E- Mail:- brooksfm@talk21.com
Telephone:- 01202 421615

Dear Friends,

As the first year of the new century and Millennium draws to a close we thank God for all the blessings that we have and commend to His mercy all the personal difficulties and unhappiness in our lives and around the world. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ may we be granted joy and peace.

One of the great pleasures of this year was our special annual reunion in July, The turnout of past pupils and former members of staff exceeded our expectations. Thank you for responding so well to the request that we should be informed if you hoped to attend, it made the organisation so much easier.

We have received many expressions of thanks for the day, we are grateful for them; our reward is the knowledge that so many people were able to meet and renew old friendships, through our efforts. Read on to see who was present, correspondence from some who could not be there and thoughts and impressions of the day.

Please share with us news of past pupils, with whom you are in touch, so that we can print it in our newsletters, which are written in October/November for Christmas, and April/May before the annual reunion, which is the 1st Sunday in July.

Val Kenyon (Daniells), who usually types the newsletter for us, is having computer problems so Joanna Crane (Bialobrzeska) has kindly stepped into the breach and typed it for us.

We are very grateful to her and to Rosanna Jones (Bredda) who prints the newsletter, through the kind co-operation of Paul Gillings, Headmaster of St Thomas Garnet's school.

With every best wish for Christmas, the New Year and always.

Yours sincerely,

Mary Brooks (Browning)

A message from our President, Treasurer and Secretary

I would like to say thank you to everyone who came to the reunion 2000. It was quite wonderful to see so many past pupils and former members of staff chatting together so happily.

I have just one regret, or perhaps I should say dozens of regrets; when I went through the list of names of those who attended I kept saying "Oh, I wish that I had seen her," so many that I had not spotted at all, but I worked out that to see everyone during the day we would each have had to speak to two people every 3 minutes - impossible.

Never mind, next time perhaps - Sunday 1st July 2001.

With every best wish for Christmas 2000 and always. Jean Walsh (Hughes)

I too regret the missed opportunities to meet and speak with old friends but everyone seems to have enjoyed the day very much. We were so fortunate to have a fine day so that some of the crowd could move out on to the field and into the marquee.

Mary Brooks

On your behalf I would like to thank Paul Gillings, past pupil and Headmaster of St Thomas Garnet's School, for allowing us to use the hall and field and for permitting those who wished to go round the school.

The Committee joins me in thanking all the helpers who gave their time and energies on Saturday evening and on the Sunday itself before, during and after the reunion. While they were too numerous to mention each one individually I feel that a few deserve a special thank you.

Norman Simpson, husband of Margaret, who helped on the Saturday and all day on Sunday, nothing was too much trouble.

My husband Frank Brooks, was there on Saturday, early Sunday, he provided flowers from his garden too, and after the reunion, Chris Lane, husband of Catherine did a lot of the heavy work on Saturday evening.

Their daughter Marianne was a great help in the kitchen on Sunday. Linda Hooper (Herbert's) husband provided the display boards and St Peter's Past Pupils lent their cups and saucers. We are very grateful.

The kitchen was manned all day, copious amounts of tea, coffee and squash were served. Thanks to all of you for helping to make the day such a success.

The two highlights of the day were the Mass in Corpus Christi church and the tour of the former Convent. The mass was a wonderful experience, a real celebration of our lives as pupils of the Convent. We have had so many expressions of appreciation.

The atmosphere in the church was almost tangible. Fr Gerard Hughes SJ was the perfect celebrant reflecting the mood of the congregation, we are very grateful to him for sparing time from his busy schedule to be with us.

Peter Walsh served the mass. The singing was organised and led by Sister Marguerite Cowerd, a past pupil. So many people have commented on the beauty of the unaccompanied singing, some remarked that they could almost see Miss Gobell conducting from in front of a pillar!

The readings were chosen by Pam Brigden (Butler) and read by Margaret Simpson (Atkins) and Sister Catherine Reynall. Sister Ruth Mary Brown composed and read the Bidding Prayers, which were so well suited to the occasion.

We thank all those who contributed to such a happy occasion including Fr Michael Beattie S J, the Parish Priest of Corpus Christi Church.

Most people found the tour round the Convent an interesting, nostalgic experience but for some the changes were too painful. The chapel in particular caused distress to a few. Nevertheless it was an opportunity to relive old memories.

Helen Warrington (Bond) wrote:-
"The tour of the Convent seemed to be a great success, it was funny to see the same doorknobs and flooring in the washrooms. Nice that the chapel is being utilized for higher learning and that the beautiful marble is still there.

I found it quite a thrill after 50 years to go up the stairs we were NEVER allowed to set foot on because they led to forbidden territory!"

We have two articles written by past pupils which I am sure you will appreciate: