"We loved San Francisco. It is so completely different from Los Angeles. Here everyone seems to want to crush out the old things. A building 15 years old is considered old, therefore torn down and a new streamlined model erected."

Ronaleen was able to give news of her contemporaries with whom she has kept in touch: "I am more than interested in the engagement of Linda Thornback who, with Wendyann Crawforth (Johnston), was my special friend at school. I hope to be able to attend Linda's wedding - I was very disappointed that I could not be in England for Wendyann's last year. I hear regularly from Helen Bevan (Edmond) and she tells me about the Reunions."

Mary Baker (Gilbert) gave us a full account of all the family and in particular of herself, her husband and two little girls. "Shortly after Jacintha was born we were given a transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah. Kearns is situated approximately ten miles from Salt Lake City. We love it here. From our living room window we have a glorious view of the Great Rocky Mountains which are covered with snow all over the peaks.

Another side of the house overlooks the Salt Lake itself. Nothing lives in the Lake but it is great fun trying to swim in it as one's body tends to bob up too much. My parents are still in California - it's only eight hundred miles away (a four-hour plane trip or an all - day car ride!!) "

Joan Luijerink (Gilchrist), writing,from Windsor, New South Wales, wonders whether she would know her way around the Convent now. She asked about the Nuns' wood, the greenhouse and the vegetable garden and will be glad to know that they have not disappeared. Joan gave news of Wendy and her children Stephen and Diane.

Susan Northover, in Mombasa, says "It is surprising how many people here originally came from Bournemouth. I have met several `old girls' from the Convent, and among them Dawn Mallitte, before she left to commence her training in London. Also on the journey out here when the ship docked at Aden, Jane (Ferguson) and I spent a very enjoyable day with Frances Greenstock."

Jill McIlroy wrote several times while she, was in Africa with her parents. She also visited us with Avalon Hutchins since her return and both managed to get to the School Dance. Josephine Staddon, having left school in July, is now in charge of the elevators of the Alberta Pacific Grain Company between Calgary and Edmonton.

At the time she wrote, Josephine was trying to arrange to follow some Correspondence Courses from the University of Alberta. Teresa Lamb was at her firm's business at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, at the time of her first letter and was hoping to travel home by freighter later in the year. She is now working in Bournemouth.

Diane Fitzhenry, having settled in New South Wales, gave interesting comments on the life there. "Sydney is expanding very quicklyany houses are being built and new roads constructed. The cost of living is high but the standard is correspondingly high. there are many housing projects whereby a young couple may buy a home of their own, with a deposit within their means and a low rate of interest on subsequent payments.

There are many Italians, Greeks and Dutch people here - the former are a blessing to housewives, I think, as they run greengrocery stores in a majority of cases and through employing members of their families are able to sell produce more cheaply and to control the prices of fruit and vegetables."

A card sent from Germany by Anne Wheatcroft, runs "I have danced in Italy and Germany and am soon going to Denmark. It has been wonderful". Barbara Green (Withington) certainly has the art of letter-writing. She described her new home just outside Montreal - her cooking experiments - and of course the children. She recalls her artistic efforts at school and says she has always to explain what her drawings axe meant to be when the children (Frances, Mary Ann and Caryl) ask her to draw for them.

Barbara saw the Queen when Her Majesty visited Montreal to open the Seaway. Mary Brearley wrote to Mother McEvoy from Toronto and mentioned that on her voyage to Canada she met Elizabeth Woods (Holmes).

The post-bag from England includes news from Past Pupils of a great variety of agegroups - some who have not been back for many years and some whose schooldays were comparatively recent. Barbara Carus was having trouble with her back and disappointed that it prevented any active work in the garden.

Anne White (Adams) wrote early in the year and brought Nicholas and Catherine to see us when they were on holiday in Bournemouth. Anne is now living in Solihull, Warwickshire. Angela Knott, now teaching at the Ursuline Convent, Wimbledon, is Assistant Science Mistress there.

She mentioned having seen Ethnea Hancock quite often until Ethnea went to Shoreham to continue her training. Eileen Hughes, at present teaching in Southampton, wrote sending good wishes for the Feast of the Cross, September 14th. She also paid a visit and was able to interchange news of her contemporaries with Sister Ruth Brown.

Joy Winterbottom came in also this term. She is still enjoying her work as Assistant French Mistress and was abroad all the summer holidays.

Veronica Quilty sent an interesting account of Christmas spent in hospital and of the pantomime produced by the nurses. She also called to see the Nuns. Helen Symmons is another faithful correspondent and visitor. She is very happy training at Cardiff Royal Infirmary. Sandra Millis hopes to be able to come and see all the changes in the school and we look forward to seeing her soon. Molly Dedman (Orpin) promised to bring Mary to visit the Convent when she is able to walk and do a little sightseeing. Molly asked news of Gay Bond who is still in Lagos.

Helen is living in Canada, Anne still in England and Genevieve studying architecture. Rosemary Ennis is now Art Mistress at Bishop Blackall School, Exeter. Monica is still at Lulworth. Esme Popplewell, taking her degree at Queen Mary College, London, told us of contact she has made in London with Genevieve Bond, Nilo Yiannaki and Cynthia Turner. Chrysogan and Mary Bavey are very happy living in Hull - Chris is at Leeds University and Mary when she wrote was beginning a three months' trial training as a Technician in the Department of Zoology at Hull University.

Margaret Collins is enjoying her work at the Colombo Club, London. She had seen Monica Hyland (Hughes) a short time before she wrote. Eileen Collins is still working in Bournemouth.

A letter from Maud Lawless brought a big surprise - and a very pleasant one, too. She had received an invitation to the School Dance and wrote to explain that she was unable to accept as she entered the Society of the Holy Child Jesus as a Postulant in September. We shall all pray for Maud that she may persevere in her vocation and do much work for God. Cecilia Turtle received the Habit at the Loretto Convent, Llandudno, a few months ago.

Marie Tarrant (Browne) is kept busy with her two boys and small daughter. She had heard that Sheila and Monica Danagher were going to work in a London branch of the Bank and Marie was looking forward to seeing more of them.

It is impossible to mention the names of all the faithfull Local Past Pupils whom the Nuns and Staff are always so happy to meet at the School Dance.

We wish one and all a truly happy Christmas and pray that God may bless all our Boscombe Past Pupils during the coming year.