A holiday on June 4th was greatly appreciated as summer weather made full enjoyment of the day possible. We were eager to see the Duchess of Kent who visited the town that day to open Bournemouth's Festival of Britain Week.

June l0th was a redletter day for us all. Catholics took their part in Pontifical High Mass to be sung in Meyrick Park. We attended as a School and were in one of the stands almost facing the altar which had been erected for the occasion in an arena of green grass surrounded by rhododendron bushes. The sun shone brightly on the covered dais where Mass was to be celebrated.

While waiting for the arrival of the Bishops of Portsmouth and Plymouth and for the Mayor's Procession, the crowd of five thousand listened to the band of the Naval Cadets who paraded round the arena. A Naval Guard of Honour was formed by the officers and men of H.M.S. Vanguard.

The Army was also represented by a large contingent. It gave us a real happiness to see our own Bishop celebrating Mass in public while the reverence of the large congregation was most impressive. The Mayor of Bournemouth (Councillor McInnes), the Mayoress and many members of the Town Council were present.



This devotional and beautiful ceremony was over all too soon. The magnificent setting, the Bishop at the altar, and the truly patriotic sermon of the Bishop of Plymouth, will linger in the minds of all.

Towards the end of the month our interest was claimed for another Festival, the annual Bournemouth Musical Festival. Many entered for the various musical items and their successes are recorded in the Music Notes.

June 26th brought particular honours to the Convent as the Elocution Pupils won two Cups. For this we are indebted to the untiring zeal of Mother Potter and the ready co-operation of the two groups, Form VI and Form IV. The former produced a scene from "Wild Decembers", and the three characters were exceptionally well portrayed,

Sheila McFadden as Charlotte, Betty Weston as Anne, and Teresa Tallyn as the suffering Emily with her magnetic influence.

On the last Saturday of term, a Parents' Day was arranged. The proceedings opened with Country Dancing by each Form on the Tennis Courts. Parents of the juniors were then invited to an entertainment in the Gym Room, while the visitors of Senior pupils had tea in the garden. The concert was repeated and the two groups interchanged.

Meantime all were free to inspect the classrooms in the Convent Main Building, the Senior House and St. Joseph's, where each Form had its work, exercises, Needlework, Art and Handwork displayed. It was a great happiness to know that we had been able to produce something which gave such obvious pleasure to our parents who appreciated every moment of their stay. Probably those friends who were not able to be present will be interested in the programme which is included in the Music Notes.

Our next Reunion was of a more intimate kind. As Mother McEvoy, our Headmistress, was to celebrate the Silver jubilee of her Religious Profession in September, while we were on holiday, arrangements were made for pupils to anticipate the event.

The entire school assembled in the Gym and the house re-echoed to the strains of the jubilee Song. This was preceded by a recitation of jubilee wishes by the juniors, which was perhaps in its simplicity even more beautiful than our song.

As the pupil who had been longest at the Convent, Monica Hughes read an address to Mother McEvoy and the Head Girl, Susan Winsey presented our jubilee gift.

Mother replied to our wishes in a short but touching speech which brought tears to the eyes of many and which made everyone in that hall leave with determined resolutions for the future and a deeper affection for our Convent.

On the following day we were invited to Sports and a Tea Party in honour of the jubilee. All the races took place in Kerryton under the rays of a real summer sun on one of the rare occasions when it deigned to show itself this summer.

Junior events filled the morning, and at 2 p.m. the Seniors began. Enthusiasm was great, as House points were an incentive as well as the hopes of winning a prize.

On returning to the Convent we went first to the junior Garden where we sang the hymn to the Guardian Angel as the official re-opening of the Garden after it had been re-surfaced. Tea was then served in the Senior garden and was followed by the inevitable `Round the House' relay. Tired but happy little juniors then departed.

For the Seniors there followed further excitements. When all were gathered in the Gym Room, Reverend Mother presented the Sports Prizes. Then followed a play "The Builders", one of the "Little Plays of St. Francis", acted and produced by Form Lower V with a little assistance from Form IV.

By special request Form VI repeated the scene from "Wild Decembers", while we were also allowed to hear some of the items which the School Orchestra had produced on Parents' Day.