The big news from our local community of The Handmaids of the Sacred Heart is that they are moving house. They will be living at 6 Parkwood Road. This will enable them to walk over to Corpus Christi church. Sister Irene is the sacristan there so spends a great deal of time at the church.

At the moment the new convent is being completely refurbished so it is doubtful that the move will take place before Christmas. We wish them every happiness in their new home.

In February the General Congregation, a meeting held every five years, will take place in Rome. Sister Margaret will be attending. The General Congregation lasts about 6 weeks. Following that Sister Bernardine will return from Rome to become Superior in London. Sister Kathleen Garrod will retire from her position as Superior in London but will remain as Provincial Bursar.

Sister Mary Corr, Head of St. Christina, the school in London, will move to Dublin as Superior; there will be a lay head teacher in the London school. Sister Marearet Cash has retired as Superior in Beckenham, Sister Eileen O'Neill is the new Superior there.

The announcement was seen in The Bournemouth Echo of the death of Barbara Hartley (Vick). Barbara and her sister Frances both were pupils at the Convent.

Berenice Smedley (Weston-Burt) died on July 9th 2001, aged 82. Berenice taught at the Convent for 12 years, in the 1940s and '50s. I am sure that many past pupils from that era remember her as an excellent teacher and a considerate, kindly person.

The Requiem Mass was at the church of Our Lady Immaculate, Westbourne. Berenice's son Michael. who attended the Convent as a young pupil and is now a doctor, and his son took part in the readings and Michael spoke about his mother. Her husband, Walter Smedley, formerly Chief Education Officer for Bournemouth, also spoke about the wife for whom he had cared so devotedly during her later years.

Maureen Barrett (McCormick), Christine Thackray (Browning), Frank and Mary Brooks (Browning) attended the Mass. Deirdre Foster (Crick) and her husband Michael had hoped to come in from Amesbury but were prevented from doing so at the last minute. Deirdre had kept in touch with Berenice over the years.

Our deepest sympathies were sent to Catriona Ross-Treacher and her sons James and Clayton on the very sudden death of husband and father Nicholas, on 27th July. The church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Southbourne was packed for the Requiem Mass.

Many past pupils were among the congregation of friends offering the support of their prayers. David and Jenny Bate (Shepherd) are among the staunch friends helping Catriona.

Margaret Simpson, (Atkins) met Christine Place's mother at church; Mrs Place told of the death of Liz Brocklehurst (Kelly). We do not know any details.

Margaret Mary Manning (Brown) died peacefully, in September, after several years of pa-in and illness. Sister Ruth Mary Brown was able to be with her, her brother-in-law and nieces and nephews when Margaret Mary died. Ruth stayed in Wells for three weeks to help the family with the practical and emotional needs which are part of such a sad occasion. There are 2 sons and 2 daughters and 13 grandchildren.

We had been praying for AnneMarie Redeliffe (Sedgewick) for a while before she died on 4th October 2001. The Mass for her was at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Southbourne. The church was full to overflowing with friends from her years at the convent, 1963-1975, and at St. Peter's School for her 6th Form years.

Past pupils and members of staff from both schools were present as well as the patients and friends who were part of her adult life as a dentist. At the Mass Anne Marie's 14-year-old daughter, Charlotte, spoke movingly about her mother and at the end stood on the sanctuary and sang "Amazing Grace."