CONGRATULATIONS
JEAN and ROBIN WALSH are happy to welcome two more great grandchildren. Tammy, the daughter of MICHAEL and JENNY WALSH(JOHNSON), had her 3rd child, Benjamin Mark.

He was born at the end of September, in France, where they live. Michael and Jenny's son Anthony and his wife had their 1st baby, Joseph Thomas, on 7th October. Congratulations to the parents, grandparents and great grandparents!

JOHN & GAY DONLEVY (BROWNING) continue to add to the population of Australia with a grand daughter, Imogen Luize, bom to their daughter Emma and Chris, in July. They now have 4 grandsons and 2 grand daughters, all under the age of four. What fun the cousins have together!

Congratulations to MARGARET SIMPSON (ATKINS), who took part in a flower arranging competition for the whole of Wessex and Jersey. It was held at Highcliffe Castle on 21st -24th October.

Margaret entered the "Rest Easy" Class and won the Silver Award. I have seen a photograph of her beautiful arrangement.

NEWS FROM PAST PUPILS
VERONICA HATCHARD (COOPE) wrote in with her subscription and gave us news of some other past pupils. VERONICA was at the Convent from about 1964T65 until 1974. She enjoyed her years there.

MOTHER WALLACE was head of the Junior School and MOTHER KEYES (Sister Mary) was the Headmistress & then SISTER BERNARDINE. Veronica thanked the Committee for their work with the Association. She lives in Southbourne and has two daughters, the eider of whom was married this year.

VERONICA is in touch with several school friends via Christmas mail and through them has news of others. VERONICA regularly sees LINDSEY BEVIS (MARTIN) & FRANCESCA RICHARDSON (HAMILTON).

CLARE GIBBS lives in Hong Kong and only comes home on occasional visits. Veronica's house backs on to the home of another, younger past pupil and an older one lives in the same road so, as she says, " we are about!"

VERONICA has a sister YVONNE, who is 4 years older than her, and a brother EDWARD, who went to St. Peter's School. He was mayor of Christchurch 10 years ago. Their father died just before Edward became mayor. Their mother died last February, missing the wedding of her first grandchild; we send our sympathy on the loss of your parents.

MARIE MORRIS (HUGGINS) also sent news with her subscription. She enjoys reading the newsletter and was pleased to read about FIONA JAKIELASZEK (COLLIE), who was in the same year at school.

MARIE is in contact with JENNIE PRENTICE and in fact took her family over to Spain to stay with JENNIE during last Autumn Half Term break. JENNIE sent them to see the Atocha Train station as part of "Jennie's Tours," as there is a wonderful tropical garden in the station foyer.

MARIE says how awful it was to see the news when the station was attacked. JENNIE comes over every summer; she is in contact with JANE FAULKNER, who is now in Barcelona.

MARIE has a busy life with her full time job and taxi-ing her sons to their social commitments; Paul is 16 and has just done his GCSE exams and Christopher is 14.

The family visit Bournemouth as often as they can, Marie's mother is a stalwart of Corpus Christi Parish; Marie sometimes meets past pupils at Mass there. At Easter she met BRIDGET NAGLE, who was in Bournemouth visiting her father who was ill.

Marie was unable to attend the reunion as Leicestershire Schools had not broken up and her sons were involved in functions. Marie says that she is enjoying the website, her sons were very amused by all her Junior School prizes- some of which are still on a bookshelf, somewhere!

New members, who joined at the reunion are:- SHIRLEY MORRIS (GOLDSMITH) 1952 - '57; PAULA WHATLEY (WHITTET) 1973 -'79; JO HENNESSY; MARY CRONIN 1973-'79; LIZ CANNING 1972 -'78.

MARY COLLIS - BIRD has joined , Mary's aunt, who lives in Bournemouth, is paying her subscription as Mary lives in Melbourne, Australia. Having found the website Mary contacted me previously and asked for news of SARAH WASS, JUDITH HANNEY, KATHLEEN KALUZA, JANE SCAMMELL, PIPPA EVANS, NIDA LUKE & MARY WALSH.

I was able to give her contact addresses for SARAH and JANE and also for SISTER RUTH, who MARY remembered with affection. MARY has been in Australia for 15/16 years and works for the Australian Broadcasting Company as a radio producer. Maybe a visit to her aunt may coincide with one of our reunions!

THERESA NICOL (BROOKS), was in Wales, at the end of September on a visit to the home of her brother ANTHONY; one day they went to another town and in a shop met a lady who turned out to be a Past Pupil, JOAN DAVIES (TUCKER).

Theresa took her address and I sent a letter and a copy of the May issue of the newsletter. I received a letter from JOAN with her subscription, she remembers, JOAN CLARKE, PAMELA WIGLEY, JOAN HOPKISS, BARBARA & RITA BROWNING, YVONNE PINDER, MILDRED SCOTT & JEAN NOBLE. GERALDINE NICHOLLS (MAHY), is looking out a photo which she is sure has JOAN in it, we will get a copy for her.

JOAN is going to ask grandchildren to find the website for her. Joan has been a widow for 51/2 years, having been married for 58 years. She has 3 sons, a daughter, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

When Joan left school a friend of her father's, " Keith Spicer, Tea & Coffee Merchant," was opening new offices in the Vernalls Buildings, 72 Holdenhurst Road and was in need of a Secretary /Bookeeper/ Repceptionist etc.

Joan was employed there earning 10/6 (ten shillings and sixpence) a week, she says that she felt like a millionaire!

JEAN NOBLE'S grandfather also joined the staff at Keith Spicer's! We look forward to hearing more of Joan's interesting life in the future.

Meanwhile THEA TURNER (HORSLEY) remembers Joan well; Thea lived in River Way and Joan in HurnWay, where KATHLEEN WILDRIDGE & JOAN REED also lived.

Joan may also remember YVONNE THIOLLIER. THEA does not remember how Joan got to school, she was taken by car but sometimes got a bus home and doesn't recall seeing Joan then. THEA was interested to hear that JOAN worked for Keith Spicer as she used to go riding with him on Saturdays.

They rode from stables at Longham and one time saw the then Prince of Wales there. THEA also remembers the Prince of Wales opening the new Iford Bridge. How interesting it would be if some of that generation could meet at a reunion!

MILDRED LATHERON (SCOTT), YVONNE PENN (HIOLLIER ^BARBARA TANNER (BROWNING) THEA TURNER(HORSLEY), GERALDINE NICHOLLS (MAHY) and perhaps JOAN DAVIES (TUCKER).