THE recent reports of sexual and physical abuse of children in care are truly horrifying but are in complete contrast to my personal experience.

In the 1950s, my three brothers and I spent most of our childhood in the care of Derbyshire Children’s Homes.

I lived in three different homes and I never saw any evidence of abuse of any kind. We were allowed the usual childhood freedoms but, perhaps because of the numbers, this independence correlated with a strict code in regard to meals and timekeeping.

Personally, I didn’t mind and I believe that most children prefer a degree of order in everyday activities.

I consider that one of the reasons for our brilliant care was that the staff was almost exclusively young women, supervised by a married couple who were light years ahead of their time in child care.

Visitors were vetted and strictly by appointment only.

What I find most distressing about these current events is that I witnessed children on admission into care and frequently, particularly with young girls, they were frightened and bewildered.

To think of them also being abused fills me with revulsion and anger.

It saddens me that that after a lifetime of feeling unashamed about my childhood, I am lately obliged to accept that there remains, in society, a strong prejudice against children in care.

They are largely seen to be the instigators of their own misfortune.

V J Connor, Bishop Auckland.