On June 29th some of you may have heard FRAN GODFREY'S comment about the forthcoming reunion of her former school, the Convent in Boscombe, on her Radio 2 programme. She and Terry Wogan had a little chat about it The venue, St Thomas Garnet's School was mentioned and ROSANNA JONES (BREDDA), the secretary at the school, had some 'phone calls with enquiries.

Rosanna was able to give the callers my 'phone number and contact was made by SHIRLEY MORRIS (GOLDSMITH) 1952-'57 and SHARON WHITEHEAD (SIBSON), who left in 1972,and now lives in Wetherby, Yorkshire.

Having found the website, which delighted her with the wealth of information, nostalgia and memories, she e-mailed me too. Sharon sent love to SISTER BERNARDINE and asked for news of SISTER MARY KEYES.

She was pleased to hear about SISTER PATRICIA (MACKENZIE) at the Carmelite Convent in Wetherby. SHIRLEY MORRIS (GOLDSMITH) came to the reunion and brought photocopies of the long School Photos for 1955 & 1957, which she kindly gave to anyone who wanted them. I still have one copy of the 1957 group.

FRAN'S 'spontaneous' discussion about our reunion was inspired by an e-mail from MARGARET SIMPSON (ATKINS) asking her to try to introduce the subject, which Fran did so skilfully. We are very grateful to FRAN for the wonderful publicity and would love to see her one day.

Meanwhile, judging by the number of Past Pupils who contacted us to ask if we had heard her programme it is very popular with them. It was a great pleasure to have our President JEAN WALSH (HUGHES), with us, thanks to daughter ANGIE.

After so many years Jean has finally handed over the work of Treasurer, regretfully she has realised that her deteriorating eye-sight makes it too difficult to carry on with the task.

We thanked JEAN very sincerely for all her hard work over the years, without it and her inspiration I don't think we would still have a thriving Association. We presented a floral tribute to Jean, once again arranged by our expert in all matters floral, MARGARET SiMPSON (ATKINS).

Of course as our President Jean is as fully committed interested in the association as she has always been. CHRISTINE BROCKLEHURST (PLACE) has taken on the work as Treasurer and was kept busy at the reunion taking subscriptions, STILL ONLY £4.00 A YEAR!

We are very fortunate in having such a competent successor to Jean. Thank you Christine. MARGARET SIMPSON has taken on the organisation of the Christmas Hamper, for which we are very grateful.

MAKE A NOTE IN YOUR DIARIES NOW, THE NEXT REUNION WILL BE ON THE FIRST SUNDAY IN JULY, the 3rd, 2005.

JEAN WALSH (HUGHES), our President, sent the following:-

* I am writing to thank you all for your good wishes on my retirement from the office of Treasurer of the Past Pupils' Association, and for the beautiful arrangement of flowers which was given to me at the Re-union in July; it was indeed very kind of you.

I shall look forward to reading news of you all in future news so do please keep on writing in with family news, careers, holidays and special anniversaries.

A Happy Christmas and God bless you ail.

Jean Walsh"

SISTER RUTH MARY BROWN keeps me informed with any news. Now that the British Congregation is part of the European Province journeys to and from Europe for meetings are necessary and Sr. Ruth is often part of the group to attend these gatherings.

She is also kept busy with Parish and Diocesan work as well as her commitments at Oaklands School. Unfortunately Sister Ruth had a fall recently; returning to her car in the church car park after a meeting she stumbled over some scaffolding which had been left lying around by the builders, who were working on church repairs.

Her injuries could have been much worse but she sustained considerable damage to her mouth and teeth and suffered facial contusions. We hope that you will soon be fully recovered, Sister Ruth.

She has recently had news of former pupil, DRIANA WYBOURNE, who was at the Convent in the 1960s, when Sister Ruth was teaching there. Driana is now Sister Catherine, with the Benedictine Sisters (Stanbrook), at St. Mary's, East Hendred, Oxfordshire. Sister Ruth remembers Driana as an excellent, very hardworking pupil.

While attending a Diocesan Conference Sr. Ruth met Fr. Anthony Pennicott, until recently Parish Priest at The Annunciation Church, Charminster Road, Bournemouth, now at The Sacred Heart Church, Richmond Hill, Bournemouth.

They enjoyed talking about the area, which Sr. Ruth remembers from her childhood; she was a pupil at St. Walburga's School before she went to the Convent.

At the reunion we were very conscious of the absence of SISTER CATHERINE REYNELL. Sister Catherine had been ill for some time and she died on 11th July 2004. JEAN WALSH (HUGHES) had managed to visit Sister Catherine, when they were in Boscombe for the reunion.

The Requiem Mass was held at Corpus Christ! Church on 20th July; several of the Handmaids were present from various Convents. Sister Margaret Scott, The Provincial, was present and Sisters Bernardine, Rosa and Kathleen Garrod came from London and Sisters Frances, Irene, Sophia and Norah Birch, who are at the local Handmaids' Convent were there too.

It was a lovely Mass, a fitting tribute to Sister Catherine; her brother Fr. Michael Reynell, and Fr. John Dunne from the Southbourne church of Our Lady Queen of Peace were concelebrants with Fr. Michael Beattie, the Parish Priest.

Members of her family were present too. Sister Catherine was originally a nurse then she trained as a Primary School teacher and became a Handmaid. The Convent at Beckenham in Kent had benefited from Sister Catherine's teaching for many years and some old friends from those days came to her Requiem Mass.

Some of our Association members also attended the Requiem Mass. The burial took place in the area of the Highcliffe cemetery which is for members of the Congregation of The Handmaids of The Sacred Heart.

Although she did not teach at The Boscombe Convent, ever since her arrival here as Superior at the Handmaids Convent, Sister Catherine always took a great interest in the Past Pupils' Association, attended our reunions and became a good friend to many of us, most especially to Jean Walsh. We miss her very much. May she Rest in Peace.

SISTER MARGARET SCOTT has completed her term of office as Provincial and is now in America. The new Provincial is SISTER PATRICIA LYNCH.

A pupil from the Beckenham Convent found the website and made contact, we were able to put her in touch with SISTER FRANCES, who remembered her. They hope to meet soon.