Actors Orphanage
Encyclopedia
The Actors Orphanage was started in 1896 by Kittie Carson at Croydon
and was established as The Actors Orphanage Fund in 1912.
In 1915 the Orphanage moved to Langley Hall at Langley
(was in Buckinghamshire
- now in Berkshire
). The orphanage was both a home and a school to approximately 60 children. At ages 15–17 pupils sat the School Leaving Certificate of Cambridge University
and if 10 subjects were taken to Matriculation.
The home and school was moved to Silverlands at Chertsey, Surrey
in 1938 where it remained until 1940. In September 1940 the Orphanage was evacuated to the USA where the children were housed in NY City at the Edwin Gould Foundation, and the children were sent to local schools.
After the War
ended the Fund established a home (once again at Silverlands, Chertsey). This arrangement ended in 1958 and The Actors' Orphanage ceased to exist.
The 1912 fund was re-established as The Actors Charitable Trust and financial and care help was offered to those in need.
Over the years many from the theatrical profession have given time and money to the running of the orphanage including some who became presidents of the orphanage among whom are Sir Gerald du Maurier
, Noel Coward
, Laurence Olivier
, and the present president Lord Richard Attenborough
.
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and was established as The Actors Orphanage Fund in 1912.
In 1915 the Orphanage moved to Langley Hall at Langley
Langley, Slough
Langley is a large village in the unitary authority of Slough, Berkshire in South East England. It is situated 2 miles east of central Slough, and 20 miles west of London...
(was in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
- now in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
). The orphanage was both a home and a school to approximately 60 children. At ages 15–17 pupils sat the School Leaving Certificate of Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and if 10 subjects were taken to Matriculation.
The home and school was moved to Silverlands at Chertsey, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1938 where it remained until 1940. In September 1940 the Orphanage was evacuated to the USA where the children were housed in NY City at the Edwin Gould Foundation, and the children were sent to local schools.
After the War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended the Fund established a home (once again at Silverlands, Chertsey). This arrangement ended in 1958 and The Actors' Orphanage ceased to exist.
The 1912 fund was re-established as The Actors Charitable Trust and financial and care help was offered to those in need.
Over the years many from the theatrical profession have given time and money to the running of the orphanage including some who became presidents of the orphanage among whom are Sir Gerald du Maurier
Gerald du Maurier
Sir Gerald Hubert Edward Busson du Maurier was an English actor and manager. He was the son of the writer George du Maurier and brother of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies. In 1902, he married the actress Muriel Beaumont with whom he had three daughters: Angela du Maurier , Daphne du Maurier and Jeanne...
, Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
, Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
, and the present president Lord Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
.