IT was almost too much to stomach for a child of seven . . . especially when the castor oil bottle came round in the evening.

Yet, more than half-a-century later, Margaret Helsby has strangely affectionate memories of her six-week stay in the Children's Sanatorium at Southport, where she convalesced after illness.

So much so, that she has been sniffing out clues as to its history and location.

Margaret, of Horace Street, St Helens, was one of countless kids from the St Helens area who spent time in that convalescent home.

She writes: "My friend and myself were talking about when we were young and going to stay there, in about 1946."

The stay was for six weeks. "But I don't remember our parents visiting us - I suppose it might have been too upsetting for everyone."

But she does have clear recollections of the pangs of homesickness, of sleeping in a dormitory . . . "and standing in line for a spoonful of castor oil (ugh!) I can still taste it."

Margaret goes on: "I also remember feeling thrilled to bits going for a ride in a pony and trap along the Southport sea front."

Then there was the surprise parcel from home, with apples in it. "To this day, whenever I smell apples it takes me back to when I was seven years old."

All this reminiscing prompted Margaret to seek out a photograph of the home. She visited Southport library to find the address which turned out to be Hawkshead Street.

"I set off, camera in handbag," says Margaret, "but my heart sank when a helpful resident told me that the place had been demolished."

That night, she began thinking about a book she had, written by St Helens author Walter Johnson and entitled 'Streets Apart.'

This contains an account of his mother's stay in that old children's sanatorium and the remarkable father and son who founded it.

She wrote to Mr Johnson who kindly forwarded an illustration of the place. "I'm sure that lots of other St Helens people will have memories of the Southport convalescent home."

Margaret also forwarded an original admittance form, provided by her friend Joan Halsall, which gives an intriguing insight into those times.

The rules are firmly spelled out, including strictly enforced visiting times.

'Parents and friends are not allowed to visit children during the first three weeks of their stay,' it booms out in bold type. Weekend visiting was also prohibited and the twice-monthly concession was limited to just two hours in the afternoon.

Margaret Helsby's parents obviously broke the rules in sending that food parcel, for the form requests parents 'not to send eatables to the children.'

A child being admitted was instructed to bring a return rail ticket in meeting a nurse at Southport station.

Parents were told to send one change of underclothing per child, a pair of boots or shoes 'in good condition', slippers, comb, two nightgowns or nightshirts.

The regimental tone continues: 'No child is allowed to stay out to meals at any time, or to go outside the grounds, unless in charge of one of the nurses.'

YET for all that, it remains a childhood chapter which still burns bright in the minds of Margaret and her friend Joan. Thanks to both of 'em for sharing the memories with us.

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