Hong Kong Babies Home - Hong Kong Children's Home - Hong Kong Orphanage
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Shatin Babies Home History
After Miss Mildred Dibden stepped down as Superintendent of Fanling Babies Home, she then founded Shatin Babies Home in May 1952.
Shatin Babies Home, later called Shatin Children's Home, was located in the New Territories, not far from Fanling in the
town, Shatin.
Shatin Babies Home was established in the old police barracks of Shatin. The main building was
a large, two story brick and wood building located about a mile's walk from the Shatin train station. On the ground floor
was a dining room, sleeping rooms and a staff sitting room. Upstairs there was a sitting room, kitchen, bath, dispensary, sick
room and Superintendent's bedroom.
Behind this main building was another smaller building that housed the amahs and
teachers. By 1957, three wings were added to the main building so as to resemble a compound. One wing was the
school building and the other two were dormitories for the children.
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Miss Dibden founded this Home with the sole purpose of caring for abandoned babies as her own family. The
children called Miss Dibden "Mama." Miss Dibden ran the Home on a disciplined daily schedule which included prayers,
play time and schooling. Miss Dibden maintained Shatin Babies Home through mostly local community contributions and giving from
abroad. The Hong Kong government also helped by charging a nominal rent on the property.
At one point, the staff
consisted of a cook, gardener, several nurse girls, eight amahs and four women teachers. Two English assistants, Valerie Conibear
and Wendy Blackmur, joined Superintendent Miss Dibden and in 1965 these two opened their own Home of Loving Faithfulness in
Fanling dedicated to the care of handicapped children.
By 1963, times had changed so Miss Dibden facilitated the
adoption of the younger children into Christian homes abroad. In 1966, Miss Dibden moved back to England with the remaining
charges. She continued her support of Hong Kong handicapped children through her fund raising in England.
Copyright © 2006-2007, Fanling Babies Home, All Rights Reserved
1952 - Miss Dibden started Shatin Babies Home
1957 - School building opened for the children
1959 -
76 children lived at Shatin Children's Home
1960 - Valerie Conibear joined the staff
1962 - Wendy Blackmur joined the staff
1963 -
New Zealand families adopt 25 children
1963 - U.S.A. families adopt 24 children
1966 - Miss Dibden returns to live in England
1987 - Miss Dibden
passes away in England
Fanling Babies Home