Strawberry Fields Are Not Forever...

This story brought tears to my eyes when I first saw on the BBC. I certainly do hope that someone saves and preserves the site for its historical and cultural value. Perhaps the British Government will step in to make it a national museum...

--ryan



Strawberry Field Childcare Ends
Childcare provision at the famous Strawberry Field site in Liverpool ends this week after 69 years.

The decision to close the Beaconsfield Road children's home, which was immortalised in a song by The Beatles, was announced in January.

The Salvation Army said that the last of the children living there had now left and that childcare provision would end on Tuesday.

However, some administrative staff will stay at Strawberry Field until August.

The site in Woolton, Liverpool, was made famous when John Lennon wrote the song Strawberry Fields Forever after playing there as a child.

The building was saved from closure in 1984 by a cash donation from his widow Yoko Ono.

When The Salvation Army gave two years' notice in January that the home was closing, there were still three children living there.

Two of the children were placed in foster care earlier this year and the last child has now moved out, with the placement in the hands of Liverpool's social services.

The Christian charity said it was "now preferable for children to be cared for within a foster family or in a small group home, rather than within large residential institutions".

Marion Drew, of the Salvation Army in the North West, said they remained "committed to supporting children and families in Liverpool and across the United Kingdom".

She said there was still no official closing date for Strawberry Field and that nothing had been decided as to the site's future use.

Of the 26 staff, one member has been redeployed within the Salvation Army and eight are still seeking work.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/4593625.stm

Published: 2005/05/30 13:46:42 GMT

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