be put up into the A class next term.

The mother said that Philip was looking forward very much to the holiday at Dinas.  

106. 12.08.70 Receipt from NCH Bristol to Financial Secretary.

I enclose herewith Five Pounds received from Philip’s mother as her contribution towards her son’s holiday in the Children’s Home at Dinas Powis. I shall be grateful if you would forward this receipt to the mother. 

107. 13.08.70 Report of Child Care Officer.

The mother had taken Philip to Chippenham by train and I met them at the Railway Station.

Philip was most enthusiastic about his holiday and the mother said how lucky he was to be going.

We had about an hour and a half to wait for the Mini-bus.

Philip and Russell made a good relationship with each other; it looked as though they were going to be good friends.

The mother was just able to see Philip into the Mini-van before her train back to Swindon came in. She handed me an envelope containing a contribution towards the cost of the holiday; there was Five Pounds, which I later handed over to the Bristol Office. I said I would let the mother know about the arrangements for Philip’s return journey.  

108. 13.08.70 Letter to Child Care Officer from Mother.

Thank you for your letter, I have had three cards and a long letter from Philip, he sounded delighted with everything at Dinas Powis, and pleased to find he was the oldest boy. I will be at Chippenham Station on Saturday 22nd about 10.30am to meet Philip. Thank you very much indeed for arranging this holiday.  

109. 27.08.70 Report of Child Care Officer.

I met Philip at Chippenham Railway station on the 22nd; he had come in the mini-van from Dinas Powis.

Philip looked very well and said he had thoroughly enjoyed the holiday.

The mother told me that she would meet Philip at the station at 10.30am but she had told Philip that if she was not there when the coach arrived to wait for her. Philip assured me that he would be quite all right waiting on his own. I therefore left him at the station in order to take Russell to Salisbury to catch a train to Weymouth.

As I was visiting Swindon on the 24th, I went to the village where Philip lives to enquire if he had to wait very long for his mother, on Saturday.

I met Philip in the street: he was on his bicycle on his way to the Post office. He said that his mother had arrived at the station as we were leaving so he had no time to wait on his own. I did not go to the house to see the mother, as the purpose of my visit was to make sure that Philip had arrived home safely.

/

Continued

Please click on link

http://www.philipastrangechild.com/page_1170550471703.html