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Next scene was Pope Saint Gregory (M. Burke-Gaffney) sending Saint Augustine to England to teach the English about God. Then the arrival at the Court of King Ethelbert where a Pagan Priest was converted. The scene changed again to show
our first Martyr, Saint Alban (P. Howard-Garner). He sheltered a Christian Priest, by whom he was converted, and taking his place, in disguise, was arrested and beheaded, confessing his faith in Christ. Then came the time of Saint Thomas a Becket, and his brave upholding of the rights of the Church against Henry II, and the dreadful result.
This was well acted, for the knights dashed into the Cathedral in great style and stabbed Saint Thomas, played by J. Burke-Gaffney, who made us believe he really was dying. His 'corpse' was then carried out by his 'monks' to the chanting of the 'De Profundis.'
The next scene showed Saint Thomas More explaining to his accusers why he could not conform to Henry VIII's wishes, and saying that " having been condemned he would willingly lay down his life for the Church, the supremacy of which could not be invested in a layman as it rightfully belongs to the See of Rome, as granted personally by our Blessed Lord when He was on earth."
Then followed the scene where Meg, Saint Thomas Mores daughter, cleverly acted by Niall Murnane, told the story of her father's last hour and read his farewell messages. It was very sad. The play finished in the present day with a procession of boys in their cassocks singing " Faith of our Fathers," reminding us of all our Fathers have done in the past to keep our Holy Faith for us.
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The following boys had the happiness of making their First Holy Communion this year: -
Brian Wilson; Mark Hubbard;
Jeremy O'Neill; Tony Leeson;
Peter Lockwood; John Anthony;
Dennis King;
Michael Farrar;
Patrick McCarthy;
Julian Slattery.
His Lordship the Bishop came to the Convent in July and gave Confirmation to:-
Michael Burke-Gaffney;
Anthony Potter;
James Burke-Gaffney;
Michael Sibeth;
Peter Howard-Garner;
Brian Greensmith;
Hubert Bond; George Kennedy;
Bernard Cox; John Talbot;
Alberto Zanelli; Anthony Dix-Lewis;
Niall Murnane; Dennis King;
Ian Drummond-Murray;
Derek Slattery;
Michael Brooks.
Reverend Mother came to our Gym. Display. She was particularly pleased with the bigger boys' apparatus work but found that the younger ones were over eager and moved before the word of command. Everyone was very pleased with the Babies' drill and Bunny Hops.
When we came back in September we heard that we have a new Superior General, Reverend Mother Serusier, We shall all miss dear Reverend Mother Afchain's visits to our classrooms because she always seemed so pleased to see us and called us ` the best boys in the world.'
Mrs. Pointer, the mother of one of our boys, has presented the School with a portrait in oils of Reverend Mother, painted by Mrs. C. B. Klitgaarde May, Artiste-Peintre de L'Academic Royale de Copenhague.
Several of our Old Boys have paid us visits during the year, including Hugh Morgan (1923-1927); Charlie Ellis (1926-1929); Tony Everett (1926-1932); Denis and Terence Gavaghan (1929-1932); and Jack Hughes (1920-1926).
Others have written giving news, and Peter Robinson (1926-1932) came to say goodbye before entering the Jesuit Novitiate in September.
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We were very glad to have our wireless this year as there have been so many things to listen to. We followed the whole of the late Pope's Funeral and were able to hear at once the exciting news of the election of Pope Pius the Twelfth and his Coronation.
The IIa boys have been following the weekly French lessons and we are sorry that Monsieur Stephan has had to close down owing to the war. Thanks to our wireless too we could follow much of the King and Queen's tour of Canada.
We had an Exhibition of our Handwork to finish up the School Year. It was in our Playroom and our mothers and fathers came to see it. We had paintings and drawings hung all over the walls and handwork arranged on the tables.
Ib had made a wonderful Caravan in cardboard and the Babies had little houses with gardens, beautiful pictures and a farmyard with animals they had cut out, and cardboard altars with little candlesticks and cut-out flowers.
Form II had their fretwork on show: bookends, letter racks, coat hangers, animal cut-outs and matchbox stands, and countless other things. The visitors were very much amused by the competent self-appointed guide, George Kennedy, who escorted everyone round and explained in most interesting detail exactly how the work was done.
When we came back to School after the Summer holidays we found that our Study Corridor had been fitted with special doorss in case of gas attacks. We soon had Air-raid practices which led to plenty of fun.
We have a statue of Our Lady Queen of Peace in the corridor, and every day prayers
go up for peace and for the fallen, as we have started a Prayer Front, and every class comes
at a different time to say a Decade of the Rosary led by each boy in turn.
As it is getting near Christmas now we have a Crib there, and we will say our
prayers in front of the Holy Child.
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