THE SISTERS OF CHRIST, INCORPORATING THE FORMER RELIGIOUS OF THE CROSS.
We missed the presence of SISTERS RUTH and JOAN this year but quite understood the comparative difficulty of coming from the Isle of Wight compared with Portsmouth. SISTER MAY MAGENIS would have brought them over, if she had been able, but as Superior of the Convent and Guest House at East Cowes her responsibilities are many.

Perhaps one year they could come on the ferry and be met at Southampton. Sr. RUTH is still not well we hope and pray that she will soon feel better.

She visited the Convent at Sittingbourne, in Kent, where Sr. MARGUERITE COWERD cares for the elderly and infirm nuns. Sr. Ruth went to sort out the library for them. In the newsletter last Christmas I gave the address of the Convent /Guest House at East Cowes, The Isle of Wight. It is a lovely house in a beautiful position, up on a hill overlooking the Solent.

The address is :

THE SISTERS of CHRIST, ` SPRINGHILL,' MILLFIELD AVENUE, EAST COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT. P032 6AT.

TONY AND JOHN LEESON told me about their days as boarders at the Convent, they have fond memories of Sr. JOAN, who was so kind and understanding and were very pleased to learn that she is living on the Isle of Wight. We wish Sr. JOAN a Happy 91st birthday in December.

JOHN has written a very moving and nostalgic article about their years as boarders, which Convent Old Boys will find interesting, later in this edition. Sr. CATHERINE MORTON is in Cameroon at Bamenda, where she is in charge of the young postulants.

THE HANDMAIDS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.

After many years as Sacristan at Corpus Christi Church SISTER IRENE has retired, the work that she did is being carried out by a team of parishioners. We hope that she enjoys her years of retirement, although I am sure that Sr. Irene will continue to be an active member of the Community.

Sr. FRANCES LOTINA continues her valuable work in the parish as well as looking after those in her care.

Sr. NORAH BIRCH died on 11th August aged 94. Her funeral at Corpus Christi Church was attended by her many friends. The Handmaids have their burial area in St. Mark's graveyard in Hinton Wood Avenue, Highcliffe, from the days when they had Marydale Convent there.

I was so pleased to recognize the voice of Sr. BERNARDINE CALLAGHAN as she read at the Mass, and to see her briefly afterwards, she is gradually regaining strength after her illness and operation. We continue to remember her in our prayers. Sr. ROSA CRONIN was unable to come from London for the funeral as she was making a retreat.

The October edition of the Diocesan publication Portsmouth People contained a reflection on the life of Sr. Norah by Sr. RITA BURLEY; I quote,

"...Sr. Norah loved words and in later life spent long hours in translation work for our own and other Congregations.

Her silent and persevering work in her room in Southbourne and later, the Boscombe community, has been instrumental in bringing to many young English speaking Sisters in Asia an understanding of the charisma of their congregation and an appreciation of their history. In this she found a new way to live out her love of education." ...

The Jesuit Medical Care Centre, which has been built on the site of the old Corpus Christi Presbytery, has opened and has about a dozen elderly priests living there. The Presbytery is still at 9, Harvey Road while the houses in St. James's Square are being prepared to become the new Presbytery.

We always enjoy seeing Fr. PETER HACKETT S.J. who is an assistant priest in the parish, when he comes into our Reunion, there are many of us who remember him and his brothers, Fr. Paul and Fr. Mark Hackett S.J. from their years growing up in Woodside Road, attending Holy Cross and St. Peter's Schools, and being active members of the parish.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
We send out prayers and sympathy to the following people and to all former pupils and members of staff whose dear ones have died. May the deceased rest in peace and all who mourn be comforted.

DOROTHY SAWTELL (BROOKS) died in Sydney Australia on 1gt June, having suffered a severe stroke. DOROTHY was the sister of FRANK BROOKS, MARY BUDDEN (BROOKS), THERESA NICOL (BROOKS), & ANTHONY BROOKS.

Dorothy leaves a large family of children, grand and great grandchildren.

JOHN & GAY DONLEVY (BROWNING) and PETER BROOKS, son of FRANK AND MARY, were able to represent Dorothy's family and friends in England, at the funeral.

David, the husband of ANNE STARBUCK(MANNING) died suddenly in June. Our sympathy to ANNE and their children Mark, Tim & Brenda and grandchildren Matt, Michael and Emma. The funeral was at St. Anthony's Church, West Moors. EILEEN HUGHES, CHRIS THACKRAY (BROWNING), TOMMY BROWNING & DAVID AND JO CASSIDY attended the funeral.

On 27th July DARIO LUCANTONI died after a long battle with cancer. DARIO was the former husband of CLARE HACKETT and the brother of INEZ.

MARGARET CROSS (BUTLER) sister of PAM BRIGDEN (BUTLER) died last December, aged 84. Her daughter GABRIELLE VALENTINE (CROSS) is a manager at Bournemouth Hospital. She has two daughters, Juliette and Sarah.

PAM BRIGDEN (BUTLER) got in touch with the brother of SHIRLEY GIBBONS, who was married and living in the USA; sadly SHIRLEY was coming down the stairs at home when she fell and died from her injuries. SHIRLEY'S husband died suddenly in August. They leave a son and a daughter.

In August we heard of the death of MYRRHA (PIXIE) SWEET (GAEDE), aged 92.

Many of the regulars at Reunions will remember MYRRHA, who always attended with her friend the late MARGUERITE LEROY- DEL, mother of JENNIFER DANVERS (SHAW). JENNIFER came from London to attend the funeral and PAULINE BROWNING & MARY BROOKS (BROWNING) were also present. `Pixie' had led a most interesting life. She had inherited theatrical, musical genes from her mother and she became a proficient acrobatic dancer.

She was very proud of the fact that through her mother they were direct descendents of one line of the Chippendale family of furniture fame. During World War II `Pixie' served as an ambulance driver and took an active interest in organising entertainment for off duty British and American flying personnel. She had a deep love for animals and kept numerous dogs and cats.

In the later years, when she became ill, she was well looked after by her carer, who told me that Pixie enjoyed having the Past Pupils' Newsletter read to her.

JOHN HUGHES, brother of EILEEN & the late PHILIP, had a severe stroke and died on 313t August, at the age of 82. John was a founder pupil of St. Peter's School in 1936. He was a devoted husband to Bobbie and father of Kevin, for whom he cared for many years. John was well known for his love of sport, especially football; he was the longest serving active referee for Hampshire Football Association, right up to the end of his life.

The Requiem Mass at the Church of The Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph at Purewell, Christchurch was well attended by many friends and St. Peter's Past Pupils. Fr. PETER HACKETT S.J. and Fr. TERENCE FITZPATRICK OSB concelebrated the Mass.

At EILEEN'S request TOMMY BROWNING gave a very good eulogy. Afterwards we were able to meet a daughter of Philip at the reception in the Hall of St. Edmund Campion Church.

Several St. Peter's Past Pupils were at Corpus Christi Church on 14th November for the Funeral Service of TONY CRISTOFOLI, brother of the late OLGA, who died aged 46 in the 1980s and uncle of HELEN, who went from the Convent to St. Peter's in 1979. The packed church was testimony of the esteem in which Tony was held.

MARY BALL, mother of PENNY died on 11th November in Christchurch.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS ALL THOSE WHO ARE ILL, THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL WHO CARE FOR THEM. I MENTION THOSE OF WHOM I KNOW BUT REALIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE IN NEED.

I have recently heard from GENEVIEVE BASTO (BOND) who has once more been in hospital in Portugal undergoing chemotherapy treatment. She is now on yet another chemo drug and says - " It's a question of keeping the cancer at bay rather than any cure : the supply of potions from the witch's bag seems to be endlessl" GEN thanks everyone for their prayers, she gains strength and help from them.

MAGGI MORENO(DONLEVY) in Spain has completed a bout of chemotherapy, during which she has been very ill. Her brother MICHAEL goes over quite frequently and on a recent visit took her out for a meal, and she was able to eat something. He says that while MAGGI never completely lost her great sense of humour she is gradually becoming more like her old self and the quality of her life is beginning to improve. Our prayers are appreciated.

VERONICA TREADWELL (BROWNING) is another who maintains her sense of humour, despite being disabled and in poor health. Her oldest son Stephen has cancer.

PAT CONSTANDINOS (KITCHEN) is grateful for prayers for her husband Michael, who is very ill with Alzheimers Disease. Pat is an active member of the Society for Alheizmers sufferers and their families.

Prayers are asked for the husband of BETTY LIDDLE (WEATHERLEY) who is ill.

DOROTHEA KLYNE suffers from Peripheral Neuropathy, which has taken away her balance so that she is dependent on a walking frame in her home and friends who take her to church etc. Dennis, husband of MARY BUDDEN (BROOKS) is undergoing chemotherapy treatment, with bad side effects, please remember them too.

Leslie,the husband of BARBARA EGGINTON (ADAMSON), whom we met for the first time at the 2006 Reunion, is ill and in need of our prayers.

Jessie BLUNDEN, the mother of NAIADA is ill and in need of our prayers.

Frank & Pauline Murphy, parents of JANE HARRIS(MURPHY) and the late JOHN MURPHY are both very ill.

Please continue to remember, JOAN REED, PAT LAURENSON (BEER) & NINA MOYES.