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Empty Cradles (Oranges and Sunshine)

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About this listen

Now a major film, the book that exposed the scandal of Britain's forgotten and abused child migrants.

In 1986 Margaret Humphreys, a Nottingham social worker, investigated a woman's claim that, aged four, she had been put on a boat to Australia by the British government. At first incredulous, Margaret discovered that this was just the tip of an enormous iceberg. Up to 150,000 children, some as young as three years old, had been deported from children's homes in Britain and shipped off to a 'new life' in distant parts of the Empire, right up until as recently as 1970. Many were told that their parents were dead, and parents were told that their children had been adopted. In fact, for many children it was to be a life of horrendous physical and sexual abuse far away from everything they knew.

Margaret and her team reunited thousands of families before it was too late and brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an outrageous miscarriage of justice.

©2011 Margaret Humphries (P)2020 W. F. Howes Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Europe Great Britain True Crime England Disappearance

Critic reviews

"It is a story that defies belief." (Independent)

"The secrets of the lost children of Britain may never have been revealed if it had not been for [the actions of] Margaret Humphreys." (Sunday Times)
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Shocking what happened in the past but a great book to find out about it

A must read

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Both fascinating and harrowing. A story of social history, lies, cover ups and some happy endings.

I had no idea

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The strength of the women to protect children who have suffered injustice before they had even had a chance to understand is courageous. Amazing listening experience

Heartbreaking Realty

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My heart broke for all these people and their families. Fir the children they were, for the sons and daughters they were and for the lives they had stolen from them.

How could this happen?

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Gripping from the start, couldn’t stop listening. A heartbreaking listen, exposes the child forced emigration scandal. Very well researched and told. Margaret is a true hero.

Amazing book, best I’ve ever listened to

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