A CENTURY ago, Berrow's Journal kept Worcester people in touch with the fate and fortunes of orphans sent from the Royal Albert Orphanage in Henwick Road to forge new lives for themselves in Canada.

The Journal for this week of 1904 stated: "The latest reports concerning boys and girls who have gone from the Orphanage to Canada are, as usual, interesting and satisfactory. The following extracts are taken from the reports:

"James Butler, in the care of J.H. Armstrong at Port Elmsley, is apprenticed to learn the tinsmith's trade and will receive 12 dollars a month. He is unusually quick both at learning and working.

Blacksmith

"William Davis, in the care of Mr Campbell at Millbrook, is now a fully-fledged blacksmith and is a well-built fellow and a good worker. He is well spoken of in the neighbourhood.

"George Beardsmore has moved from Canada to Minnesota in the USA and is working as a clerk, doing well.

"Frank Browning, in the care of A.B. Gould at Colborne, has grown into a robust, healthy-looking fellow and is doing very well indeed, getting good wages and saving his money.

"Horace Caldwell, in the care of William Tinney at Cavanville, is busy at his trade of varnishing carriage wheels and likes his work very much.

Brother

"Hilda Farmer is working well in the home of the Keegan family and lives not far from her brother. They see each other often and go to church together."

The Journal also carried part of a letter from Mr Robert Wallace of Ontario to Mr Richens, Master of the Royal Albert Orphanage: "I have enclosed reports of your boys which I am sure will be pleasant reading to you as they are practically all doing well.

"They certainly do credit to your training and will, I am convinced, be able to trace much of their success in life to the training received while in your orphanage.

"I had over 10 applications for every boy brought out to Canada last year, and I only wish you would send a few more good boys to help supply those disappointed applicants.

"I expect to come over myself in a few months' time and will call at Worcester if you have any boys for Canada."