A message from the author:- "'The Rose Tree Estate' is a fictional collective of places
in which I spent the early part of my life.
The characters portrayed are reflections of my memories.
There are too many individuals in my mind to include in one novel,
so I have tried to distil and amalgamate my first hand experiences
and the stories of others,
I hope, in a way that is informative."

A Board of Guardians purchased a farm in 1899
and in 1904 they opened, what would become 
a village for children who had no other place to live.
The village consisted of houses where the children could live.
A school, a laundry, workshops, a farm and a swimming pool.
The Guardians kept close supervision over the running of it.
In 1930 the London County Council took over until the London Boroughs were formed in 1965.
It was closed in 1983.
In this location, and in other children’s homes,
and other institutions, many children found refuge and safety.
There were many good and kind carers but unfortunately there were also many evil people
who took advantage of their situation and subjected many children to horrific abuse.
This book is an attempt to shine a broader light on the good and a brighter light on the evil.
Dedicated to all who, like the author, spent their childhood within such institutions.

A man of sixty-three years, Kristopher, seeks the help of a psychiatrist
to ascertain what he has been hiding from himself for the past sixty years,
since he lived on the notorious
'Rose Tree Estate'. Which, was a group of children's care homes over seen by
Borough Councils, in London.
Sadly, as demonstrated by child abuse enquiries,
children in the care of the state have not all be treated well.
Many suffered greatly at the hands of their carers.
The stories that appear in the media often reflect that small section
of the life within care homes. This book aims to broaden the narrative
and show both the bad and the good within these structures.
The book also attempts to add an historical perspective the
story runs between 1935 and to around 2016. The awful stories are always
bought well to the fore, some of these are included in the book.
There are also stories about the good people who did care, and who did
their best to provide a loving home for those who needed it.
Further there are stories of those who grew up and went on to live enjoyable lives.
Kristopher's story is truly shocking.