Mrs Carson, our founder.
The first orphanage at 32 and 34 Morland Road, Croydon. Very few children in ACT's history were actually orphans: most had living parents whom they rarely if ever saw.
The younger orphans in 1906 at the Croydon orphanage.
The boys’ football team at Croydon in 1906. Behind you can see the height of the wall which divided the boys’ and girls’ buildings.
Noel Coward often visited Silverlands and, here in 1953, he is playing the piano with Ronnie Billinge, David Morris, Ray Carroll, Ann Holles, Liz Trigg, Valerie Speller (on his knee), Jennifer Thompson and Lally Ingram.
Noel Coward was our fourth President (1934 – 1956) and transformed the lives of the children at Silverlands. He based everything around their happiness. Here he took a press call on 23 December 1952, when he motored down to Chertsey with many friends and enough provisions for a Christmas party.
Our orphanage at Chertsey, “Silverlands”, was a large country house with panelled rooms and a grand staircase.
Richard Attenborough and his wife, the actress Sheila Sim, were on our committee from 1947 and visited Silverlands regularly.
In July 1940 the children were photographed by the Evening Standard after they’d been told they were to be evacuated to America until the war was over.
Our second President (1905 – 1914) was the actor-manager Cyril Maude, popular with the profession and public alike.
Ellen Terry was an early supporter, along with nearly every well known actor and writer. George Bernard Shaw wrote a play to benefit the charity, and ACT still receives the royalties today.
The first wife of committee member Cecil Raleigh was romantic novelist Effie Adelaide Rowlands (later 'Madame Albanesi'). Several books were inspired by the family circumstances of the orphans. Mr Raleigh's second wife, Saba, was elected Chair of the committee and served for many years.
This 1907 application form is a rare survival. William Leopold’s sister Christina lived to the age of 104 with clear memories of the orphanage.
Our founding President, Sir Henry Irving.
Simon Williams and Angela Thorne were our Joint Chairmen for 15 remarkable years.
Sir John Gielgud is typical of the many actors who had served on our committee, and then became Vice Presidents. His spidery letters always drifted at an angle in a block of text.
You may not associate Harold Pinter with children’s charities, but here he is, agreeing to be on one of our fundraising committees.
Laurence Olivier was our fifth President (1956 – 89) but largely honorary. We still have the metal plate to print his signature, which he infinitely preferred to having to sign documents himself. His second wife, Vivien Leigh (pictured here) gave enormous time to our annual Theatrical Garden Party and the fundraising Night of 100 Stars. His first wife, Jill Esmond, later became an energetic chairman of the children’s Welfare and Education Committee.
Audrey Hepburn sent us $1,000 every year for decades. She and Mrs Jack Hawkins were remarkable at extracting donations from Hollywood actors for the charity.
After Noel Coward, the most important person in ACT’s history was Richard Attenborough, on the committee from 1947, Chairman from 1956 and President 1989 to 2014.
Laurence Olivier was our fifth President (1956 – 89) but largely honorary. We still have the metal plate to print his signature, which he infinitely preferred to having to sign documents himself. His second wife, Vivien Leigh (pictured here) gave enormous time to our annual Theatrical Garden Party and the fundraising Night of 100 Stars. His first wife, Jill Esmond, later became an energetic chairman of the children’s Welfare and Education Committee.
Sir Emile Littler created a board game to raise money for the orphanage. Hardly any survive.
“Our Favourite Dish” was a successful fundraiser, with recipes from well known actors.
Three long-serving chairs of ACT’s work with children are Isla Blair, Elizabeth Garvie and Doreen Mantle. ACT's 125 years have seen so many remarkable committee members: wise, kind, dedicated volunteers.
