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It is with deep regret that we record the deaths of four of the Religious of the Cross. Many Past Pupils will remember Mere Flore Didry, who spent so many years of her Religious life in Boscombe. In 1940 she celebrated her Golden jubilee and renewed her Vows in the Convent Chapel here, at a Mass celebrated by the late Bishop Cotter. In 1946 she returned to her native Belgium to our Convent at La Louviere. Her indomitable energy still showed itself in apostolic zeal. She had connections with Missionaries all over the world and with a large number of people, principally on account of her interest in the Belgian Mystic, Louise Lateau, who had been known personally to the Didry family. Despite her age, Mere Didry went to the Mother House at Saint Quentin in 1950 to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. Since then her health declined and her death took place at La Louviere in August of this year. We feel sure that she is enjoying the reward of long and devoted years in God's service. The death occurred at Boscombe on August 3rd of Mother Josephine Callanan in the 37th year of her Religious life. Her death was a shock to all, as she had been teaching at the beginning of the School year. Mother Callanan will be remembered by many Past Pupils as well as by those who had been in contact with her more recently. The early years of her Religious life were spent chiefly in Boscombe, and she taught in the Day School run by our Nuns in Knyveton Road. In 1921, when a property was acquired in Parkwood Road, opposite the Convent, the Day School was transferred to St. Josephs and Mother Callanan continued her work there, being named Headmistress in 1925. Three years later, she went to our Convent at Ryde, to hold a similar position. It was not until 1947 that Mother Callanan returned to Boscombe. Children in the Middle School in particular, will think of her gentleness and kindness to them as a Form Mistress, and of her great devotion to Our Blessed Lady, which they recognised particularly during the Marian Year. Mother Bertha Boulton, who died in April after a long illness during which her endurance of great suffering was most impressive, was a former pupil of Boscombe. She entered the Novitiate of the Religious of the Cross, but as her Religious life was spent chiefly in our other Convents, she may not be known personally to many Boscombe Past Pupils. At her Golden jubilee three years ago, she was able to travel to Saint Quentin, but soon afterwards her health declined. Mother Boulton was buried in our Convent Cemetery at Springhill. We offer our sympathy to her sisters, Mother Frances Boulton and Mrs. Darby, who are both former pupils of Boscombe. News of the death of another Religious of the Cross reaches us just as we go to print. Soeur Elodie passed away at our Convent at Bar-le-Duc, France, in her 82nd year. In the early years of her Religious life, she came to England and was for a time in charge of the Girls' Refectory, at Boscombe. Mrs. B. Rochford (Angela Kelly), although she had been in delicate health for some time, was able to come to Boscombe with her husband for the opening of the Assembly Hall. She was taken ill while on holiday in July and died after a short illness. Boscombe owes very much to her generosity. We offer our condolences to Mr. Rochford and the family and to her sisters Miss W. Kelly and Mrs. W. Bond. Rajakumari B. R. Dorai, Ranee of Pudukotta (Beatrice Briggs). Despite the fact that she had been ailing, news of her' death, coming from India, was a shock to her sisters Mother Briggs and Miss Mildred Briggs. We assure them of our prayers. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Watson (K. Burke) on the death of her husband Dr. B. Watson. She had the consolation of seeing him received into the Church a short time before his death. We offer sympathy and the promise of prayers, also to Shelagh and Monica Danagher on the sudden death of their father. REQUIESCANT IN PACE. |
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A resume of letters received from Past Pupils during the year reminds one of the Christmas Day "Empire Broadcast", but it is more accurately a "Round the World" flash.
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Other members of the Association are living in various parts of Africa. May Cooney replied to a letter from Reverend Mother. "I hope I shall never feel a stranger to Boscombe, and Queenie, although she is a grandmother six times over, feels the same. It was interesting to see the newspaper cuttings you sent. I recognised E. and W. Cartwright in the picture. Eva sat next to me in the Study Hall when she first came to the Convent.
I remember the way her pencil squeaked on her slate. Maria Bertini keeps me in touch with Convent doings and some of the old, old girls, which helps to bridge the years and strengthen the links. I hope that in spite of developments, Boscombe will remain a "small" school. Some grow so vast that they lose some of their character and their personality becomes diminished." News of Gladys O'Shea (Shorman) has come indirectly this year through J. Daly. Her father joined her in Kenya after the sudden death of her mother last year. We regret that by a mistake notice of this was not given in the last Magazine, but we assure Gladys, Margaret and Beatrice that they were not forgotten in the prayers of the Community at that sad time. Peggy Robinson came to say Au Revoir before leaving for Rhodesia. She has gone to teach there under the Scheme for Exchange of Teachers. We have not heard of her experiences yet, but she hoped that it might be possible for her to contact Gillian Robotham who was to join her mother out there. Margaret Craig has written to Ita Hancock to say that she is hoping to return from Africa in the New Year, and to begin her training as a Nurse. And what of the New World? Wendy Gilchrist sent from Harbord, New South Wales, news of her forthcoming wedding in St. Mary's Church, Manly. Joan, Mrs. R. Luyerirk, is touring Australia with her husband to gain some experience of the country before they settle down. They were, at the time of writing, in Mildura on the borders of Lake Victoria. Joan maintains her interest in music. She mentions that she still keeps in touch with Helen Warrington (Bond). When Margaret Brewer was making her world tour, she met Dorothy (Brooks) in Sydney. India is our next centre. One of our Past Pupils, Sister M. Godric (Kitty Coombes) set sail to begin her life as a Missionary Sister in India, just after Easter. She came to Boscombe to see her parents before her departure, and we were very pleased that she was able to sleep at the Convent during those few days. We pray that God may bless the work she is doing and grant it abundant fruit. |
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From India we pass to Malaya, from which greetings are always received at the Christmas from Mrs. Frampton (Doris Milroy) and from Celia Joyce (Court).
Having completed a tour of the other Continents, we return to Europe. Several Past Pupils are at present in Cyprus, and we trust that they may be protected from danger in the present troubles. Three little Past Pupils who left the junior School to be with their parents in Cyprus sent through their mother a thank-you letter after receiving the Magazine. They are Angela, Christine and Judith Herbert, who hope to come back to school in Boscombe soon. We hear about Ann and Pamela Joliffe from Annemarie Frimin and also from their Aunties, M. and N. Brewer (Mrs. G. Place) who came to visit Boscombe during the summer holidays and brought Nancy's little boy Adrian to see the Community. A week or so ago cards were received from Wendyanne Johnston. They were written in Italy - actually under the shadow of the Vatican. We are not certain whether Wendyanne was there on holiday or on business connected with her work in the B.O.A.C. A welcome visitor from Germany was Mathilde Armoruster, who was at Boscombe in 1908 - 1909, and who called to see the Convent again this summer after so many years. Stephanie de Charmoy also returned to Germany to resume her teaching duties there. During the summer, we also had first hand news of Betty ter Brake (Hunt), who is living in Holland. Her elder daughter Jacqueline was staying with Mrs. R. Walsh (J. Hughes) and with Jean's three children, Michael, Peter and Angela, came in to see her mother's School. Jacqueline has a brother Christopher and a sister Francine. During the year, Reverend Mother was pleased to receive a letter and snaps from Betty's sister Joan, Mrs. Mahoney. Mademoiselle Monclin brought messages from Belgium from Micheline Jacoby, while earlier in the year, Mireille Mortier, now Madame Van Riet de Paep, sent a notice of her wedding. In France there are very many of our Past Pupils, French girls who came to study English and also some of our English girls. One of the first Christmas greetings received this year was from Paris from the Delanoe family (Y. Delanoe, Pinder). "With all best wishes to the Nuns from: Ludovic, Yvonne, Joseph, Yann, Maryvonne, Roland, Guirec, Loic, Gildas and Armelle." A letter came from Marie Antoinette Gilles, and we had first hand news of her from Angela Rickard, who stayed with her in the summer. She did not see Catherine, but was able to tell us about her and her children. Angela is enjoying her teaching and still keeps up her music. At present, Sister Catherine Morton is in our Novitiate House in Saint Quentin. She is happv to describe the new house adjacent to the Convent into which the Novices have recently moved and mentions in particular the lovely Chapel. At last we come back to England, and the first happy duty we wish to perform is to offer congratulations and good wishes to two Jubilarians among our Past Pupils who entered Religious life. Mother Welstead, Mother Assistant at Boscombe, kept her Golden jubilee on May 3rd. As her co-Jubilarian was Soeur Therese, who is in France, Reverend Mother General kindly arranged for Mother Welstead to go over to Saint Quentin, so that they might keep their Jubilee together. This happy event was celebrated on April 21st. Saint Quentin Convent was a lovely House, dear to all English Nuns. |