British Pathe

M/S of three boys and two men, Max Millard and Alan Brown, operating a model train set that includes tunnels, hills and a station for the model steam trains to run through. The two men are dressed in railway uniforms. Various shots of the train set and the men talking to the boys as they operate it....

M/S of three boys and two men, Max Millard and Alan Brown, operating a model train set that includes tunnels, hills and a station for the model steam trains to run through. The two men are dressed in railway uniforms. Various shots of the train set and the men talking to the boys as they operate it. Commentator tells us the railway workers built the model network for children at the Southern Railway Children's Home.

M/S of the exterior of the Home in Woking, Surrey; some children are seen working in the garden in the foreground. We are told that the home is maintained on voluntary contributions from men who work for the Southern Region (railways). C/U of a sign in an architecture feature above a window reading 'Founded by Canon Allen Edwards 1885'; below that is the year it was built, 1909.

Nice M/S in a garden as children play with hamsters and budgies in cages in a garden, while a steam train passes along the track in the background. C/U of the budgie in a cage as a boy dangles some peanuts (? or catkins?) on a string next to her. Two small girls take the lid off a hamster house and we see the critters inside snuffling about and nibbling leaves. M/S of George Evershed, the superintendent of the home (known as 'Dad') holding a white and tortoiseshell cat for two young boys to look at as they all sit on the grass. (A rare cat appearance in a Colour Pic! This one is called Puff.)

Commentator says "The children here are mainly orphans, but some are those whose parents are ill or temporarily unable to look after them". M/Ss and C/Us in a room in the home where three young girls are being shown how to bath a (real) baby; they all help the teacher to brush the baby's hair and sprinkle talcum powder on him. High angle M/S as three girls and one boy are seen washing up and drying crockery at a large kitchen sink.

M/S in a library as a girl and boy sit reading with a young man; pan right to show some children coming through the door. They put some coins into a collection box with the words 'Love Fund / Let us love one another for love is of God' written on it. We are told the children donate some of their pocket money to the fund each week, and use it to buy something for someone in need; we see a boy and girl giving a bunch of flowers and a basket of groceries to an elderly lady.

Shoe-repairer Arthur Piper is seen at work with a young man, Arthur Hawkins, who is learning the work as a hobby. Many pairs of shoes and shoe lasts are on the workbench before them. C/Us of the pair taking soles off shoes. M/S in the shoe department as a woman helps a girl sitting on some steps to try on some shoes. A little boy to the right is putting on some wellington boots; another boy and girl stand by looking in shoe boxes that are piled high on racks. Good C/U as the woman fits the shoes onto the girl; the boy in boots looks up at the woman. M/Ss in the garden as Matron, Grace Groom, kneels on the grass to look at the knitting of a girl; other children are sitting on the ground and knitting squares that will go to make patchwork blankets for refugees; Matron holds up a blanket for us to see. Great M/S of a beautiful steam engine, a Schools Class No 30903, as driver Fred Ringer shows it to some boys; M/S as he points out various features to the boys; C/U looking along the wheels of the engine.

Note: There is no print for this issue. On file are cameraman's notes (listing names of children and adults in the film - too numerous to mention here) and a pamphlet about the 'Southern Railway Servants' Orphanage in association with The Southern Railway Homes For Old People'. The home is still clearly visible from the railway line at Woking today.