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Record #5553
Name :
: Jack RAMSBOTTOM (1919 - 2008)
  aka : Jack Kenneth
  aka : John Kenneth LANE


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 10 Nov 1919   Notes : Source: Fairbridge Kids

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 24 Jun 2008   Notes : Motor Neuron Disease
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Kent, Thanet

Dec qtr 1922, 2a 1667, mmn RAMSBOTTOM (FreeBMD)
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialAustralia, Western Australia
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: May 1933
Country
: Australia

Ship
: Otranto

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Fairbridge Homes
NotesJohn Ramsbottom was fostered out at the age of two years. He stayed with his foster parents for seven years and was then recalled to London by Barnardos.

In 1933, John Ramsbottom, 10, arrived at Fremantle, Australia, in a group of more than 50 children from the Child Emigration Society, en route to Fairbridge Farm School, Pinjarra, Australia. He was placed in Rhodes cottage.

John is remembered for his outspoken attitude and on one occasion for fighting to to have justice prevail at Fairbridge. John ran away from the farm because he missed his foster family but was returned. John was a fairly plain-spoken lad who retained the characteristic of writing how he speaks. He was always determined and very honest and open. He didn't shirk demanding tasks.

He became involved very early with music lessons on the trombone which were given by the head cook and, later, becoming involved in the boys' brass band.

John left Fairbridge in September 1938 to work on Monty House's farm.

John joined the Australian army during World War II. He had been a prisoner of war taken at Singapore up to the Burma/Thailand railway then onto Japan as slave labour on the docks at Kobe. He wrote a book, Summer Will Come Again, on his experiences which was translated into Japanese and distributed among the schools in the Kobe district. In 2004 John was invited by the Japanese Government to visit Japan as a guest of honour to share his story as a P.O.W. in the Japanese concentration camps. John was able to speak to many Japanese young people about the challenges he faced and how he overcame them. This was a very special time for John and helped him in putting that traumatic period in his life to rest. John was honoured to have the University of Japan reprint his book Summer Will Come Again in Japanese so the young people of Japan could learn from his experience.

John was an early member of the Western Command Band serving 1950 to 1967 up to Corporal, with a stint at the School of Music as a Brass Instructor.

After the war, he decided to discard his association with Jack Ramsbottom and resume his life with the legally acquired name of John Lane.

John Lane was also a well-known author of another book, Fairbridge Kid, an outspoken account of his days spent at the former Pinjarra boarding school for English orphans. He said "For most of us Old Fairbridgeans, we were the rescued children. Most of us were really grateful. It gave us a life. We would never have had a life back in England."

In the early 90s John?s passion for Fairbridge burned strong and his desire to tell the story of Kingsley & Ruby Fairbridge culminated in him developing and running heritage tours at Fairbridge Village for many years.

In 2004 John?s health was deteriorating to the point where his voice was no longer able to cope with speaking publicly to large groups so he, at his own cost, produced a DVD called 'Fairbridge - The Vision Splendid' to ensure the story or Fairbridge would not be lost. In producing the video John commented "Personally, I regard my selection to go to the Fairbridge Farm School as having given me an opportunity for the fulfilment that otherwise would not have been available in the 'Old Country'. For this I am eternally grateful. I join the majority of Old-Fairbridgians who remain ever mindful of the heroic struggle, tenacity and dedication expounded by Kingsley and Ruby Fairbridge in establishing their Farm School against enormous odds and almost insurmountable difficulties."

While not being well enough to speak to large groups John would still take time out to come out to Fairbridge to share his personal story to the Fairbridge Kids of today and to encourage them through his own story that from difficult circumstance, with support, you could succeed. John was very proud that the vision of Kingsley still continued on today as Fairbridge worked to help young people in need reach their full potential. Just a few days before he passed away his wife Ronda had brought John out to Fairbridge Village and he again commented on the importance of keeping Kingsley Fairbridge?s vision alive.

In 2005, John's dedication turned to the construction of a replica cottage at Fairbridge Village. John dreamt up the project as a dedication to his foster mother in England, Rosa Nobes, whom he fondly remembers as being the only mother figure he truly knew as a child. Before arriving at Fairbridge, at the age of two John had been placed into the care of Dr Barnardo?s Homes near London, and soon after went to a foster family in the idyllic rural Cotswolds for six years. His time there, with foster mother Nobes, he remembers as the happiest years of his life. With John and Ronda funding a lot of the project themselves, the cottage replicates the one in which he lived in during his stay at Fairbridge. Not only is the cottage a dedication of his love for Rosa Nobes but also a symbol of John?s admiration for her lifetime of devotion to foster care. His dream became a reality in December 2007 as the Rosa Nobes Replica Boys Cottage was officially opened by the Governor of Western Australia.

John was awarded with the title of Peel Senior of the Year in 2006.

His books are for sale through the shop at Fairbridge and are still available through local and online bookshops.

John died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, 24 June, 2008 at the age of 86. He had been in a Nursing Home for a few weeks. His Motor Neuron Disease condition meant that he was not feeling any pain and for some time he had been carrying a broken shoulder, sleeping on it and doing everything as normal. John was always stoic and upbeat even to the end. His life was celebrated at a gathering of 150 of John?s family and friends held at the Old Fairbridgians Clubhouse at Fairbridge Village in Pinjarra on June 28, 2008. 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-03-14 14:34:11 / From original database

Additional Contributions from : mollipops1

Last Updated : 2009-03-14 15:10:39 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  82 Entries        
Surnames starting with:   R »RAST »REAS »REID »RETZ »RICH »RIDE »ROBB »ROBE »ROBS »ROGE »ROSS »ROYA »RUSS » RZZZ
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
26800 FACER, Dorothy Myrtle Randall1923ENG, LAN, Chorlton Oct 1934 : Moreton Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
26846 FACER, Marjorie Irene Randall1922ENG, LAN, Chorlton Feb 1934 : Jervis Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
9495 RABAJOTTI, Sidney 1891ENG,    , Islington Mar 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
22532 RABBITS, Seaward1909ENG, SOM, Shepton Mallett Sep 1923 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
10358 RABBITT, James1891ENG,     Jun 1899 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
18050 RABBITT, Mary1884ENG,     Jun 1899 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
6592 RABBITTS, Dorothy1912ENG,    , Shepton Jul 1927 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
22028 RABLEN, F. K.1880ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
22040 RABLEN, W.1884ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
23058 RACHELL, Alfred David1898ENG,     Apr 1909 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
18566 RACHELL, Robert1900ENG,     Apr 1910 : Empress of Ireland CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
12855 RACKHAM, Herbert1881ENG, LAN, Bury Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
7187 RACKSTRONS, L.1866ENG,     Aug 1871 : Prussian CAN MacPherson Homes  
12397 RADCLIFFE, David1892ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
21481 RADCLIFFE, Robert1896 Apr 1905 : Kensington CAN Barnardos  
21122 RADDE, William1887ENG,     Apr 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
14169 RADLEY, Thomas1884ENG,     Aug 1899 : Laurentian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
6353 RADMORE, Colin1891ENG,    , Newport Jul 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
8124 RAE, James 1910SCT, LKS, Glasgow Apr 1927 : Athenia CAN Quarriers  
25428 RAE, Maggie1886SCT,     Jun 1897 : Sarmatian CAN Quarriers  
8551 RAE, Richard1899ENG, LDN, London Sep 1912 : Victorian CAN MacPherson Homes  
15001 RAE, William1885ENG,     Sep 1898 : Numidian CAN Westminster Catholic Society  
27325 RAEBURN, Janet Clark1933SCT,     Jun 1939 : Strathaird AUS Fairbridge Homes  
27326 RAEBURN, John Hendry1930SCT,     Jun 1939 : Strathaird AUS Fairbridge Homes  
27327 RAEBURN, Margaret Burnett1926SCT,     Jun 1939 : Strathaird AUS Fairbridge Homes  
26518 RAFF, Joseph H1895ENG,     Mar 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
3564 RAFFERTY, Edward1916ENG,    , Northumberland  Apr 1929 : Duchess of Bedford CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
14194 RAFFERTY, Stephen1888ENG,     Aug 1901 : Dominion CAN Sailing Alone  
27592 RAFFERTY, William James1903IRL, DOW, County Down, Belfast Nov 1914 : Megantic CAN Salvation Army  
5410 RAGGETT, Edith Mary1903ENG, SRY, Hambledon Sep 1912 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
13800 RAINE, Robert1892ENG,     Jul 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
17664 RAINES, George E.1895ENG,     Jul 1902 : New England CAN Barnardos  
19328 RAINEY, John Alexander1904ENG,     Sep 1912 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
4925 RALPH, Alice1910ENG, LDN, London Mar 1925 : Aurania CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home  
21940 RALPH, George1881ENG,    , Salisbury Apr 1894 : Labrador CAN Bristol Emigration Society  
14715 RALPH, James1870ENG,     Aug 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
24444 RALPH, James1853 May 1870 : North American CAN Institution  
4536 RALPH, William1916ENG, MDX Jul 1930 : Balranald AUS Barnardos  
21123 RALPH, Willilam1888ENG,     Apr 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
5181 RAMAGE, Albert1916ENG,    , Newcastle upon Tyne Mar 1932 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
8264 RAMPTON, Charles 1883ENG,     Jul 1895 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
18052 RAMPTON, Edith1886ENG,     Nov 1894 : Laurentian CAN Barnardos  
13338 RAMSAY, Elizabeth1892SCT,    , Aberdeen Jun 1913 : Grampian CAN Quarriers  
22723 RAMSAY, Mary1887ENG,     Oct 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
18984 RAMSAY, William1895ENG,     May 1905 : Bavarian CAN MacPherson Homes  
5553 RAMSBOTTOM, Jack 1919ENG, KEN, Thanet May 1933 : Otranto AUS Fairbridge Homes  
10545 RAMSBY, Joseph1913ENG, LDN, London Oct 1927 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
8404 RAMSDEN, Kenneth Arthur1913ENG, YKS, Bradford Sep 1924 : Melita CAN Barnardos  
18370 RAMSEY, Elizabeth1854ENG,     Jun 1869 : Nestorian CAN Clerkenwell Emigration Society  
21921 RAMSEY, J I1893ENG,     Oct 1903 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
11555 RAND, Arthur Frederick1881ENG, KEN, Gravesend Nov 1891 : Sardinian CAN Barnardos  
8413 RAND, Doris1905ENG,     Mar 1920 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
14581 RAND, James1890ENG,     Aug 1904 : Bavarian CAN Waifs & Strays  
16671 RAND, Thomas Richard1878ENG, KEN, Gravesend Jun 1889 : Vancouver CAN Barnardos  
17037 RANDALL, Arthur1906ENG,     May 1922 : Montcalm CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
27073 RANDALL, Clarence Douglas Plassey1917ENG, GLS, Tewkesbury Oct 1928 : Beltana AUS Fairbridge Homes  
25975 RANDALL, Irene Doris1918ENG, LND, Lambeth Nov 1929 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
9496 RANDALL, John1909ENG,     Mar 1921 : Scandinavian CAN Barnardos  
4719 RANDALL, Joseph1893ENG,     Apr 1908 : Lake Champlain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
14597 RANDALL, Lillian1877ENG,     Oct 1887 : Sardinian CAN Maria Rye  
21533 RANDALL, Robert Henry1913ENG, LAN, West Derby Jun 1929 : Berrima AUS Barnardos  
8938 RANDLE, Alfred1916ENG,    , St Albans Apr 1931 : Duchess of Richmond CAN Barnardos  
13089 RANGECROFT, Sarah Elizabeth1887ENG,     Jun 1901 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
24393 RANGER, William1852 May 1870 : Peruvian CAN Annie MacPherson Homes  
7709 RANKIN, Agnes1861ENG,     Jul 1870 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
8623 RANKIN, John1909ENG, LAN, Liverpool Jul 1925 : Athenia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
16498 RANKIN, John Robert1891SCT,    , Bridgeton, Glasgow Apr 1907 : Sicilian CAN Quarriers  
7405 RANN, E. Thomas1864ENG,     Jun 1878 : Sarmatian CAN Middlemore  
10179 RANSCOMBE, Alice1878ENG, BRK, White Waltham Apr 1887 : Circassian CAN Maria Rye  
10180 RANSCOMBE, Mary1880ENG,    , White Waltham Apr 1887 : Circassian CAN Maria Rye  
6275 RANSOM, Catherine1896ENG,     May 1910 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
6279 RANSOM, Elizabeth1895ENG,     May 1910 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
8050 RANSOM, Mary A.1850ENG,     Jun 1869 : Austrian CAN Maria Rye  
9810 RANSOME, Daisy1899ENG,    , Croydon Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
19856 RANSOME, Frederick1894ENG,     May 1907 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
11098 RANSOME, Harry1895ENG,     May 1907 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
3302 RAPHAEL, Aram1895AM_,     Apr 1911 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
24670 RAPLEY, Percival1896 Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
11878 RAPLEY, Wilfred George1897ENG, SRY, Dorking Jul 1908 : Canada CAN National Childrens Home DFKBurr  
6063 RAPSON, Henry Edward1899ENG, SSX, Framfield Apr 1911 : Empress of Britain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
19257 RASHBONE, Ernest Randall1903ENG,     Sep 1912 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
11699 RAYBOULD, G1891ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Surnames starting with:   R »RAST »REAS »REID »RETZ »RICH »RIDE »ROBB »ROBE »ROBS »ROGE »ROSS »ROYA »RUSS » RZZZ
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  82 Entries