“No one believed me. ‘Children couldn’t have been treated like that.’ But we were.”
—Harry Drabble
In 1937, two-year-old Harry Drabble was diagnosed with bovine tuberculosis after drinking unpasteurised milk. Torn from his mother’s arms, he spent much of his childhood confined to Sheffield’s King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for Crippled Children, enduring emotional neglect and years of isolation while immobilised in bed.
Told through Harry’s unflinching words and his daughter Helen Parker-Drabble’s meticulous research, this poignant memoir reveals the shocking inadequacies of early 20th-century healthcare while celebrating one boy’s extraordinary resilience.
Harry’s life was defined by a simple yet transformative mantra: ‘I can’t… yet.’ Told he would never work, find love, or support a family, Harry refused to give in to those predictions. He taught himself to read and mastered the violin while living with physical challenges, earned professional qualifications despite limited schooling, and went on to create the loving family he was told was out of reach. This father-daughter collaboration offers a rare glimpse into a forgotten chapter of British medical history, ensuring the forgotten children institutionalised during the early to mid 20th century are seen, heard and remembered. Yet is both a tribute to Harry’s indomitable spirit and a timeless reminder of the power of hope, perseverance, and the word ‘yet.’
Read a two-chapter sample of ‘Yet’ here
Reviews
A former patient, Children’s Hospital, Birmingham ‘Yet’ “brought back a whole lot of memories…I hung onto every word he gave, I was there, back in the hospital with him and remembering…[‘Yet’] has been a mirror image of what I experienced, every word Harry Drabble made, I saw, so know just what happened. This book as also opened my eyes to things I did not know or over the years have denied happened. His determination not to let it beat him, was how I felt, even today I hate being beaten, if there is an answer I want to find it.” Bob Shaw.
From a widow “I’m gobsmacked. What a book! Fascinating, informative, but terrifying and dismaying. The unknown chapter of my late husband’s life has now been written. I am more grateful than I can say. I’m also rueful. It’s been a solemn but liberating experience for me and our three children. If I had only known….” Mary
From readers
[Yet has given] ‘me a perspective that I did not have previously. I am so grateful that you took the time to write this book’. Kathleen
“An excellent medical memoir, and a very interesting piece of history…I haven’t read about this disease before…The book combines memoir, family history, and medical matters. It was incredibly interesting, and I enjoyed reading it. Well-constructed, I loved the comprehensive detail, and supporting photos. Includes many interesting pictures, both of Harry, and his hospital days, plus historical photos e.g. artefacts of wartime Britain. I found the pics of recipes of the time, during rationing, very interesting.” Julie from We Love Memoir (Facebook)
From a family historian
I have just finished reading ‘Yet,’ and I want to take a moment to truly thank you for the gift of this story. It’s been sitting with me in such a deep, personal way, stirring not only empathy for Harry and his family, but also reflections on my own life and the lives of those I care about…I felt a profound heartbreak reading about Harry’s early and prolonged separation from his parents. I can’t imagine not being allowed to comfort or advocate for my child while they undergo life-changing medical treatment. The emotional weight of that, especially the lack of bonding and reassurance, was deeply moving. You helped me see how that absence may have shaped Harry’s need to prove himself to a world that saw his disability before his humanity. Jon Marie Pearson, family historian, genealogist and blogger.
From authors
Helen’s book is a real eye opener. I have never read anything like it. I won’t give too much away, but you won’t put it down. Top class! Julie Rose co-author of Tenacity
‘It’s another brilliant book. You have a wonderful style of factual writing with deep emotion – it’s wonderful.” Helen Baggott, author and public speaker.
Harry’s childhood, adolescence and young adult are recalled against a background of working-class Sheffield before, during and after the Second World War. Despite the assumption that his disabilities would disbar him from educational opportunities, meaningful work and marriage, Harry’s life is inspirational in the way in which he overcame all disabilities and stigmatisation to build a fulfilling life. Kevin Brown, author, public speaker and former chairman of the London Museums of Health and Medicine.
Coming soon
Unveiling Mary: The woman behind a personal Victorian recipe book
Step into the Vistorian age and discover the powerful story of Mary Allott/Parker née Hopkinson—a woman who cooked upa storm in the kitchen of life, blending adversity and reslience with the sweet taste of late love.
From her early years to the challenges of a turbulent marriage, motherhood, abandonment and caring for others, Mary’s experiences reflect the struggles and triumphs of middle-class women in her time.
Discover how Mary’s recipe book, started in 1860, gave her purpose, community and creative expression at a time of few choices for women.
If you would like to read an advance reader copy before it is published click on the ‘Join the Waitlist’ button here.
A Facsimile Reproduction of a Handwritten Book of Victorian Family Receipts
What did Victorians eat? Taste the past with these handwritten family recipes
This faithful reproduction of an original manuscript provides a fascinating glimpse into mid-19th century culinary traditions.
In 1860, Mary Allott (née Hopkinson) began compiling her personal recipe book, a cherished collection that embodied the heart of middle-class domestic life. For Victorian women, exchanging recipes wasn’t just about cooking, it was a way to connect, share, and refine their domestic expertise. Successful recipes were gifts, strengthening the bonds between friends, families, and communities.
This facsimile edition preserves Mary’s 115 pages of recipes, or “receipts” as she called them, offering a rare treasure for family historians, food enthusiasts, and those curious about the lives of Victorian middle-class women.
Through them, you can relive the richness of one Victorian woman’s household by savouring the morsels of her past.
Purchase Links
UK readers: You can support an independent author and buy a replica of Mary’s recipe book A Facsimile Reproduction of a Handwritten Book of Victorian Family Receipts here or visit here
Outside of the UK: You can support an independent author and buy the ebook here or visit here.
Also by Helen Parker-Drabble
A Victorian’s Inheritance
A window into Victorian lives—and what it means for ours
What psychological inheritance have you received from your ancestors?
We inherit more than heirlooms. The struggles, triumphs, and even traumas of our forebears can be handed down through generations, shaping who we are.
In A Victorian’s Inheritance, family historian and former counsellor Helen Parker-Drabble brings to life the working-class world of her Victorian grandfather, uncovering how his mother’s hardships, bereavements and alcoholism in 19th-century England left their indelible mark on him. Through a unique blend of family history, social analysis, and a groundbreaking approach, she reveals how addiction, grief, and mental health challenges can influence future generations.
This deeply personal, yet relatable, book invites you to reflect on your own family’s untold stories. Whether you’re an avid genealogist, a lover of Victorian history, or simply curious about how your ancestors’ lives have shaped your own, A Victorian’s Inheritance will inspire you to discover the hidden legacies of your family—and better understand yourself and your relations.
To read the first two chapters of A Victorian’s Inheritance click here
Purchase Links
UK readers: You can support an independent author and buy A Victorian’s Inheritance in ebook, paperback, large print and hardback formats from my shop here or visit your favourite store here.
Outside of the UK: You can support an independent author and buy the ebook A Victorian’s Inheritance from my shop here or or visit your favourite store here.
Reviews
“This easy-to-read ground-breaking book changed the way I think about my ancestors and living family” Jenny
“I found A Victorian’s Inheritance fascinating. I love the rich detail of life in a rural area in Victorian England.” — Gail Dixon, author and regular contributor to Who Do You Think You Are? magazine
More reviews here
Thank you for your support. It ecourages me to save more forgotten stories.
