Praised to the skies

“On a TV programme, the crew visited a workhouse in England and described the conditions as harsh, just as depicted by Dickens,” writes a Craigie regular.

“My father had several spells in Aberdeen’s workhouse,” he continues, “and he praised it to the skies. The regime was strict, but fair and kind, he said. He enjoyed good food, dry, warm conditions and a first-rate education at the nearest school, which was a country primary on the outskirts of the city.

“He had fond memories of the dominie there – a wonderful teacher, he said. The older residents of the workhouse were also helpful and kind. One elderly man walked the children to school and back every day and an elderly lady brought in sweets which she sold to them.

“Dad was also able to take part in all kinds of sports. He took a liking to swimming and diving and took part in a demonstration staged by Aberdeen schools for the opening of a municipal swimming pool. My father was also musical and sang along with his brother in church every Sunday while he was resident in the institution.

“I don’t know what other workhouses were like. They were certainly given a bad reputation by Dickens, but the workhouse in Aberdeen seems to have been a decent, safe place for neglected children to find refuge in my father’s time which was before the First World War.

“As in so many aspects of our society and its history, there are always at least two sides to every story.”