Reuben Drummond's Profile

In 1926 he was sent to Goldings where he stayed until 1928 the records of
this period are incomplete I have no record of what house he was in, but
I do know that he was in engineering. There are no available records
stating what happened to his sister my aunt, but further investigation
shows that Elizabeth, and Charlotte, my dads elder sister then became
music hall artistes until Charlotte married and moved to the U.S.A. On

leaving Goldings my father drifted from job to job until he joined the

merchant navy with the rest of his brothers in 1929. Having served during
the Second World War and Korea he finally retired in 1966 as Chief Engineer.
He was awarded the 1939/45 Atlantic star and Africa star medals. He also
had medals for the Russian, and Malta convoys, along with medals for the

Korean conflict. He passed away on January 6th 1975 .

My father Reuben along with his sister Elizabeth were placed into the care
of Dr Barnardo’s in 1916 at the tender age of five, being one of seven children.
This was due to the ill health of my grandmother, and the death of my
grandfather, On the 23/10/1919 he was boarded out and sent to east Dereham
in Norfolk returning to Stepney in 1925 from there he spent time being

moved between Clapham and Garden city in Essex.

My fathers involvement with Goldings began again in 1962 when I reached
the age of 14, and becoming a little bit wayward. My mother couldn’t cope,
and my father was at sea most of the year.
My father made the decision to ask Barnardo’s to take me in to Goldings.
This was done, my trade was carpenter, but I always knew I would join the merchant navy as my
father and uncles did before me. I left Goldings in 1964 joined the navy in 1965 and stayed there
for 23 years. My father entered Goldings at the beginning of its time, and I entered Goldings at

the end of its time, is this a unique occurrence?

Click Here to view Peter Drummond’s Profile

1929 June

Our sincerest hopes that they will endeavour to bring credit to the school.
We have to bid God speed to the following :-
R. Drummond, J. Mann, A. Blakeley, T. Howell, A. Franklin, and A. Gray.
Our best wishes to their success in their start in life.

Page Compiled April 2005

Many thanks to Peter Drummond, Reuben Drummonds son for the permission to use this page of Goldonian.

HERTS TRAINING SCHOOL V SCHOOL

The continuing story with information supplied by Peter of his father and forebears.

ELIZABETH (12) and REUBEN GEORGE (7) DRUMMOND.
REUBEN GEORGE DRUMMOND.
Admitted—23rd September, 1919
Age 7 years, 10 months.
Date and Place of Birth—2oth November, 1911,
Walthamstow.
Religious Denom*- of Father—Church of England.
Mother— If Baptised—Yes. Full Agreement—Signed by mother.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION.
Colour of Hair—Black, curly. Complexon—Mulatto.
Eyes —Darkbrown. Vacc' Marks—3 l.a.
Height—3 ft. 7 ¾ inches. Weight—41 lbs.
Chest Measure*"'—22 in. Condition of Body--
Remarks by Medical Officer—Dentist. Slight blepharitis. Half-caste.

Father — Walter Drummond, a native of Jamaica, labourer at Woolwich Arsenal died suddenly from heart disease,
7th June, 1916, at North Woolwich.
Mother— Alice Maud Drummond (380, widow, sufferer from heart disease and jaundice; 59. Cable Street,
St. Georges in the East.
Application by mother for the admission of these children on the grounds uf her ill health. Investigated by one of our officers.
There were seven children, all dark-skinned. The father, who had been a kind and considerate man, was taken ill in the street,
and died on the way to the hospital. Having recently been under the doctor, there was no inquest.
The mother was pregnant with the brother George at the time, and about a month before confinement was taken ill with pleurisy
and pneumonia. During her absence at the Forest gate Sick Home, where the confinement followed her convalescence.
Elizabeih and Reuben, with her brother Siddie. were admitted to the West Ham Guardians Schools, remaining there after the
mother's return home. Twelve months later, she became acquainted with George Anderson, a West African seaman, aged 64.
Agreeing to live together, they look premises with the intention of running a lodging-house, and cafe, but the authorities
refused to grant a licence. When they moved in, the mother applied for the restoration of her three children. This was done,
and the parish relief of 15/- per week withdrawn. Six months later, Anderson went off to sea, and the mother was glad to be
rid of him, for he had been unkind and neglectful towards her and the children. Our agent found the family living on the
premises taken by Anderson, but the shop was quite empty, and no business of any kind was being carried on. After letting
two rooms for 12/- per week, the rent stood at 16/6p The sister Charlotte, a music hall artiste allowed her mother £1 per week,
but had recently left home to go on tour, and would need all her earnings herself. The brothers, Alfred and Thomas. Earned
about £3 per week between them, and paid the mother 28/- for partial board, and this was all she had to depend upon for the
family needs. Dr. Sacks, of 13, New Road, stated that the mother was in a bad state of health, and could not possibly earn the
living for so many children. He also stated that the mother had given birth to a child by Anderson. The maternal grandmother
confirmed the mother's story, and considered that Elizabeth was in great moral danger while living at Cable Street. She hoped
that the mother would return to Walthamstow, so that the relatives could help her to care for the younger children.
Both children are healthy, and have had measles.

Relatives:
Brother— Alfred (15) and Thomas (14), Merchant Seamen, see above; Siddie (6) and George (4), with mother.
Half-brother— Edward James M. Anderson (3 months) with mother.
Sister— Charlotte (17), on tour with music hall company.
Grandmother Charlotte Crump (56), widow, charwoman, 37. Grange Road, St. James Street, Walthamstow
Uncle — Harry Crump (21), single in the Army.
Aunts Elizabeth Hughes (29) wife of labourer. 72. Beaumont Road, Leyton;
Maria (25) and Cecilia (21) Crump, both admitted to our homes on September 16th 1902, and sent to Canada October 12th 1906.
Cecilia was readmitted on January 9th 1907. Both stated to be in Canada; Lily White (210, wife of seaman with Grandmother.
Nothing known about paternal relatives in Kingston. Jamaica.

As it’s well known as far as we know Peter and his father were the only father and son to go to Goldings.
Peter who is still researching his family background and their association with Barnardo’s has sent in
the following update that he has found, and it make’s very interesting reading and the attitude of Barnardo’s
to coloured children, of which I certainly didn’t come across at Goldings.

Reuben Drummond
admission photo

Peter Drummonds mother and father
Reuben and Juanita in 1942

Reuben first joined the German Merchant Navy but when the Second World War broke out he joined the British Merchant Navy.
He finally retired from The Navy in 1966.
Many thanks to Peter for allowing us into the privacy of his family.

Reuben George Drummonds Profile

Born 20-11-11 London