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In 1953, at the AGM of the management committee of the Royal Albert Orphanage in Worcester, Mr W R Spry, Chairman, explained: “We are still compelled to liquidate more of our investments to meet rising costs, and we, the committee, sometimes feel that in fighting this bogey of increasing expense, we are fighting a losing battle. Unless something drastic is done, this wonderful institution will, in the not-too-distant future, have to close down.”

Mr Spry expressed that the committee exercised rigid economy at all times and, but for a splendid body of workers who firmed an Entertainments Committee, the orphanage would have been much worse off.

The President, Mr Hugh Sumner said that during the coming 12 months, the committee would be redoubling its efforts to try and find a smaller home, more in keeping with the number of children now in the orphanage - 27.

The Royal Albert Orphanage closed in the mid-1950s at its Henwick Road site. It had cared for about a 1,000 orphans during its 90 year existence. The building now houses the Worcester YMCA.

Originally published in the Worcester Journal