Returning Home
Discover the amazing stories behind this Swiss adventure for ‘delicate children’ in 1948
Overview
In 2018, the North West Film Archive launched a project based around one of its films, ‘Returning Home’, made exactly 70 years before.
On the 22nd March 1948, 238 ‘delicate’ children from Manchester and Salford set off for Switzerland. Invited by the Swiss Government to spend three months living with host families in Switzerland, these lucky youngsters were to enjoy plentiful fresh air and good food to build them up after their wartime deprivations. Aged between 5 and 10, the excited party left Manchester’s London Road station with an escort of 12 adults, including teachers, nurses and a doctor.
Returning three months later, their return trip was filmed from their arrival on the ferry at Folkestone. This unique record of the journey and family reunions at Manchester’s Mayfield Station is preserved in the North West Film Archive.
Kenneth Kirkbride quote
It saved my life, I’d argue with anybody
Highlights of the 'Returning Home' film
The Returning Home Screening
The Returning Home Screening
The NWFA wanted to find these children 70 years on. We released extracts and images from the film online and put out an appeal to find anyone who was involved in the trip.
Following our appeal, we made contact with 20 families. In June 2018, 80 people attended a 70th anniversary screening at No.70 Oxford Street to share the stories and experiences of some of those ‘delicate children’, including their children and grandchildren. We were especially delighted to welcome 10 of the ‘children’ in person!
Telling the Stories
In her introduction to the 70th anniversary screening, Professor Melanie Tebbutt, of Manchester Metropolitan University’s Centre for Youth Studies, set the scene for child health and welfare in 1948.
Since that event, Professor Tebbutt has continued to develop further research into this Swiss adventure, and its wider context, to enrich what we know. She has interviewed the ‘returning children’ about their experiences and created a new film called “Returners’ Stories”.
To find out more, read and watch stories about the experiences of the children, and to see the film, visit the Passions of Youth website.
When I saw their beautiful home, set on a mountainside, overlooking snow capped mountains I was overcome by its luxury. I had seen Shirley Temple movies before but I did not know that people really lived in such beautiful homes.
Can you help?
Can you help?
We are still very interested in finding out more from the ’children’ who made this trip.
Do you know any?
Get in touch
Get in touch
If you know someone who went on the trip, or have any questions about the project, we'd love to hear from you.Visit the Contact page for ways to get in touch.