We welcome a new member, BARBARA EGGINTON (ADAMSON), who attended the Convent from 1931 to 1938. BARBARA did not think that there would be others of her age group who would remember her and was pleasantly surprised to find that we have several members of a similar age. Barbara's husband is a Catenian and whilst she was talking to the sisters of the President's wife she discovered the whereabouts of the former Religious of The Cross Community, 'phoned SISTER RUTH MARY BROWN, who was able to put Barbara in touch with me.

She kept in touch with BARBARA WATTON (JOHN) until her death last year and still hears from MARY MORTON (HENNESSY) at Christmas time. Looking at an old class photo Barbara recalled the names of,

MARGARET & BARBARA JOHN, CYNTHIA ARMSTRONG, JEAN NOBLE, THEA TURNER (HORSLEY),
JOAN DAVIES (TUCKER), MARGARET DALY, MARGARET SHOREMAN, YVONNE THIOLLIER,
MARGARET HITCHCOCK and YVONNE PINDER.

BARBARA is hoping to come to the Reunion this year so hopefully there will be some old friends present.

SISTER CATHERINE (DRIANA WYBOURNE) went to see SISTER RUTH, who had taught her at the Convent. SR. CATHERINE is the Prioress of a Benedictine Community in the North of the Portsmouth Diocese. They enjoyed reminiscing about happy days in Boscombe.

Sr. CATHERINE'S sister JANE WALDEGRAVE (WYBOURNE) lives in London where she has been searching for a school for her children which has a similar happy atmosphere to our Boscombe Convent in their days.

ELIZABETH NEEDHAM (BETTY MASON ), who was at the Convent from 1940 - '48 sent her thanks for the newsletter with her subscription. She says, " The newsletter arrived this morning; it was good to see so many names which I recognised, and a reverie over my coffee produced pictures in my mind of those particular people.

I recalled hair styles, voices, all sorts of characteristics of fellow pupils and it was impossible to think of any of us other than lovely, laughing girls in school uniform! Isn't it strange how we ourselves are aware of ageing and think of everyone else as staying as we remember them?

It's good to get the newsletter and to be spirited back to those hopeful days so full of promise, and to read how often those expectations have been fulfilled."

ANNE SHOTLANDER (SPICER) recalled the three years when SR. PATRICIA taught her and remembered how blue her eyes were!

MANDY DUFFY (DALLEY) was delighted to see news of DIANA KING (CHEESLEY) in the Christmas Newsletter. They had been boarders together in the '60s and had last met in the 70s. I was able to give MANDY a contact address. I had also mentioned the MOTHERS LENIHAN, whom Mandy remembers when she was a Junior Boarder; they were known, with great affection, as Lennie the Lion and Lennie the Lamb, by those little ones !

AVALON EASTMAN (HUTCHINS) has recently had her book, "Oundle School Memorial Book of the First World War," printed. It gives all the details, photos & biographies of the 222 ex-pupils and staff who lost their lives, and includes details & often photos of their graves; some are as far afield as Singapore and Russia.

AVALON says, "It is very reasonably priced, considering the contents and the author!" In the last newsletter you will have read how this book came to be written. I will put a photocopy of the article about it on display at the reunion. Anyone interested can contact Avalon, e-mail avalon9@btinternet.com. or I can supply an address or 'phone number.

JENNY DODDS (BUTCHER) 1963 -'68, e-mailed about," A Chance Meeting." In February Jenny joined her sister & some of her work colleagues & students from The Open Doors School of English, Winton, for a walk from Sandbanks Ferry to Swanage, there were about 18 of them. During the walk they intermingled so were able to chat to most people. The intention was to was to return to the Ferry by bus; Jenny had to get back so opted to catch an earlier bus.

Two of the others decided to go with her. She had not spoken to one of them, SARAH (BROWN), before but when the conversation turned to their respective places of education she discovered that SARAH and her older sister MERILYN had been at the Convent.

SARAH had known CATRIONA ALLEN (ROSS - TREACHER) & ROBIN PIRIE (CILLO), and was surprised to find that they had been in Jenny's year at school and that she was able to pass on news of CATRIONA & her new husband, as they had all had dinner together recently.

Catriona was delighted to have a contact with Merilyn again. JENNY and her husband Neville were preparing to leave for a new life in Portugal; we wish them every happiness in their new venture.

CAROLINE ADAMS enjoys keeping in touch by e-mail.

In response to my request for prayers for JEAN WALSH (HUGHES), DEIRDRE FOSTER (CRICK), JANE O'BRIEN (THURGOOD), & GENEVIEVE BASTO (BOND), Caroline sent news. She had not connected Jean with the MISS HUGHES, who had taught her! Caroline was at our Convent from Jan. '52 to July '54, prior to that she was at the Convent at Stakes, Waterlooville from the age of 7, until she moved to Boscombe as a Boarder.

She remembers CLAIRE ANDERSON, ROSEMARY ENNIS, ITA HANCOCK, BENITA KENT, ANNE SHOTLANDER (SPICER). Sr. CATHERINE MORTON was Head Girl in her 2nd year & GENEVIEVE BASTO (BOND) in her last year.

Sr. CATHERINE was teaching at Oaklands when both Caroline's daughters were pupils there. Her Kate remembers 'SISTER KATE' asking after her mother. CAROLINE is moving from Calgary to the Edmonton area of Alberta, where her elder daughter Isabel and her family are moving, she will also be nearer Kate in Peace River & her son Alexander in Wainwright, Alberta.

JUDITH HARRISON (ELLARD) is making plans to come to the Reunion. I have contacted MAUREEN BARRETT ( McCORMICK) who will enjoy meeting Judith again.

MARGARET CRISP & the LONG twins, ANN & JILL are also contemporaries of Judith. Her sister CHRISTINE still lives in the USA although Judith is resident in England again. They were good friends of the late OLGA CRISTOFOLI, both at school and in the USA. ITA HANCOCK in Maryborough, Queensland, Australia also responded to my request for prayers.

Last year she joined a small group of local people on a trip to the Canadian Rockies, Alaska. They went right up to Prudoe Bay and Eastern Europe. It was a memorable holiday. ITA is now the Secretary of the Croquet Club, which consists of 5 clubs, not previously experienced in such a role she is learning quickly! Early in March she won the handicap event in her Division and was runner-up in the Championship. Ita finds it very enjoyable to meet so many people through the croquet.

Her sister Frances lives in Cairns and was affected by Cyclone Larry - category 5, which devastated parts of Northern Queensland. Apart from power cuts, which affected food in 'fridges and freezers, they were fortunate not to suffer personal or structural damage.

DIANA BURLEIGH e-mailed from Perth, W. Australia, which she was visiting for the first time. She had made the journey by train, crossing the barren Nullabor Plain; leaving Melbourne on a Friday and arriving on Tuesday. Diana was keen to escape the disruption of the Commonwealth Games, taking part so near to her home. Fortuitously it coincided with a production of the Western Australia Opera of Madame Butterfly, directed by a friend based in Covent Garden, who also directs in various countries. She was invited to the dress rehearsal and to the opening performance, which was especially welcome as the entire season was sold out.

During the summer Diana took on a very interesting project. Seeking to attract more visitors, the Melbourne Maritime Museum asked her to direct HMS Pinafore on board an old sailing vessel, now permanently in dock at the museum. As this proved too costly Diana was asked to do a concert instead. She thought that the venue was too good for just a concert so wrote a short entertainment, using a whole lot of nautical songs but with a new plot to weave them together. They did 6 performances on deck in late February, to packed audiences who loved it. The museum is keen for it to be repeated on a regular basis.

JOYCE CROOKS (KIRK) 'phoned me from Christchurch, New Zealand. Her brother, Douglas has taken out a Standing Order for her subscription. JOYCE is a widow and as her son is now working in London she is coming over to stay with Douglas in Surrey and relations in the Bournemouth area, timing her visit to coincide with our Reunion; also, I suspect to escape their winter, which can be severe when the wind blows from the Antarctic!

I have contacted MARGARET JONES (THORNE) who will inform MAUREEN PLATT (McMULLEN) and others. Joyce remembers THERESA TALLON & ANNE SHOTLANDER (SPICER) among others, MOTHER KEYES was especially helpful to her. We look forward to meeting Joyce.

It was quite an occasion early in May when 9 BROWNING sisters and brothers joined together to celebrate a special birthday. BARBARA came from Wimbledon and stayed with RITA; PAULINE did not know so many would be gathering;
ANNE, MARY, TOMMY, CHRISTINE, MARTIN came from Trowbridge, & GAY was over from Australia. PAT had booked to come from W. Australia but was not well enough to travel. VERONICA was in hospital in Reading. Martin's wife Ruth and the husbands of Mary, Christine and Gay were present too.