Frank’s early childhood makes fascinating reading his father was a steward on a Cunard Liner, but on one voyage home the ship sprang a leak and all the crew were waist deep in freezing water bailing out continuously. He came home with a chill and died of bronchitis.

Frank was seven at the time, and had a younger brother and sister. His mother had no money from the shipping office, and was advised to place Frank in the Liverpool Seaman’s Orphanage in Newsham Park where later his younger brother also joined him.

Picture taken 1890

This was the chapel that Frank fondly speaks of in his account, sadly this was lost during the blitz, original picture taken in 1895, these two slighlty modified.

When he reached 90 in 1986 Frank wrote a 70 page account of his life at the Orphanage for his two grandsons, under the title “Granddads’ Schooldays.”

It is a vividly written and compelling account, in which affection and respect shine through, despite the rigidity of the discipline, which was the norm for those days.

There were 200 boys and 200 girls, strictly segregated. This was back in 1910 when Liverpool was a great port with many ships and sailors, accidental death was fairly common. There was no social security, or NHS things we take for granted these days.

Each dormitory held 50, and even the baths where built to accommodate eighteen at a time. At the start of mealtime a whistle blew to signify grace and a second whistle signified “start eating”. There was no choice of cereal packets at breakfast. Anyone who left their porridge would find it still on the table at lunchtime, and it had to be got down. When Frank’s younger brother first started, he couldn’t stand porridge, so frank would slip in secretly during the mornings and eat it for him, giving his brother his own piece of bread in exchange.

The boys wore smart naval style uniforms. The education was very good, broader and of a better standard  than local schools could have provided.

Religion was also part of the discipline but also became part of Frank’s life and had a very strong influence on him later. He was a keen member of a mission hall in the city and worked with homeless men. Then the First World War came along, and 18 year old Frank went into the army leaving his job as a trainee draughtsman in an architect’s office in Crossham Street Liverpool.

This particular Architects office was none other than that of Francis Usher Holme, who was the architect of the gymnasium 1908, alongside the main building which was designed by Sir Alfred Waterhouse. Francis U Holme also designed the Municipal Annex, the Sessions House next to the Walker Art Gallery and LIPA to name but a few.

After the war Frank did not attach himself to any particular church, but he never actually lost his faith, and with his wife and daughter occasionally went to Sunday evening services in Kensington.

Sadly Frank is no longer with us but his story lives on. With thanks to Robin and Doris who is Franks Daughter for allowing us to use “Granddad’s Schooldays.” In the building that later came on to become titled The Royal Liverpool Seaman’s Orphanage Institution.