Book description
Margaret Irvine was the youngest of twelve children, and was taken
into local council care aged 2. She was brought up in Tenterfield
House, with 39 other children, and this is her story of her happy life
there, under the care of Miss Dorothy Martin, daughter of the
co-founder of Aston Martin, and the staff. It is a direct and simple
account of a happy childhood. The house of forty children was a happy
and caring place, strongly supported by the local community. There are
vivid descriptions of life that bring out the spirit of good child
care. Tenterfield House is situated in Haddington, just outside
Edinburgh, in Scotland. Included are photographs from the time
Margaret grew up in Tenterfield during the 40's and 50's and a short
section on the history of Tenterfield House including the layout as it
was when Margaret lived there.
Margaret Irvine has worked for the NSPCC, as a nanny, a nurse, and as
a respite-carer for Edinburgh's Social Services, where she provided care
for children under the age of three on a daily basis up until she
retired in late 2010. Tenterfield: My Happy Childhood in Care is her
first book.
