Set in the early 60s, Bitter Almond charts the disintegration of a family’s life as, evicted from their country cottage, five young boys find themselves swallowed up by the old workhouse system, still going strong.

After a summer spent with their mother in a “concentration camp” of collapsing wooden huts they are moved to the infamous Newington Lodge in Southwark before, in a final separation, being sent on to Eastry Childrens home as “looked after kids” placed in the care of the state.

Abuse, belittling and military-style discipline follow. Yet hope remains. What will it take for Mum and Dad to get their children back?