A Reunion was planned for Easter week, but this was cancelled when we heard of Reverend Mother Kelly's death. However, many Past Pupils were able to accept Reverend Mother's invitation to the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new Assembly Hall. This Hall is the special protege of the Past Pupils, as the original suggestion concerning it came from Mrs. R. L. Manning (M. Lloyd), who has continued to work for the Fund with her indomitable activity.

She must have felt proud on that occasion, although sad that Reverend Mother Kelly did not live to see the great day. Other local Past Pupils, including Mrs. Tucker (D. Hobbs), E. and W. Cartwright, W. Kelly, M. Dyson, Mrs. Browning (R. de Sousa), came for the ceremony and were invited to tea afterwards.

Representatives of the more recent Past Pupils were present, but a weekday afternoon was a difficult time for those who were working. However, several came in the evening, when arrangements were made for the running of the Convent Stall at the B.C.D.F. Fete at St. Peter's.

All members will now look forward to the opening of the Hall, and we are sure that many will try to be present on Saturday, March 26th, when the opening ceremony and first performance will take place. Those who have seen the building in progress are surprised at the scale of accommodation and decoration; we had scarcely dared to envisage such a fine Hall and so well equipped. It is something of which the Past Pupils' Association has reason to be proud.

Last Christmas, Reverend Mother Kelly received letters from abroad from Madame Van Billinghen (Fernande Clavaraux), Madame Tailliet (A. Thieme) and Madame Philippart (Lizi Dumoulin), all of whom have kept in touch with the Convent since the days they were sent here to learn the language. Marie Madeleine Daneels wrote and called. Mrs. Vick (Peggy Ruhns) wrote from Baltimore: "My Christmas greetings were late because we moved from an apartment into our own house on December 11th.

It is a large house with 1 acre of ground and I can hardly wait far Spring to come so that I can have a flower garden."

Many of Reverend Mother Kelly's faithful correspondents wrote when they heard of her death. Among these was Dame Placida, O.S.B. (V. Gatland), who always sends an interesting letter every year, and has now promised to keep in touch with Mother Briggs.

In her last letter she mentioned that she saves the school magazines and gives them to Edie Green when the latter comes to England. Ben (Green) is still dairy farming in Australia. Dame Placida mentioned that she will celebrate her Silver jubilee on Ascension Day, May 19th, 1955. We are sure that her friends will remember her in their prayers on that day.

After the publication of last year's Magazine, many letters were received. Reverend Mother McEvoy has kindly sent news reaching her from W. Hornbuckle (Coxon), who wrote in October saying that she has been in bed since last Christmas and is expecting a second operation in the future. We are sure that readers will remember her in their prayers. Another most interesting budget that was re?directed to us came from Catherine Summerton.

The letter, written in Ravenna in October, began: "Before I settle with my `Faniglia Italiano' I am seeing some of Italy." Catherine then proceeds to a description of Ravenna and Venice, with special attention to San Marco, the Bridge of Rimini and many other wonders.

It was delightful to see such an appreciation of beauty as Catherine's letter revealed. She concludes: "I have slept in Youth Hostels and met people from every country. I travel third here and love it. Everyone is so friendly. Their first question is always, Deutch? Americano? Francese? Enghlese? Second question, Quanti Anni ? ! "

Another letter sent to Reverend Mother McEvoy was from Mrs. Wyndham-Grave (Lucy Jackson), day pupil 1926 - 1936. She asked news of several Nuns now deceased and also of Reverend Mother d'Alancon, Mother Boulton, Mother Jones and Mother Thompson, and expressed a wish to become a member of the P.P.A.

Many letters were sent to Boscombe acknowledging the last Magazine. J. Daly, whom we were pleased to see during the summer holidays, wrote telling us that she had settled in Richmond and had recently met Jean Thiollier and her husband and also Diana Dunning, who is nursing at Brentford Hospital. A letter from Sister Mary Godric (Kitty Coombes) was very welcome, as although Jennifer gives news of her, personal contact even by writing means much more, She is in the Novitiate House of her Congregation in South Shields and is most eager tc work among the lepers.

We are sure that her former school companions and others will pray for the Missionary intentions which she recommended to us. She asked news particularly of Ruth Brown, who having made Profession is now continuing her studies at our Convent, Springhill.

Jean Money, while continuing her P.T. work, also teaches Biology to certain Forms. A remark from her letter will be of interest to many: "Miss Cummings is being echoed in my Science lessons still. Although it is a long time since she taught me, I can now appreciate all the hard work she put into her lessons. I have found one advantage of having been a very naughty child!

That is, I can anticipate the actions of the wild Third and Fourth Forms! "