The St Bandass Children’s Home.

Restoration of a Prodigal Son.

Established after the first world war in 1918, enjoying limited government funding, it was the first of many similar institutions built entirely with funds from Scapulae la Peers and the brainchild of 22-year-old Robert McManus, the wayward son of wealthy industrialist Sir George McManus, a man famed for re-building the countries infrastructure. Sir George’s companies played a significant role in Manchester. He desperately wanted his son back to respectability after several years of mayhem, including gambling, heavy drinking and all kinds of tomfoolery that brought shame to his door. Providing funds and expertise to create a charitable organisation for the benefit of the unfortunate was a sound investment, offering kudos to dispel a previously infamous reputation. He used his influence with the government to consider ongoing funding and his companies to build the infrastructure of St Bandass. It also became clear that working through a charitable organisation brought healthy tax benefits.
The opening of St Bandass was an enormous success, and Scapulae La Peers was recognised under the administration of Robert McManus and a young accountant called Clive Cooper. Acknowledgement for efforts to help the unfortunate brought Robert a knighthood, but the gambling and drinking continued secretly unabated.