We send our prayers and sympathy to the following people and to all former pupils and members of staff on the deaths of loved ones. May they rest in peace and may all who mourn be comforted.

To CATHERINE AVERY JONES (BOBBET) whose father died in December.

To the relations, parishioners and friends of Fr. THOMAS SMALLEY S.J. who died on 11th March in his 90th year.

Fr. TOM, together with his brother Fr. JOHN SMALLEY and his sister MARY all began their education at The Convent, they lived in Parkwood Road.

Corpus Christ! Church was full, on 18th March, for the concelebrated Requiem Mass for this much loved and highly respected priest

To RITA WALKER (BROWNING), her sons PETER AND JOLYON and their families and all BROWNING and other relations, on the death of JILL MARTIN (WALKER), who died on January 26th after an illness of 5 months, so bravely borne.

We remember especially JILL'S husband Antony and children Oliver, Emily Paul and Sophie and keep them always in our prayers. JILL was only 52 and I apologise to past pupil friends to whom this news will be a shock.

I e-mailed those for whom I have addresses, when Jill became ill, and CHRISTINE BROCKLEHURST (PLACE) got in touch with as many as she was able. The funeral was held in beautiful Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire on 3rd February. The Church was filled with family and friends.

Past Pupil friends who travelled to celebrate JILL'S life were CHRISTINE BROCKLEHURST (PLACE), GERALDINE ELLIOT (PIDGEON) and her husband Steve, who had travelled from Portishead; MAIREAD MURPHY ((O'FRIEL), who flew over from Co. Wexford, Eire for the day; MARGARET BULLOCK (HYPHER) and her husband Richard from Swanage; MARGARET CAMPKIN (LEE) and her husband Peter from Sussex.

We thank MAIREAD MURPHY (nee O'FRIEL) who has sent us these memories of JILL.

"Bluebells for Love.
Jill Rosemary Martin (nee Walker)
11th June 1952 - 26th January 2005.
When asked to put a few thoughts together about one's best friend from school it is hard to be totally objective. Jill was my best friend so, apologies all round, our special friendship will be encapsulated in the following few paragraphs. Those of you blessed to have been counted among Jill's many friends will, naturally, have your own personal memories.

Royal blue was definitely Jill's colour. This was just as well as she, like the rest other Convent friends, was restricted to it throughout her school life. The strong, bold hue was an unforgiving backdrop for blondes and brunettes alike. Jill's luxurious titian locks tamed its brashness, making the harsh colour positively attractive.

During a reunion for our class of 1970, held at Christine and Richard Brocklehurst's beautiful home in July 2003, Jill told me she and Antony had bought a wood. Not actually attached to their new home, but down the road.

" In spring it's a carpet of bluebells. They're so beautiful. It's my favourite time." As she went on to describe the wood, her eyes took on that dreamy quality, so familiar from childhood conversations. Our class will remember struggling to come to terms with Shakespeare's 'A Winter's Tale' for 'A' Level English.

Jill, a true romantic, was particularly taken with Perdita, the lost princess. One day she confided to me that, when she had a daughter, her name would be Perdita and she hoped she would read English at University.

The years passed and Perdita became Emily. The choice of name may be different but Emily certainly encompasses Perdita's ethereal beauty and is currently in her final year reading English at the University of Birmingham, a source of pure delight for Jill.