Dr.Barnardo

In the year 1845, a young man called Thomas Barnardo was born in Dublin the Capital City of Ireland. When he was 16 years old he decided to work in China as a doctor.

He moved to London to become a doctor but never completed the course.During this time he became interested in the lives of poor Victorian children.

He saw lots of small children living rough on the streets sufering from illnesses. In the year 1867, he decided against moving to China and instead opened his first school to educate poor and homeless children.

One of his pupils Jim Jarvis took him on a walk around the East End of London showing him huge numbers of children sleeping rough on the streets.He was moved by the sight and decided to do something about it.

Then in 1870, he opened his first care home for boys giving them shelter,food,education and a bed.One day a poor boy was refused entry to one of Dr.Barnardo's homes.Sadly two days later he died on the streets.

From then on, no one was turned away from any of his care homes.A sign on a wall hung saying "No homeless child ever refused admission". Dr.Barnado died age 60 and during his life time he opened over one hundred care homes caring for over eight thousand children.

I believe that Dr.Barnardo is one of the true Victorian greats.

Chloe Davies