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G's father died of a heart attack in June 1896. His mother was not strong enough to go out to work full time. The family owned a horse and cart but it was not making them any money and the horse had become lame and could not be sold. G. was admitted to the Rock Ferry Home near Birkenhead in April 1897 and in August 1903 was transferred to the Hedgerley Court Farm Home, Buckinghamshire. In late 1904 his mother requested that he be returned home to help her. She had been working cleaning Church schools but because of a decision that this had to be done by a married couple she was out of work and dependent on money from the Poor Law authorities and the wages of her eldest son. A situation had been found for G. at Mackie and Gladstone, Ale and Spirit Merchants where he would label bottles at 8/- a week. It was recognised that this would be a disappointment for him on a personal level as he liked the country life. He had hoped to become a gardener and could have transferred to St Benet's Home, Caversham to learn the trade; but it was felt that his mother needed him and he returned home in December 1904. |
