Former residents of The Hollies Children’s Home in Burnt Oak lane, Sidcup, are meeting for their last ever reunion.

The Hollies Children’s Home Reunion Group, which has united hundreds of its former residents since 2002, will be marking its last event on September 12.

Co-founder of the group, Paul Krawczynski, 67, said: “Unfortunately everything runs its course.

"We have lost a few close members, people are getting old you see.

"The young ones don’t seem to want to get involved so the majority of members are from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s.”

Mr Krawczynski arrived at the home in 1952 when he was just three years old and stayed there for 13 years.

The 67-year-old had lost touch with his friends when he left the home at the age of 16, so in 2002, with his wife Barbara, he setup the reunion group.

Although the group will continue to provide confidential help by bringing former residents together, the regular meet will be over.

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Former residents have been getting together since 2002 but this will be their last year

Mr Krawczynski said: “I don’t know why the children’s home was so good. I speak for myself, but I see it as my spiritual home - we were all in it together.”

The co-founder, and his wife Barbara, 63, told News Shopper that the last event would mark the end of an era.

As well as bridging the historical gaps for thousands of childhood memories, those coming to the event will be able to look at the 600 photographs on display, showing the home and its children throughout the decades.

The memories of the home are strong for Mr Krawczynski who remembers a time when he was sent home but couldn’t settle back with his father in Elephant and Castle: “I was used to the big open spaces, the community, I wasn’t a Londoner, so I ran away.”

When the runaway was 15 years old he walked to Sidcup from London and camped out in the woods near the care home.

He recalls there being other children there too who wanted to get back into the home.

Mr Krawczynski said: “Other children from the home would bring us food in their pockets. We’d go back to the home and say we were visiting and they would feed us.”

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Eventually the 15-year-old runaway was allowed back into the care home but left a year later and eventually joined the army.

Another keen guest desperate to break back into the home is Ted Thornburrow, who came to the Hollies between 1945 - 1952.

Mr Thornburrow is flying in all the way from Australia to meet his old gang and celebrate their last reunion.

Mr Krawczynski said: “I remember showing Ted an old record we’d found from 1952.

"He’d got the cane for trying to climb into the girls dormitories. His whole family thought it was hilarious and so did he.”

The reunion will take place within the grounds of the old home, The Hollies from 10am until 5pm. Live music from a former Hollies boy, Michael O’Dowd, will be heard as well as a great raffle and food bits.

Mr Krawczynski said: “It will be the last chance to get involved and remember the history.

"Through the good times and the hard times we were all together and that’s what made it so special and unique.”

Those interested to know more about the event should visit their website and phone Paul directly to book tickets.