Moray event remembers Aberlour Children’s Charity’s 150 year history
A man who spent his “whole childhood” in an orphanage after being sent there as a baby has revealed his positive story, 150 years after its founding.
Ron Aitchison, now 75 years old, was just 10 months old when he was admitted to the Aberlour orphanage whilst battling pneumonia.
Ron, along with his eight siblings, was placed there from Edinburgh in the 1950s after both of his parents were imprisoned for neglect.
Over the years, he said he had a “very good upbringing” at the institution even though it was a “different world” then.
“I sometimes look back and say: ‘I don’t know how the devil I survived’,” Ron said.
“It wouldn’t sit right, these days, having a child come into an orphanage at that age.
“But when I came, as a baby, I was quite the little star because I was so young and I wasn't well, so I was very well treated from the outset.”
Ron shared his story as the Aberlour Children’s Charity, inspired by the legacy of the orphanage, marks its 150th birthday.
The orphanage was set up in 1875 and cared for more than 6000 children before closing its doors in 1967.
However, despite moving to smaller, family-style residential care and becoming one of Scotland’s biggest children’s charities, the orphanage’s legacy continues to inspire the Aberlour’s work today.
Returning to its Moray roots, the charity marked its milestone with an afternoon tea at the Fleming Hall in Aberlour - with guests coming from as far as Cambridgeshire and Kent.
Aberlour commissioned a new tartan to mark its birthday, chairman of the board of trustees David Robb, who grew up in the village, among those wearing a kilt.
Lynne O’Brien, Aberlour’s chief officer for children and families and Banffshire Lord Lieutenant Andrew Simpson also delivered speeches in the Fleming Hall.
And self-taught pipers Jack and Rhys, who are supported by Aberlour’s YouthPoint Moray service in Elgin, composed and performed a special tune at the event - which also had art created by children and young people on display.
New information boards have also been in the village’s Old Station Tearoom to give an insight into the charity’s journey, along with a special exhibition in the Speyside Visitor Centre.
The work of the Aberlour Children’s Charity had “transformed” since its founding, Lynne said, but the purpose of the charity was “entirely unchanged”.
“Much of our history should be celebrated, and all of it should be remembered,” she added.
“We are family - have been for 150 years - and will be for many years to come.”
In his speech, Ron shared his joy at seeing the faces of those he had grown up with.
The retiree also emphasised that life at the orphanage, which housed up to 500 children at a time, was “not always doom and gloom - not always a bad story”.
“I have been in care for all my days and I am proud of it,” he added.
“I am a product of the Aberlour orphanage and a product of Aberlour too.”
The 75-year-old, who went on to have a long career across the motor and property industries, said his childhood prepared him well for working life.
However, at the age of 15, Ron suffered a massive blow when he learned he would be forced to leave Aberlour.
Without warning and without any personal possessions, he was sent back to Edinburgh and had to adjust to a completely different world.
“The day that I left the orphanage was the day I knew I was leaving,” he added.
“That was something I later brought up to the board [of trustees at the Aberlour Children’s Charity], because it was something that quite a few of the children struggled with.
“It forced me to look at myself. To think about how I was going to tackle my life and my future.”
Ron said people often asked him whether orphanage children received the level of love and care they needed.
“There was love,” he said.
“Aberlour had a very strong, caring influence on me. I don't think I ever felt like a number.
“It had a very nice balance between not being over-affectionate, but still giving love to a child.
“I had a thoroughly good experience at Aberlour.
“It wasn't all fun, but neither was it all bad. I had a very good, balanced upbringing.
“I had a good education, I was constantly fed, constantly clothed, and generally well looked after.”
However, despite his own positive experience, Ron revealed that he had attended and provided testimony to the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
“I had a perfectly good experience at Aberlour Orphanage, but that wasn't the same for everybody,” he added.
“There were some people that had a terrible time.
“We all know about the recent news about sexual abuse, and about the abuse of children, but I never came across any of that.
“I never experienced it, and I never really saw much of it.”
While not having been abused, Ron received a settlement through the Scottish Government’s redress scheme which gave him a sense of closure.
The inquiry’s witness support team also helped him uncover how he came to be at the orphanage.
He said it was comforting to discover the truth about his origins for the first time - at the age of 70.
Though positive about his experiences at Aberlour, Ron welcomed the change from placing children in large institutions to housing them in small, family-style homes.
“The young children today have got a much better chance to get going in life,” he added.
In his speech, the he offered an emotional message to those young people currently in care.
“I would like to encourage the younger people to stick to their guns - and to not give up on their dreams,” Ron said.
