Messages and Memories

Dear Friends of St. Louis Convent

We purchased Magdalene House in Nov 2008 and have replaced/increased the period features in the building. We love living here and wondered if you could let us have any information particular to Magdalene House - for instance did anyone actually live/sleep in the attic part of the house (to the front of the building) I'd like to say again how happy we are to be fortunate enough to live in such a lovely home.

Julia Evans - 11/04/09

I have uploaded the 1980 Easter Songs of Praise video clip, showing pupils from St Louis and St Dunstans singing in St Johns church, Glastonbury, to the St Louis facebook site.

I am in the process of scanning and saving my school photos to my laptop. As soon as I've done them all I'll let you know. I'm also converting all my Helen Hillard dance production videos to dvd. They may be of interest as she used to hold classes at the convent in the school hall. It might take me a while as I'm learning how to do this from scratch. (I got my brother, who incidently is a past St Louis pupil, to do all the hard work with the songs of praise video). Thanks

Tanya Hill (nee Stone) - 21/03/09

(We have added three stills from this video to this website)

Just to let anyone know that I have uploaded the complete morning service from St Mary's church in Glastonbury (Google Video), which was broadcast on Sunday December 21^st 1987.

Sean Miller - 21/03/09

What a find - lovely memories of a happy school life. I have lived in Glastonbury all of my 63 years and would love to hear from any of you who remember me and who have moved away. Does anyone know where Mirium Lerman is now? She lived in Bridgwater and I often wonder where she is now.

Janice White (nee Osborne) - 22/02/09

Hi, I was at the convent in Glastonbury in the 1960s. I remember Mother Mary Louis, Ma Ingatus (as I called her) Mother Theresa & many more. My best friends were Sheridan Webb, Janice Weavand & Lucia Rheina. Strangly I have fond memories of the Glastonbury convent & when I got married it was the convent concert hall that played host to my wedding reception & Mother Veronica was a part of that. If anyone remembers me or has pictures of that time please contact this website.

Charmian Brownrigg - 22/01/09

I wish to contact Rev. Sr. Mairin Barrette, She worked in Ghana at the St.Louis Sec School in Takoradi (Now Known as the Archbishop Porter Girl;s Secondary school.)

I know she came to the Convent in Surrey in the early 80s. She teaches Enlish and RK. I miss her. Please help me to get in touch.

Thanks

Judith Abloso - 16/01/09

I don't know if anyone remembers me, I was at the Glastonbury convent during the 1950s and 60s.

Carmen Maritato - 06/12/08

I attended St Louis from 1975. I had an older brother Gary Hoskins. My Mum Marlene Hoskins also attended St Louis.

Lisa Keirle (nee Hoskins) - 06/12/08

I was at at Frome for only one year I was 6 years old, my brother and sister were also there. My sister was there for two years she was 11 my brother was 10.

Jane Hulin (nee Wiltshire) - 11/11/08

My mum is looking for Valerie Eglen, Paula Eglen and Jaqueline Eglen, who attended the Glastonbury Convent during the 1950's. If anyone can help please can you contact me through this website.

Thank you

Marie Burgess - 16/10/08

Hi, anybody out there who was at St Louis Convent Minehead, 1964/65 would love to hear from you, especially Ann debono who was my friend when I was there, hope to hear from you, Josie.

Josephine Pople (nee Ward) - 28/09/08

I was a boarder at the Frome Convent between 1958 and 1962. I am sorry to hear that it has since closed, as I have been meaning to visit for some time. I wondered if you have any other previous Boarders contact you for those years.

Patricia Lawrence (nee Zajac) - 26/08/08

I loved my time at St Louis, except netball which I hated. Indoor "shoes" were also unpleasant - smelly daps! Tuck shop was great. Lunches weren't so good. I was in St Dunstan's house. Does anyone remember me?

Pauline Rossiter (nee Trotman) - 05/08/08

Brought back very happy memories of my first year in the UK from Singapore. My sister Kathleen and I were boarders for a term from May 1966 to July 1967 I think. A culture shock at the time but lovely when I recall those days. Went back to see m.Collette many years ago: glad I saw her and a chance to walk around the garden. I finished school at St. Mary's, Cambridge and a schoolmate's mother and Aunt had gone to St. Teresa's too-amazing! Happy to hear from anyone there at that time who remembers Kate or me.

Jennifer Alphonse - 04/08/08

I was so excited to see that sister Lisa had written as I was only thinking about her and the other nuns last week when he Pope visited Sydney - which was lots of fun in town. I hope she has forgiven me for my various mis-demeanors at the convent.

Hello Tracy. I was also in the Songs of Praise with the convent choir. I was the year below Cassey Edwards and was also a friend of hers - she had the best sense of humour. Its great to check in to the site every now and then and see who has posted a message - and by the way it is literally freezing here in Sydney today got to 0 degrees.

Lisa Bridges - 24/06/08

Hello!

I just learnt about this website and visited it for the first time. I am here in England from Canada on holiday and I am coming to Glastonbury on my way to Minehead. How much I would love to meet some of my former pupils but it is too short of notice to arrange a meeting. I am sorry about the lateness. Thanks for your help and the hope it gave me to meet some of my Glastonbury pupils after 24 years.

It could not be helped in the circumstances. Had I been aware of the site before I came to England, I would have proceeded differently. It would have been great to meet some of my past pupils but if it cannot be, I can make up by writing a little piece later on.

Please let all those you meet at your next old girls meeting know that I do not forget the marvellous years I spent in Glastonbury. We can keep in touch and when I return to Montreal, I will write a message for the website.

Sister Lise Barbeau, Former Headmistress from 1978 until 1984 - 23/06/08

I have some very vivid memories of St Louis, the main one being Mrs Rose expertly diving into the small pool of Strode Pool at Street to rescue one child who submerged for the third time with her hand in the air!!!

My class were Susan Tatchell, etc and of course the late Cassie Edwards, very fondly remembered. I travelled on the bus from Shepton Mallet with Beverley and Maxine Green and I think Sally Pritchard used to get on at Wells. Got told off one day for girlie talking on the bus about one old lady that got on with twitchy lips that we used to call twitchums!!! Those were the days!!

Philippa Densley - 15/07/08

Thank you for uploading the pics of the new houses on the former convent site. They look very impressive but I believe they have yet to be sold. In answer to your question - the veranda room, if I remember correctly, was the staff room in the 70s and 80s. The music room was to the right of the main stairs overlooking Magdalene Street. Does anyone else remember appearing on Songs of Praise one year? It was filmed at St John's Church in Glastonbury. I'll see if I can find out the date.

It's lovely to read the messages from past pupils and find out more about the school's history.

Best wishes

Tracy Williams (Wall) - 14/07/08 [Yahoo group member]

I couldn't believe when I found this site. It certainly has brought back memories. I started at Kindergarten in Frome and boarded then when Mother Pat and Sr Ignatius went to Glastonbury I followed as they practically brought me up. My nickname from Mother Pat was Scallywag as I was always up to mischief. I left around 1966 when the boarding school was closing and moving over to Minehead. By that time I had enough of boarding. I remember coming back from the summer holidays and most of the senior girls had become novices - it frightened me to death thinking my turn next there was no way I was going to be a nun.

I remember Pauline from Bridgwater, Bridget and Ita and I just cant remember my other friend's name, her father taught at Millfield. Sister Josephine, who was boarding with me at the time I was at Glastonbury, became Head Teacher at Frome and Mother Pat came back and they taught my children which was really weird.

I remember the dormitory in Glastonbury was overlooking the main street and looking onto the Abbott's kitchen, I think there were 8 of us in the dorm. I was always up to mischief either having midnight feasts or just giggling and getting caught in the middle of night and then having to go to chapel and say a few hail mary's for my penance. Father MacNamara was a great guy he used to take mass in the school chapel and have breakfast with us afterwards, and I remember those mornings we had a cooked breakfast and he would steel our sausages, and there was a lot more laughter. I used to have to clean one of the classrooms at night and the main school stairs. At the weekend I had to polish and dust the main staircase in the convent above the chapel and I helped clean the chapel as well, which included doing all the silver. I remember a lot of housework!! I used to sing in the choir and Sister Veronica used to be very strict and made us sing full throttle over the balcony in the church, I had quite a good voice in those days and sang many songs at various events in the main hall plus I enjoyed doing drama. I was really good at sports and at one time thought I would become a sports teacher.

Mother Peter and Sister Mary Louise were also at Glastonbury at the time I was there. I didn't get away with anything when they were around. I think I was just lucky that Mother Pat felt I could do no wrong and saw the mischievousness in me and I got away with blue murder.

I had a school reunion in Frome a few years ago which was great, and I would like to go to Glastonbury again. So if any chances come up for a reunion between girls, and a couple of boys I remember - Richard, Malcolm and Christopher, can't remember their surnames, who were there from around 1962 to 1966, that would be great. Although the time seemed quite tough and my life was spent either at boarding school or with my grandparents in Germany I know that it gave me a very good start in life and taught me many things which I am very grateful for. I would love to hear from anyone who went to Frome or Glastonbury. I would love to know where Sally Davis is, as a group of us in Frome lost touch with her some years ago.

Sheridan Curtis (Webb) - 13/04/08

You have put together a wonderful website commemorating the work of the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis and the work they did in education. I enjoyed this very much. I went to school in Wilcox, Saskatchewan (Notre Dame College) in the early 60s and the Sisters of St. Louis were my teachers at that time. Wonderful educators, musicians, athletes, artists. I haven't been able to find any of them for years. Your website and pictures brought back a lot of nice memories of my school days here in Canada. I enjoyed reading many of the student stories. So many of their antics made me remember and laugh. And so many of their aspirations and what they turned out to be - that also made me remember and smile and feel grateful for the discipline. Today, I am a teacher.

Thank you so much for sharing your memories.

Cathy Harding - 23/03/08

I was at St Louis Convent, Glastonbury from the age of 4 to 6, 1968 - 1970. I would love to hear from anyone in my class. The only full name I can remember is Simon Talbot. I remember many of my friends at the school, including Paul Roebuck (in a higher form). I would love to have some information on school reunions. Also, was I the first Asian pupil at the school? My parents were Indian and Muslim. It was quite unusual, I think!

Many thanks

Nargis Walker (nee Lal) - 13/03/08

I just found your site in Google - I was at St Louis Convent for a couple of years from 82ish to 84, and have managed to dig out some old class and school photos. They are both from 1984, and show the whole school, and Mrs Beardsmore's (?) class. I remember hardly anything from my time there, as I would have been 6 or 7 at the time. My parents and I moved to Cambridgeshire that year, and I totally lost contact with all of my classmates. It would be interesting if any of them visit the site and recognise themselves!

Matthew - 22/02/08

My late mother, Mary Alves, went to the school until 1930. It is not absolutely impossible that she is the child shown in the photo with the two nuns – it certainly looks rather like her. She lived on Bere Lane. She wasn’t Catholic but insisted on going to the school – she might have been a founder pupil.

If I find any relevant material I will contact you.

Caroline - 12/01/08

My sister Barbara Hubert attended the Glastonbury convent from 1928 until 1944. I have an old photo taken about 1932, taken in the gardens to the rear of the school.

Joseph Hubert - 19/01/08

My sister, Nadia, told me about the site. It is very good and many thanks to those who have put so much work into it. The 1950s photo was the Christmas pantomime of 1954, I believe. I think it was Snow White but cannot remember, perhaps Cinderella. I am seated 3rd from left. The names I can remember are: Mostyn Norton on my right. Christopher March (I think), the first boy seated on the right side of the carriage. Back row second from left, Pam Short;seventh from left by the rear wheel of the carriage, Patricia Carter; extreme right back row could be Josephine Grant; back row third from right could bed Jonquil Sweet. It's all a long time ago.

Michael McKay - 14/01/08 [Yahoo group member]

Would love to hear from/about others from my era. I was there (with my sister Emma) until Millfield bought it then my little brother went to the pre-prep too.

Luci Fairbrother (nee Austin) - 07/11/07 [Yahoo group member]

Hi I was at St Louis Convent Glastonbury from 1973 I think age 8 until 1981 when the senior year finished for good we were the last senior year there. I loved going to St Louis and had lots of great friends who I still am in contact with as I now live in Australia in the wild bush of the Byron shire NSW. My best friend at school was Dee Gamble and she was head girl and I am still great mates with her. I got the nick name tichy senior which was kinda cute and friends with a lot of the younger kids as well.

I saw that Sam Earner had a message on the board hi Sam. I used to love playing british bull dog and for a while there we played girls verses boys rugby, too physical, too fun and so that was soon banned. I used to also take kids on tours of the cellars, down those sweeping stairs and up into the attic. Got caught once by Sister? name escapes me but she used to wear a wig and came from Canada and was very sweet. I was just closing the attic door when she caught me, of course every one else had scarpered "Lisa, have you just been in the attic" shutting the door and looking dusty "no, Sister", "thats good run along".

Poor Sister Aimee, I set the alarm clock on her lesson once and she marched us all down to the play ground as she thought that it was a fire drill. No one dobbed me in though, and she never did figure it out or so I thought. Sister Francis Teresa or Sister fanny T as we named her use to always say to me as I was always in trouble and being sent to the head amazed at not being expelled, she said "many good thing come in small packages, so does poison". Anyway, we made friends after school, as I used to go and cook for the nuns on a Tuesday when I was 18-19 when the convent closed.

I got completly knocked unconcious once in the playground, every one was screaming "she's dead etc", that's when I got to find out about the smelling salts in the cabinet by the staff room. One wiff of those babies and you really got knocked about, soooo I took excursions with unsuspecting kids to the cabinet to smell the salts, wammo and they were down on the ground, yes I was a horror and now I openly apologise to all those who suffered. Anyway could go on have a bag of stories but would love to talk to anyone who remembers me.

Lisa Bridges - 08/10/07 [Yahoo group member]

I recognise some of the early 50's photos: one of the Ballet Dancers? It was a school Christmas play I think. I was a primrose (who lost her cap before stage entrance. My mother frantically tried to find it, but it was chaos). My lines: 'I think he's rather nice you know, in fact I'd like him for my beaux'! (To a bluebell played I believe by someone called Malcolm). In the picture I think I am the one standing on the far right alomost out of camera. My best friend was Mary Davis (I think she is the blonde one sitting in the front with her arms folded) and we were always told off by Mother Eugenie for giggling too much.

To this day I remember wanting to go to the loo and not being allowed to and having an accident in class which cost many tears. Not a good memory but there were others that were good. The penny buns; Miss Mansfield and games (she was adorable.) The nuns scared me at first and made such a great impression that I remember the black boots and rosaries to this day. I remember Carol van Rynan being shut in the Church as a form of punishment for not paying for lighting candles - threepence as I remember. I remember egg and spoon races and rounders. Learning to read which I enjoyed immensely and the dap cupboard! It was stuffed full and nobody ever knew which were theirs, or was it just me?

I love this site and it has brought back a different world to the one we live in today. Does anyone know of Mary Davis, I would like to make contact if they do. Oh! and I remember the bell, who could ever forget it and a tabernacle one Christmas which held me spellbound.

Did I enjoy my time at St.Louis Convent? Yes, I believe I did.

I am so, so sad to see its demise.

Gloria Mans (nee Treloar) - 17/09/07

As Valerie Snook I was a boarder at St. Teresa's, Minehead (1945-1950) and have very happy memories of my time there. Anyone remember me, or my cousin Pamela 'Warwick'? I am in touch with quite a few 'girls' but would love to hear from more...

I have a particularly amusing photo taken in 1999, of seven of us kneeling irreverently 'at prayer' in the denuded convent chapel - all aged between 65-70!!! I will let you have some photos.

I enjoyed looking at the photos posted. The actual Convent of St. Louis building has been somewhat truncated; what is left of the ground floor is used by the Somerset County mental health dept. When we 'old girls' visited the convent in 1999 we were allowed to go to the chapel (under supervision) it was quite eerie up there...found a dead pigeon in what was St. Mary's dormitory, but did not get the chance to explore further.

Valerie Hughes (nee Snook) - 28/08/07

I trying to establish when my mother, Vera Joan Martin, attended the convent. She was born 1913 and married 1937.

Susan Phillips - 13/07/07

I am amazed to find this site I thought the school was still running and part of Millfield preprep.

I am going to look out some pictures and chat to Henrietta and see if we can put together some dates and names.

I am so excited to read familiar names and wonder what you are all up to.

Please email me if you were in my year or Henrietta's.

We had some fun times

• getting into the cellars and having a good look round. Failed to keep a proper look out but cannot remember who caught us. Sr Lise was not impressed.
• going into the nuns bathroom at the top of the big stairs and finding jars of tiny pieces of soap bars
• we made phone calls upstairs outside Sr Lise's room and put in 10p but still in trouble for not getting permission
• Remember little rebellions over Friday masses once we were in senior 1 and feeling v mature deciding not go. that lasted all of 5 minutes
• cookery lessons with Mrs Rowe - did we only make quiche
• History with Mrs Holmes and poetry - inspired
• Scripture every morning - why did we not all have to do it
• Dens in the field hedges and behind the altar, why were the boys never going to let us play in their camps?
• British bulldogs grazed knees and badly ripped clothes, were Etta and I really so naughty
• hanging off the climbing frame after school trying not to show your knickers and daring each other to monkey hang off the high bar and then go all the way across
• assemblies - being old enough to sit on chairs
• public speaking competitions at 11 -Jo are you there
• packed lunches in the classroom with Sr Aimee nodding
• sweet shop at break downstirs in the small hall
• berets with tassells
• Mummy running second hand uniform in the huge cupboard, on the nuns downstairs corridor through to the house
• french lessons everyday
• going to Crowdons before school for crisps for lunch

I could go on!

Great t hear Sam, Alexia, Tracy: who else do you keep up with

The closing and now redevelopment of the convent is sad and takes some

very happy memories. It was a special place full of magic - much of it because of the nuns and the strict rules - we manged to break sometimes

Louisa Watson (freeman) - 24/06/07 [Yahoo group member]

I was a pupil at St Louis Convent School for girls and boys for the sons and daughters of gentle folks I think it said on the notice board that I passed every day after getting off the bus from Street to get to school on time. I always missed it on the way home and had to wait for ages outside of Crockers. I hated the convent and I was scared stiff of the nuns especially Mother Amiee. I had no daps, was always caught running up the stairs instead of walking. It was freezing with cold milk to drink out of frozen bottles in the winter. I could not wait to leave the only thing I enjoyed was ringing the bell at play time.

I remember the day I left I was on my own walking quietly out of the gate when Mother Amiee stopped me. She shook my hand only after she told me to remove my glove as she informed me that I was rude to shake hands with anyone with your gloves on. She told me that all the offices in Glastonbury had a ex convent girl working for them and that she hoped I would follow their examples.

To this very day I have no fond memories of her, I liked Miss Mansfield she was nice to me and I could always make her laugh.

I saw this webpage advertised in the local paper, my daughter is a reporter for the paper now. I enjoyed looking at it especially the gardens and where the nuns used to have there dinner. Father O'Brian and Father MacNamara were the priests at St Mary's then. I loved Father MacNamara he had a twinkle in his eye and I pinched his bum once by mistake when he attended the wedding reception of my sister, after performing the wedding ceremony, I thought that he was my big cousin John I was mortified when he turned round and I saw that it was the priest.

If I was talking in lessons I was sent to stand outside the door this I didn't mind but when I heard the swish of the Sister skirts and roserrie beads I would dive into the cloak room and bury myself underneath everyone coats and blazers Sister Mary Peter would come into the cloak room but she could never find me I spent all of my senior school life hiding from them they could never find me I hid in the loos upstairs in the back stairs up the alley by Mrs Rowes class even behind the big black door that lead to the kitchen and the nuns chaple.

Happy days, no not really

Patricia - 19/06/07 [Yahoo group member]

My late mother, Mollie , nee ELLIS/HAWKES, was a student at St Louis between 1929-1931 (I believe). In her last year she was 'teaching' (a teacher's aide???). I would love some information about those times, and/or pictures. I would be delighted to subsidise postage/photocpying etc.

I reside in Townsville, QLD, Australia.

Michael Moir-Bussy - 10/06/07 [Yahoo group member]

The Minehead Reunion is on the 7th July I would love to hear from any past pupils or if you know of any nuns that may have been in Minehead.

My name was Broderick I will be pleased to hear from you. We used to go to Glastonbury and play net ball.

Please contact this site if you want to contact me.

Kathleen Scott - 09/06/07

St Teresa's (Minehead) was the only school I attended. My sister, Sheila Dalling, also was there from 1938 - 1954. My brother, Derek Dalling, was there until he was 11yrs and then attended Minehead Grammar School. Very sadly they both died in their 50s.

I have been to several reunions held in Minehead on the 2nd Thursday of May each year. One year we went to have a look around the school and then went out to the cemetery to visit the graves of various nuns. In particular, Mother St Gerard and Mother Superior - MSGs niece comes to the reunions. They are organised by Pat Tytherleigh. I remember Mother Teresa, Mother Aimee, Sister Sylvester and Sister Bernadette.

Kathleen Scott (nee Broderick) is organising a reunion at the Dunkery Hotel, Wootton Courtenay on July 7th. She is trying to trace Susan Kingdom, Rachael Gates and Simon and Frances Barbour.

Gillian Dalling - 07/06/07

I attended the Minehead Convent from 1949 til 1962.

Jeannette Binding - 07/06/07

We have received a message and photographs from Moira who attended Minehead convent from the late 1930's and through the war years. She was a boarder there. One of her photos is the dormitory, another the chapel. We have decided to add a page "Other Convents" to this website to cover Minehead and Frome as they were all run by the same order of Sisters. Some of the Sisters were at some time at the different convents. As soon as time allows we will upload her photos on that page. Watch this space!!!! We cannot find any other websites that cover these convents. Minehead ran from 1898 until 1994 and Frome 1902 until 1998. If you went to these convents, please contact us as we would love to hear from you.

I attended St Louis convent school in Minehead which was run by the same order of nuns as Glastonbury and life there would have been very similar. I was a boarder there. I have several photos to share on this website. Here are some of my memories of those school days.

The convent and two schools, plus a chapel and laundry were all on one site adjoining the RC church of Minehead.

St Louis day school educated the orphans (convent) and outside day scholars age 5-7 years. St Teresa's catered for boarders and day scholars from age 5, the boys leaving at 11 and the girls at 18 . The convent also ran the laundry which served the town and surrounding countryside.

Just before World War II, St Teresa's school took over an adjoining hotel, (Blair Lodge) and also added a science block and gymnasium.

The teaching staff consisted of four senior English nuns and qualified lay teachers from England, France and Germany. There were female lay sisters who wore clogs as they worked in the garden (fruit and vegetable) and the laundry. They were entirely French speaking, they also helped on convent farm.

School life (for boarders) started at 6.30am for Mass in Convent chapel at 7am conducted by the curate from the adjoining Catholic church. Canon Casey celebrated on special days.

Discipline was quite strict and uniform compulsory - even on weekends when we were taken for long walks in the country in a long crocodile, supervised by a nun. No talking until we reached open countryside. We wore hats and gloves!!

Uniform - navy gymslip and white blouse and royal blue tie. Sundays - pleated navy skirts and silk shirts. Blazers with a royal blue badge with a yellow fleur de lys. Dark brown ribbed stockings which constricted the blood flow after kneeling for half an hour and caused such discomfort when one stood up!!

We played tennis, netball and hockey on the Minehead beach where it always seemed to be bitterly cold, especially if you were goal keeper!!

Prayers and rosary after tea and before homework - then bed by 8 to 8.30pm. The outbreak of war produced an influx of English and German catholic children from London.

My surname then was Roberts and my best friend for many years was Elizabeth Wood from Old Cleve. Are you still in the area?

Moira - 12/5/07

On Sunday 15th April 2007, the 10.30 Mass at St Marys church, in Glastonbury, was in celebration of the centenary of the blessing of the Convent chapel. Five Sisters of St Louis travelled from their convent in Richmond, Surrey to attend the celebratory Mass and participated in the Mass by doing the readings and prayers. It is also hoped that a plaque will be placed in St. Mary's to remember the Sisters of St. Louis.

I will have to search for some photos but I can easily recall some teachers names like: Gilligan, Cahill, O'Kelly, von Schweinitz, Greaney: they all seemed to be 'Miss' in those days.

My sister, Nadia, and my brother, Don, both attended the recent reunion. I now live near Geneva.

Michael McKay - 29/03/07 [Yahoo group member]

Wow! Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this web site! Really enjoyed reading messages from and about old classmates, including James Plunkett Cole, Alexia Turner, Tracy Wall, Judith Selway, Louisa Freeman, Lisa Antonello, Sarah and Suzanne Preece, Shirley Lock, Neilsen Gillard, Tim Wall, Jonathan Witney; remembering also John and Thomas Greene, Dominic Crowley, Sean Miller, Isabelle Scott Evans, Nicholas Hedges, Jason Kiddle, Marie Davis, Julie Vincent, Frank Rubino... and many others!

Some of you have fantastic memories and an eye for almost poetic detail. Let me try a couple of random memories myself, now that I'm bitten by the bug. How about...

• Piling-up grass cuttings on the school field in summer, then sticking your hand inside to feel how hot it can get.
• The 'Mike Free Transformation Programme', which introduced us to everything from science, to stage props, to archery, with proper changing rooms and a proper lab.
• Was it a relative of Alexia's who joined us one summer and could throw a cricket ball further than we boys could see?!
• School football training and matches at the Baltonsborough Summer Fete.
• Sister Veronica smacking Philip Nixon, then remarking 'Ooh, what hard hands you've got, Philip!'
• Hand-me-down football boots, and later - brand new football boots! (Thanks to Bill Forbes for my first pair.)
• House competitions and 'Prize Day' (if that's what is was called).
• The sports cupboard under the main strairs, closely controlled by Sr Pauline; liberally raided by the rest of us!
• Mass detention with a twist: a class full of kids all copying something or another from a book of our choice in the school 'library'. To impress the girls, pick the biggest book available, find your seat, then see "The Really Big Book for Complete Dummies" plastered across the cover and understand why you're: a. in detention, and b. girlfriendless. (Sorry, got a bit carried away there.)
• Staring at that 'thing' on the wall by the window in Mrs Fallows' (excuse any misspelling) class on the top floor, and wondering exactly how effective it would be if we all had to escape a fire by sliding down its quarter-inch-thick rope to the tarmac thirty feet below.

That should do..

And have you seen the poor old building today, however? Alas 'progress'.

Wishing you all very, very well...

Sam Earner - 29/03/07 [Yahoo group member]

Hi Alexia!!!

Really lovely to see your message - it would be great to catch up and hear how you, Natalie and Briony are getting on. I loved those archery lessons!! I have instructed the owners of this website to give you my email address.

Tracy Wall - 09/03/07 [Yahoo group member]

Hi there, I was a student at St Louis back in 1960. My parents immigrated to New Zealand in that year and I have lived in the New Plymouth area ever since. I still have the school group photo from June 1960 which is in good condition. It is my intention to one day return for a holiday and had hoped to see the old school, however it seems I'm a little late for that. I was 5 years old when at the school, it would be great to hear from some one from the 1960 5 year olds class.

Garry Childs - 09/03/07

I was thrilled to hear about this website. I was at St Louis for nearly 10 brilliant years, along with my younger sister Natalie. We still often remember those days with very happy memories. It has been great looking at all the old photos and reading the things that fellow past pupils remember the most. I especially remember:

• The Bell
• Sister Mary Imelda's Irish country dancing lessons, kilt that never quite fitted me and the dreaded Highbridge festival Competition.
• Incurring the wrath of Sister Veronica in the playground
• The brilliant Sister Lise to whom I still owe a great deal - would love to know where she is today
• The very kind Mrs Cook-Fox, lovely Mrs Smith and the indomitable Mrs Fallows
• All my fellow pupils over the years but particularly Tracy Wall, Judith Selway, Louisa Freeman, Lisa Antonello, Sarah and Suzanne Preece, Shirley Lock, Neilsen Gillard, Tim Wall, Samuel Earner, Jonathan Witney, James Plunkett Cole, Leonora Blackman, Denise Rogers. I am still in touch with Briony Hicks.
• Yellow and white check summer dresses and straw hats
• the amazing field in the summer where we made dens and spent hours beating back long grass and bushes to make 'our camp'
• the short spell of archery lessons that were completely hilarious
• school outings to Lulworth Cove, Cricket St Thomas, HMS Victory and the Science museum in London.

I would love to hear from any of my old friends, and would be up for coming to a reunion if there is another one.

Alexia Turner (nee Rencricca) - 28/12/06

Hi, I was at the convent from 1968-1979. I went to the reunion in October and it was nice to catch up with people I havent seen for about 20+ years, thanks to the organisers for arranging it. I presently live in Woolavington working in Burnham on Sea and would like to hear from anyone who was in my year.

My memories of the school are of lending my pleated maroon games skirt to girls in the school team as there wasn't enough and I had my own pleated one. (I never got to play in the school team, only my skirt did). We had great jumble sales and christmas plays in the school hall and the PTA did some good events too.

Elizabeth Bagg (Cook) - 01/11/06 [Yahoo group member]

I was at the convent between the ages of 6 and 12. I have lots of memories of my time there. Sister Veronica and Sister Pauline were quite scary and would rap you on the knuckles with a twig if you misbehaved! I can remember playing kiss chase with the boys and getting told off about it. My friends there were Susan Stone, Mandy Cooper, Lynette Bird, Beverley and Maxine Green and Simone Ruddle, amongst many others. I can remember us all queueing up to go and look at a dead nun - much to our disgust! Playing "all in a line for fairies and witches". "What's the time Mr Wolf" making dens in the nettles. Being a prefect and having to grass on my friends by writing their names on the blackboard if they spoke. Being in awe of Mrs Fallows, liking Mrs Cooke-Fox and Sister Eugene and being terrified of Sister Pauline and Sister Veronica. Giving all my Dinky toy cars to Angus Payne to try and impress him. Fancying Stephen Bethel and Paul Roebuk - in fact I fancied all the boys! I think! That's why I wanted to leave at 12 cos the boys all left then! I also remember being sick over the front pew in the church because of the smell of the insense burning! I even went through a phase of wanting to be a nun myself - fortunately I soon got over that one!

Mandy Parfitt now Mellford - 29/10/06

The lady between Mrs Cook-Fox and Sr Pauline on the 1975 photograph is Mrs Bowden. She was my piano teacher at the time. She also used to play the piano during our ballet lessons in the hall.

Mandy Bateman - 27/10/06

My mother attended St. Louis convent between the years 1926-1935. I wondered if there were any school photos with her in. Her name was Cecilia Daphne Goulding.

Valerie Gane - 26/10/06

We all had a lovely time at the convent reunion. The hall looked great with yellow and blue balloons and the buffet was delicious. We were delighted to meet up with, amongst others, Mrs Rose (PE teacher), James Plunkett-Cole, Alice Le Quesne, Denise Rogers and her cousin and the Rubino sisters.

It was fascinating reading the letters from some of the pupils that could not come along and seeing old photos.

Alice and I may try to arrange a mini get-together with pupils from the 70's and 80's next summer, and we will put details of that up on this site.

So do keep sending your details to this site and to Sue Nicholson-Lailey (see below) as we will contact people from our era on there.

Many thanks to Sue and the organisers for such a great evening.

Tracy, Nic, Tim and Jeannie Wall. (Pupils from 70-80's and our Mum taught swimming during that time.)

Tracy Wall - 22/10/06 [Yahoo group member]

I have very fond memories of the school, with wonderful teachers from Sister Mary Imelda, Mrs Baxter, Mrs Rose, Mrs Cook-Fox, Mrs Fallows and I can remember being quite scared of the last Head Mistress Sister Lise who was very strict. I used to love running up the big old stair case, but if you were caught there was trouble, making dens in the school playing fields, playing British Bulldogs in the playground until that was banned and deemed to dangerous, what a shame. I have just heard about the reunion but unfortunately 4 days to late, but reading the article in the paper and seeing my old school photo, what a bad hair cut, it has bought all those wonderful times back.

Julie Hembrow - 20/10/06

A big thankyou to all who attended the reunion on Saturday evening. It was lovely to see you all and I hope you enjoyed catching up with each other. It would be lovely to have some feed back from you. We did send out over 400 invitations but feel that a lot of people had moved in the seven years since the last one. We would welcome some volunteers who would be willing to try and find people relevant to their era. We could then compile a more accurate and updated list for the future. Please contact this website, they will pass your message on to us.

Sue Nicholson-Lailey - 16/10/06 [Yahoo group member]

Several people on the website make mention of the school bell. I dont know if you know that it is now in my possession given to me by the late Sister Frances Theresa for safe keeping and for use/display on suitable occasions. It is used every pilgrimage on the altar in memory of the sisters and their time here. I will take a pic and send it you when the weather clears enough to get a decent daylight shot.

Others mention the Silver Jubilee plate which the PTA, of the time of which I was a ctte member, got made for us by a local potter. I have one and likewise can get a pic for you.

Lastly, when the PTA built the extension to the hall - I was chairman and was responsible for the design and some of the construction work. We got parents to sponsor the building by buying a brick and we stuck the labels with their names on their brick before using it. When the building was knocked down the builders very kindly rescued as many of the stickers as they could and our daughter now has them in safe keeping.

Hope the foregoing may be of interest

Doug Forbes - 16/10/06

My mother Mary Alves (1916 to 2005) was at the convent in, I now realise, its very early years. She wasn't Catholic but lived very near the school in Abbey Road and, bieng a child of some spirit, refused to go to elmhirst like her brothers and cousins but insisted on going to the convent. I imagine that was in about 1927. Sadly, her mother died in 1929 and the family moved from Glastonbury in 1930, so she left the school then.

She had very fond memories of her school days and of the nuns. A nun called Sister Josephine was particularly fond of her and as she was dying asked to see her, so Mummy was taken into the nuns' 'quarters' to visit her.

She also remembers the nuns playing cricket with them and picking up their skirts to run.

I have a piece of embroidery that the nuns did for my grandfather to thank him for something he had done for the school, and I may have a certificate. When they surface again I will send photos to the site.

My mother was a very fine needlewoman and always boasted of her 'convent darns'!

Caroline Hannan - 12/10/06

I can remember Mr. Cartwright teaching History when I was in Sen 1 and Sen 2. Also the singing teacher when we performed the Mikado and Pirates of Penzance: Mrs Ruth Thurgour or something like that.

Janie Ashdown (nee Sharp) - 18/08/06

I was at the convent from 1945 until 1952. I remember in 1947, Mother Patricia went to Bristol University and got a degree. I will get in contact with some other former pupils and will see if I can find any photos.

Judith - 28/03/06

Here are some of my memories but don't hold me to them as twas along time ago:

• bean bag races
• the boys toilets which I think were blue and the girls pink (correct me if wrong)
• Black pumps.
• Mrs Baxter and my first day at school
• Sister Veronica who didn't seem to appreciate troublesome boys with grazed knees like me
• I was never in Mrs Fallows class but she had a certain 'rep'!
• Mrs Smith was lovely.
• We were non-catholics and had to say separate prayers. I think there was a small group of us non-catholics and we didn't participate in much of the chapel activity that went on. We didn't really understand why we were 'different' then. At prayers there was a big circle of catholic children and a small circle of non-catholic children. We only had to remember the Lords Prayer I think which was a definite plus.
• I remember we couldn't really afford the school fees which I think were about Ł86 for a term (again correct me if wrong). Couldn't really afford the trips to Cricket St Thomas either but fortunately managed to go on them somehow
• We were a single parent family then (my mum and three kids) and I think maybe that was taken into consideration by the headmistress at times!
• I was fond of an older girl called Susan. I can't remember her surname but I remember seeing her some years later at Wookey swimming pool which is another place from a bygone era I guess.
• Sister Pauline was really nice and used to give me a treat if I helped her to carry the rounders bats. I thought I was her favourite but she was so nice and I probably wasn't alone in thinking this!
• I remember being quite good at Netball which I never told the kids at St Benedicts when I moved on there for obvious reasons. In fact, I took a fair bit of stick when I went to St Bendicts (I was called 'Convent Boy'). Fortunately, the convent experience of some of the older boys (and one or two nuns) there had toughened me up.
• The big field in Summer was another world. I remember making dens and passages in the nettles and also some kind of dereclict bandstand or something. The Jubilee party of 1977 too. I think my mum has still got the plate they gave us.
• I think I was in a football team run by Mr Barlowe (Brendan's dad) but that might have been the cubs. Not sure.
• The uniform and peaked cap were great. But I do remember being envious of the boys who had long trousers in Winter!
• Girls doing headstands against the concrete wall and the boys kicking a football against it.
• I think it was Sister Mary Imelda whose class I went into after Mrs Baxter and I think it was her showing our class the pictures from the 1970s Mars space probe which got me into my early fascination with space!!!!
• The bell
• The huge (then) playground which we had to measure for class and I believe was 33metres in length or something like that! Why on earth do I remember that!
• Conker trees in the big field but don't think we were allowed in it in Autumn when they fell.
• Sam Earner's mum used to let me and Sam into the Cinema for free and gave us treats to take in
• Jonathan Witney's dad used to run the telly shop next to the school.

Jim Plunkett-Cole - 27/03/06

Just discovered your web page, really great, have been looking at the landscape photos and recognise lots of people. Have also been looking at the messages. In my class were Tracey Hector, Lynette Bird, Sally Pritchard, Jane Close, Denise Grey, Annette Malone, Casssie Edwards and Carol Baker. I would love to hear from any of these people and see how they are doing now that we are all in our forties, or anyone who went to the convent between 1970-1979.

I remember sister Veronica the most; we use to let her chase us behind the hedge which use to run alongside the school hall.

My brother David Tatchell also attended between 1962 and 1968.

Susan Tatchell now Dawson - 06/03/06

Thank you for your letter of 18th January 2006. It was interesting to hear of the website for past pupils. I can answer a few of your questions but am not really in a position to answer all your queries.

The stature of Our Lady which was in the Convent chapel in Glastonbury is now in Richmond. Richmond is our main convent in England. Tolworth is the smaller of the two convents. All the other communities in England have closed. The English Sisters are now part of the much larger French Province.

I do not know what happened to the long school photographs, which were hanging on the stairs at Glastonbury. There was an auction of furniture etc when the school was sold so maybe there were sold in lots with the other items. I do not know.

Two of the former head teachers of the school are still living. Sr. Elizabeth Emett is living in our community in Richmond and Sr Lise Barbeau who is living in a community in Montreal Canada. Other former head teachers of the school include Sr. Aimee Le Claire and Sr.Patricia O'Farrell. Other former teachers at the school include Sr. Eugenie Woods, Sr. Joseph, Sr. Ignatius, Sr. Annunciata, Sr. Frances Theresa and many others. The sisters who worked in the school and who are still alive are Sr. Maria Goretti Grimes, Sr. Pauline 0'Sullivan, (Richmond) Sr. Margaret Dillane (Tolworth) Sr. Francine Renaud (Canada) Sr Denise Levesque (South America).

Unfortunately as you downsize it becomes more difficult to keep photographic records etc so I have checked with Richmond and we do not have any really relevant photographs. I am sure past pupils will provide you with many of these. If I do come across some I will let you have them.

I wish you well with the project and trust it is a means of putting past pupils back in touch.

Sr. Josephine Goggin (Tolworth Convent, Surrey) - 19/01/06

This is a great site, well done for getting it together.

I attended the convent in the 1970's with my older twin brothers, Nic and Tim Wall.

I enjoyed my time there and had some lovely teachers.

Some things I remember are; the smell of cabbage down the long corridor to the kitchens, egg and spoon and sack races on sports days, trips to Cricket St Thomas, pupils fainting in assembly, the picture of a hanging Abbot Whiting on the main stairs, discovering a room full of sanitory towels when we thought nuns didn't have periods, having to choose the "Best Looking Boy And Girl" in our class at a party, winning Best Girl Disco Dancer (I think Samuel Earner won Best Boy Disco Dancer) at a christmas party for doing some "Grease" inspired moves, going out on the balcony at the front of the school, getting excited at seeing Tor Fair over the field fence, making camps in the long grass and being dared to run around the back of the alter, dressing up for the nativity plays, Sister Mary Imelda nodding at her desk, Mrs Smith being able to double cross her legs, Mrs Fallows clicking her heels in assembly, Sister Pauline (?) running around the playground with skirt and veil flowing behind blowing a whistle...

I also did Irish dancing and will send in a photo from 1976 after we competed at The Highbridge Festival along with some other pics.

Does anyone know what has happened to the old school bell?

Tracy Wall - 05/01/06 [Yahoo group member]

(The photos can be found on the St Louis Then page.)

Please find attached scans from St Mary's silver jubilee book (1966) as promised.

David - 15/12/05 [Yahoo group member]

(We have uploaded a photograph from David's scans and have updated parts of the history page.)

I have some photos of my time at St Louis and two long photos of year 1973 and 1977.

Felicity - 18/11/05

I have so many memories of the Convent. I remember being allowed into the back field in the summer and making camps in the stinging nettles in the sides of it and receiving a plate for the 1977 jubilee. I also remember the the candlelight walk in the Christmas carol service and saying a prayer every time an ambulance went past. This is a great website, particularly with all the changes going on.

Tim Wall - 29/11/05

The best time I had was doing Irish dancing with St Mary Imelda.

Felicity - 18/11/05

I started in 1956 when Mother Aimee was Headmistress! I loved my school days at the Convent. This is fantastic to read; I will try and find some photos which I think are in the loft! I have forwarded to quite a few fellow ex pupils.

Debbie - 12/10/05

Here are some old convent photos from the early 50's for the website.

Veronica

Have managed to find two photos that may be of interest for the St Louis web site, I am unable to confirm the exact date but both are from the very early fifties.

Janet - 30/09/05

They say that they are the best days of your life, they were right. Would do it all over again, tomorrow.

Simon - 30/09/05

Just to say I was thrilled to find Remembering St Louis and have been busy trying to find old school photographs which I will scan and send to you. I hope lots of old pupils will find this site interesting and get in touch, good luck.

Janet - 29/09/05

I have a school photo of the year of 1977 (or 78) which if I can find in the attic I would be happy to let you borrow to put on the site. I will come back to you on this when I next venture up there.

I shall be sure to visit the site on a regular basis and will be spreading the word to those ex convent girls I see.

Verity - 28/09/05

I was at the Convent in the late 50s and early 60s. I remember some teachers and nuns - Sister Eugenie, Mother Aimee, Sister Veronica, Miss Meehan and Mrs Rowe.

I remember the concerts in the hall. I didn't like the warm milk we used to have to drink in winter; they used to heat it on the radiators!!

I will revisit this site to see what else has been added.

Frank - 27/09/05 [Yahoo group member]

I saw the article in the Local Paper and thought it was a great idea. Sad to see so few have logged on but maybe as word gets round.

Ah memories, of Mother Aimee, Sister Patricia, Sister Elizabeth and of course (for those of my era) Mrs Fallows and the very gentle Mrs Smith. It was a wonderful (in hindsight) time despite the rather limited subjects available and Im sure that the times spent at St Louis are on the whole remembered with fondness by most ex-pupils. I will be back to see who else has logged on very soon.

Verity - 26/09/05

It's lovely to see these images of such a great school - the memories (mostly good) come flooding back.

It was such a shame when the convent shut and now an even greater shame that the site is changing. Will the original main buildings remain and be re-furbished or are the developers intending to start again from scratch? - I do hope not.

Nice to see the photo of Father MacNamara, my favourite priest ever!

Can you spot me in the front row of the 1961 photo - if you recognise me - do get in touch. Thanks for this site - much appreciated.

David Davies - 26/09/05 [Yahoo group member]

I was only a pupil at St. Louis until I was 11 when I transferred to the Convent at Shepton Mallet. It is very sad to see the old buildings being demolished/changed. I remember the tramps coming to the kitchen to be fed and us children peering around the corner at them. I also remember Sister Annunziata (who had a bad leg and was often short-tempered!!) Sister Eugene, and Sister Aimee (she didn't like me very much).

The Litchfield girls are well remembered also, and my husband and I are in touch with Bridget who is now Prioress of a Carmelite Monastery in Yorkshire. (Her sister Marie is also head of a Carmelite House also in Yorkshire). Then there was Miss Mansfield. Some of the pupils at that time were Brendan Batty, the Doolan Sisters, Andrew Bunbury, Peter Curtis, Gavin Poyntz-Wright (now my brother-in-law).

Would love to hear from any one who was there when I was!

Margaret Hitchcock - 23/09/05

I feel terribly sad the the convent is being demolished. I feel privileged to have gone to school there.

I remember Sister Veronica as a tiny little lady who could be a bit scary sometimes. And Sister Eugane was just the sweetest lady. I also remember Sister Elizabeth and her fabled slipper though I never saw it!

The back of the alter was a scary place - only ventured there once or twice. And playing in the newly mowed grass in the field was fun. I also remember sports days and the various types of races, particularly the mothers races.

This site is lovely - my memories are flooding back.

Sally - 22/09/05 [Yahoo group member]

I have a school photo from 1984 and one from around 1976 if you would like them.

Victoria - 22/09/05

What an interesting website! It brought back many memories - not all of them happy! It was good to see the 1969 school photo again. I have a copy but it's in the loft and hasn't seen the light of day for years. I have told other past pupils about this site too. Congratulations on creating this website.

Brenda - 22/09/05