Robin and Jean Walsh (Hughes) celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary on 11th April, a wonderful achievement. The Association sent a card and had a Mass said for their intentions, at the church in Sidmouth. We also presented Jean with a beautiful floral arrangement, which was created for them by Margaret Simpson (Atkins). On the 20th April there was a celebration for family and some 5 friends. Those of us who were invited felt very honoured to be included in this very happy family occasion.

Mass was celebrated in the Church of The Most Precious Blood, Sidmouth at midday, by Fr. Gerard Hughes S.J., Jean's cousin, assisted by the Parish Priest Fr. Kilgarriff. Those of you who were at the 2000 Reunion Mass will remember that Fr. Hughes celebrated that Mass for us too. The reading; hymns and Mass booklet were organized by Peter Walsh. All the family took part in the service; the grandchildren read the Bidding Prayers and the four little great grandchildren recited to their great grandparents. The music was provided by Michelle, who is Antony's wife, on her keyboard.

Afterwards we enjoyed a splendid buffet lunch in the church hall. The family group was complete. Michael, Jenny (Johnson) and their children: Robert, his wife Liz and their daughters Megan and Milly: Tammy and her two, Henri and Marianne came from France, husband Sebastian couldn't get time off work. Antony is married to Michelle, and Phillip, who is at Loughborough University, with his girl friend Helene. Peter and Beryl with Nicola who is married to Charlie; Timothy and Craig. Angela; Anne Kahts (Hughes) and her son Bruce. Robin's sister Megan and his niece were there too.

Sister May travelled from the Isle of Wight; Sister Kathleen Garrod from London and Sister Catherine Reynell from Bournemouth went together. Margaret and Norman Simpson and Frank and Mary Brooks represented the Past Pupils Association.

Jean has sent her thanks to you all:

"Robin and Jean Walsh (Hughes) wish to thank the Association most sincerely for the Mass that is being said in Sidmouth for their intentions. It was most kind and thoughtful of you all and we very much appreciate it. On April 17th I attended the Past Pupils Committee meeting, and what a lovely surprise I had - I was given a most beautiful arrangement of flowers from the Past Pupils, arranged by Margaret Simpson (Atkins). It is really lovely; thank you once more. It is now April 30`h as I write this and the flowers are still looking as they did on 17th a joy to behold. Jean Walsh. "

Congratulations to Geraldine Nicholls (Mahy), who celebrated her 80th birthday in April. Several people in the parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace became octogenarians about the same time, Betty Savory cooked them a lovely meal to celebrate.

On 12th January Father Peter Hackett S.J. celebrated 60 years with the Jesuits. An invited congregation, representative of much of Peter's life, was welcomed to Mass in the Presbytery Chapel at Corpus Christi. St. Peter's Past Pupils' Association was represented by some of the other founder members, who began their education there in 1936.

Jimmy and Jane O'Brien (Thurgood) were there, Peter's first Nuptial couple; Jimmy grew up opposite the Hackett family in Woodside Road. After Mass the Jesuit community entertained the guests to a buffet lunch. Father Tom Smalley was present at the Mass: Fathers Tom and John (now deceased) Smalley were little boys at Boscombe Convent when former President of the Association, the late Mrs Rita Browning was a senior girl there!

Congratulations to Lionel and Anne Shotlander (Spicer) who celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary last Autumn.

Michael and Deirdre Foster (Cricks) were delighted to welcome their 8th grandchild on 14th February, when a daughter was born to Paul and Alison. They now have 4 grandsons and 4 grand-daughters.

Pam Blake (Kennard) was thrilled when their Valentine's Day baby was a girl. After 6 grandsons Pam has a lovely grand daughter, Emilia.

"I would like to thank the Association for the lovely basket arrangement of flowers which Margaret Simpson delivered to me on your behalf, for my 70th birthday, last February. They lasted for a long time and were beautifully chosen and arranged.
Mary Brooks (Browning)"

Sadly we have several obituaries to bring to your notice in this edition of the Newsletter. We send sympathy and the promise of prayers to all the families and friends whose dear ones have died.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE
In March we learned of the death of Jacqueline Tryska (Pelosi). The Requiem Mass was said in Corpus Christi Church on 13th March. Our sympathies were sent to her family; daughters Christina Montagma (Tryska). Diane Kerr (Tryska) sons Peter and Jan and Jackie's half sisters Vivienne Stasi (Pelosi) and Anna Morns (Pelosi); and her grandchildren. Jackie had been very ill since the end of October. Jackie had worked at the old Boscombe Hospital in Shelley Road for many years. Christina Montagna taught at St. Walburga's School, at one time.

On 7th March Margaret Kaluza died. Margaret was the mother of Annette. Margaret. Kathleen and Vincent, and the aunt of Anne Winiecki. The Requiem Mass was held in Corpus Christi Church on 14th March. Many old friends of the family attended the funeral. The sympathy of the Association was sent to the family.

We were sad to hear of the tragic death of Brett O'Brien, grandson of Jimmy and Jane O'Brien (Thurgood); it was an added sorrow that it occurred very close to the anniversary of the death of their son Mark.

Sean Walsh received a letter from Maureen Cole (Vail) in which she told of the death of her mother, last November. Mrs Vail had suffered since 1991 and had lived in a Nursing Home. Her funeral was in Wimborne and the family were greatly comforted by Fr. Michael of St. Joseph's Church. We extend our sympathy to Maureen and Kathy; we hope to see them at the July Reunion.

Mary Hesp (Murphy) died on April 21st after a very long illness; mother of William. Catherine and Ann. The funeral was held at St. Thomas More Church, Iford. Several Past Pupils were among the congregation.

Margaret Simpson heard that Christine ... ... had has been widowed, in America. Christine has an older sister, Patricia who was also at the Convent.

We were sorry to hear that Clare Troman had died suddenly, during April.

Barbara, the daughter of Anne Kahts (Hughes), was killed in a car accident in South Africa on 2nd May.

Many of you who have associations with St. Peter's School will be saddened to hear of the death on 18th March of John McKinney, husband of Ann (Carpenter) and father of Tommy. Oonagh. Jonathan and Helene and brother of Deirdre and Niall. Those of you who went from the Convent to St. Peter's School will have known him as the Art teacher and a leading light in theatrical productions, not only for the stunning sets which he created but also as a performer. Those who had children at the school will have known the benefit of the teaching of both Ann and John.

He had suffered many years of pain and illness now he is freed from it. We pray for Ann, their children and grandchildren. The church of St. Thomas More at Iford was packed for the Requiem Mass, so many people wished to pay tribute to John and to give their support to Ann and the family. The Association had a Mass said for the repose of the soul of John, at St. Thomas More Church.

We are sorry to announce the deaths of the following people and send our sympathy to their relatives and friends. Margaret Stead (Hitchcock) died on 8th July 2002, peacefully after a short illness. The Requiem Mass was held at St. Bernadette's Church, Ensbury Park, Bournemouth. Malcolm Brigden, who died on 1st October 2002, the husband of Pamela (Butler) and stepfather of Jackie Perry (Morris) and Katie McKendrick (Morris).

The church of the Sacred Heart in Bournemouth was full for the Requiem Mass on 8th October. Several Past Pupils were present including Betty Needham (Mason) and her husband, who had travelled from Norfolk; a great comfort to Pam. The Association had a Mass offered for the repose of the soul of Malcolm. For many years Pam was an active member of the committee, and Chairman for some of that time. Meetings were held at their home and Malcolm always made us very welcome.

Jean Walsh (Hughes) has written the following:- "We are very sorry to announce the sudden death of Mary Walsh on October 14th at Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil Wales. Many of you will have known Mary as Miss Walsh, the P. E. teacher at the Convent during the war years. Jean Hughes, also a member of staff, and Mary struck up a friendship and did many things together during those dark years.

Mrs Norah Ventham, the mother of Noreen Cassidy (Ventham) and mother-in-law of Geraldine Ventham (Jolliffe) died at the age of 92, at the end of July. The funeral took place at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Southbourne.

It was a great shock to learn of the sudden death of Theresa Connolly, on Easter Sunday. Theresa had a fall on the Saturday, which resulted in a badly broken arm. Three of their sons were with them to celebrate Easter and their father, Terry's birthday, which was the same day. During the afternoon Theresa felt unwell, sat down and died.

Theresa taught at the Convent from 1967 to 1978, when she went to St. Peter's School until 1989: so many of you have memories of Theresa's wonderful personality and of her teaching. It was difficult to inform people about the funeral arrangements, nevertheless St. Thomas More Church was packed on Saturday April 6th for a very moving Requiem Mass. Members of the family took part in the readings and bidding prayers. Theresa and Terry's five sons and the grandchildren all participated.

So many lives were touched by Theresa through the church, her hospital visiting, her teaching and her whole life.

Here are a few memories.

Maria Crane writes: "Mrs Connolly was a wonderful and inspiring teacher, who always managed to get us children singing our hearts out on the coldest and dreariest of morning assemblies. I will in particular always remember walking home with a friend on a dark and spook4 night; we were beginning to feel frightened but when we remembered Mrs Connolly singing `Walk With Me Oh My Lord,' in her enthusiastic way we too began singing at top of our voices and our fears vanished and we made it home safely! "

Deirdre Magee writes:

"As a junior colleague of Theresa Connolly, in the last years of Boscombe Convent, 1 cherish the memory of her great generosity of spirit, which was always joyful and professional as well as practical and maternal. "

Helen Watkins (O'Brien), 1975-1980 wrote:

"Theresa taught at Boscombe Convent from 1967 to 1978. She taught me French during my time at the Convent in the late 1970's and led our exchange trip to Paris in the 3rd year. This was an enormously fun trip, though I'm not sure how much our French improved in that week! Mrs Connolly always brought huge enthusiasm and humour to the class, never allowing the back row to hide hopefully behind their desk lids.

I remember chanting out verb tables, then suddenly she would whirl round and point the finger, and some poor soul would have to attempt a mini conversation, `friends " either side nudging and smirking helpfully.

On the exchange trip she was our "mum " for the week. There was panic at the last moment when it appeared that one girl had missed the train from Paris to Le Havre, and Mrs Connolly ran up and down the train frantically until the girl was found, having been put by her host family into the wrong carriage! I was very sad to learn of Mrs Connolly's untimely death, and am sure that Convent pupils will remember her with affection. "

The Association sent a message of sympathy to Terry and the family, we also had a Mass offered for the repose of the soul of Theresa, at St. Thomas More Church. Many Past Pupils and former members of staff attended the Requiem Mass, including Sister May, who came from the Isle of Wight.