Orphanage kids lie in unmarked tombs while Canon’s dogs have headstones
BY JACKIE GRANT reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk GRAVES of children who died at an orphanage were left unmarked in a churchyard where headstones were erected to dead dogs.
A former resident of Aberlour Orphanage, Moray, said youngsters there were unaware at least 236 children were buried in the grounds of St Margaret’s Church in the village.
The man said they were only shown the tomb of orphanage founder Canon Charles Jupp and the headstones to his dogs.
The children were buried from 1882 to 1947 with only wooden crosses on the graves. A small memorial stone was unveiled in 2005 but it provided no details about the youngsters.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I was there in the 60s and there were no wooden crosses then. The most galling thing was you were shown Canon Jupp’s tomb and headstones to his dogs. The fact there were all these children also buried there was kept utterly secret.”
The Aberlour Child Care Trust chief executive has pledged to consider installing a fitting tribute.
Sally Ann Kelly said: “We welcome the opportunity to meet those with an interest and to discuss how each of these children can best be remembered in the most appropriate manner.”
Aberlour is one of three former children’s homes in Moray being investigated as part of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.