TheActors' Orphanagewas started in 1896 and established as theActors' Orphanage Fundin 1912. The fund continues but the orphanage closed in 1958.
History
editThe charity was started in 1896 by"Kittie" Carsonand MrsClement Scott[1]The first building was inCroydon.[2]It was established as the Actors' Orphanage Fund in 1912.
In 1915 the Orphanage moved to Langley Hall atLangley(was inBuckinghamshire- now inBerkshire). The orphanage was both a home and a school to approximately 60 children. At ages 15–17 pupils sat the School Leaving Certificate ofCambridge Universityand if 10 subjects were taken to Matriculation.
The home and school was moved to Silverlands atChertsey,Surreyin 1938[3]where it remained until 1940. In September 1940 the Orphanage was evacuated to the USA[2]where the children were housed inNew York Cityat the Edwin Gould Foundation, and the children were sent to local schools.
After thewarended the Fund established a home (once again at Silverlands, Chertsey).[2]This arrangement ended in 1958 when the costs became too high and the Actors' Orphanage ceased to exist.[3]The remaining children were moved to new houses in Hemel Hempstead Road,Watford.Some were placed in private schools.
Over the years many from the theatrical profession gave time and money to the running of the Orphanage. Past presidents of the Orphanage included SirGerald du Maurier,Noël Coward,Laurence OlivierandRichard Attenborough.[2]
The 1912 fund was re-established as theActors' Charitable Trustand financial and care help was offered to those in need. It continues to exist today as ACT, the Actors' Children's Trust, awarding £750,000 in grants each year to the children of professional actors.
References
edit- ^"Dutton, Emily Courtier- [known as Mrs Charles L. Carson; performing name Kittie Claremont] (1862?–1919), theatrical philanthropist".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/57870.ISBN978-0-19-861412-8.Retrieved2020-10-02.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^abcd"Our history – ACT – The Actors' Children's Trust".actorschildren.org.Retrieved2020-10-02.
- ^ab"Silverlands Orphanage, Chertsey".TheTimeChamber.2015-02-18.Retrieved2020-10-02.
Further reading
edit- James, Elliot (2020).The Importance of Happiness: Noël Coward and the Actors' Orphanage.UK: Troubador Publishing.ISBN9781800460416.
- Staber, Judy (2010).Silverlands Growing Up at the Actors' Orphanage.USA: The Troy Book Makers.ISBN9781935534846.