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BOLITHO/
ST CLARE ALUMNI |
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Double click on links above for news of Alumni, School, Members, Reunions or to email us - info@bolithoalumni.co.uk News from Members during 2011 - 2012 Ann
Harris Boxing Day, 2011,A quiet day at our house with time to reflect
on a very unexpected year. We seemed to be going along as usual until
June when Martin went to the doctor to complain about indigestion and
came home with six bypasses, mitral valve repair and a pacemaker! His
recovery had several setbacks with three more trips to the ICU and he
added some stents to his hardware collection. Thankfully he has steadily
improved and we are ending the year hoping that he will have a great year
in 2012. Jocelyn
Munro. I was at St Clares from 1958 to 1963, as a boarder. I remember
a number of people, including Crankie and .Miss Ashworth,
as I was mad about sport.I was with Sally Lakeman, Jenny Hambley, Daphne
Dower, Carol Copplestone, Susan Hall, Sue Harrison, Ginnie Rudorf, Sally
Gibbons, Terry Cushing amongst others.I went to PE College then came up
to Edinburgh to work, initially teaching, then into Special Needs, with
Physios. I married in 1969, have a son & daughter. The latter has
provided us with 3 grand children.Best wishes to all who remember me Jocelyn
Ness ( nee Munro) Anne
Foster Carter - You asked me ages ago if I had any stories about School.
First Miss Blight was a govenerness to me and five other little girls
.This would be about 1935-1937. I think I was the only one that went on
to St. Clares but I may be wrong.I am also muddled because I think I went
into first form which was the big room next to the Diningroom which is
the library now.I remember going into second form and Miss Blight teaching
me again!! Jane
Bickerstaffe, nee Atkins Thanks so much for the newsletter. I recognised
a number of names and my sister, Carole, who was in the same class as
Patience Gunter but no one from my class (1963-1969) and I've sadly lost
touch. If anyone from that class is around I'd love to hear from them.
I'm married (just clocked up 40 years) with a son and a daughter and live
in Reading. I work for a research organisation covering environmental
and social aspects of packaging - that means I'm a garbologist! Kind regards News from members during 2010 - 2011
Christine Bulcock or Miss Crankshaw (Cranky) as she was affectionately known by the pupils - news from her nephew January 2011 On reading Lily's Christmas cards and messages to her this week, I was conscious that several have been sent by friends who may not be fully up to date with her present situation. What follows is an attempt to put you in the picture, and I ask for the understanding of those who are already aware of her situation. For the sake of simplicity, may I refer to my aunt as "Lily"? This is the only first name on her delightfully ancient birth certificate dated 1919 - though I am aware that "Christine" crept in somewhere around her Oxford days (if anyone can enlighten me further, please do so!). Lily's current address is : Bankhouse Nursing Home, Shard Road, Hambleton, Nr Blackpool, Lancashire, FY6 9BX.Telephone : 01253 701635 It would probably be slightly more reliable if any messages for Lily were sent to me here in York for me to read to her on one of my regular visits - but, as I say, I collected her various cards in the Home and read them to her. Your choice.My wife Anne and I visited Lily this week. You will appreciate that Lily's nursing-home is situated almost 100 miles from York, which is a significant journey for us. After her fall (23rd July 2008) we did look around some possibilities in York, but Lily had always wanted to go into Bankhouse Nursing Home (on the Fylde, and just 3 miles from her last residence, and also where her late husband Wilf spent his final months). All things being relative, she is as content as she could be in Bankhouse, and we confirm that her choice was right because of the quality of the care which she receives (and would we have ever been forgiven if we had got it wrong?!). We are very pleased with the place, and on a fine balance, the sacrifice we make with the travelling is worth it. Also, there are several of Lily's friends for whom the Fylde is probably more convenient than York. As you may have heard, Lily is now but a shadow of her former energetic self, seemingly confined for the past twelve months to a chair in her room. Before that she would be a regular visitor to more convivial parts of the Home (before occasionally being ejected for rowdy/argumentative behaviour!). She would particularly enjoy taking the regular chair of one equally ferocious elderly gentleman, and they were both given a dressing-down on one occasion (and some lines to write?!). But please do not get the wrong impression : she is a popular figure in the Home, and much respected by her many Carers. There is a gentleness, kindness and sheer big-heartedness in Lily which we all know, and these qualities again shone through her tortured exterior (and often fumbling thoughts) when today she instructed Anne and me to take care on our journey and not to worry about her. The dementia is severe, but after many distressing weeks of experimenting with medication ( a period which those of us visiting her found very difficult), about four months ago she began to come right again, and although we are not always sure that she recognises us, we can sometimes get into a train of thought with her which can be rewarding. And today she certainly gave us nods and a sense of understanding when we read cards and letters to her, and she was still quick, certainly, ladies and former pupils, with your maiden and married names! Lily's quality of life is poor, and I wish I could say otherwise. Near-blindness and some deafness are severe problems for a person of her intellect. Much of her vigour left her after that fall of nearly three years ago, and the hopes that she would recover sufficiently to become independent again have now gone. That she gives some joy to her Nurses and Carers is appreciated, and the Respect we all have for her continues to be fully justified. Life is hard for her at the moment, but she is in the best of hands - and she certainly knows and understands this. Your kind cards and words are very much appreciated : she listened and was clearly moved. Thank you. John Bulcock 14th January 2011 Sheila Jackson, nee Warren. Sheila lost her fight against cancer on 11 August 2010. Sheila was our Chairman for many years and our thoughts go out to her family.Sheila was a stalwart of the Alumni as a committee member and will be missed immensely but remembered with fondness. Sheila Jackson is not the sort of person to back down from a challenge, but the one that presented itself in January 2009 was not the sort of challenge any of us really want to face. Breast cancer was diagnosed, but hey, she thought that she would turn a negative into a positive! Sheila decided that she would like to do a charity ride to raise funds for the Mermaid Centre at Treliske in Truro. A decision that was no light undertaking. Sheila is not only a mother, she is also a grandmother, and though she has bred horses, she has not ridden since she was a child. Over £2,000 was raised for the Mermaid Centre.What an inspiration to us all. Ruth TSUI I am an ex-stduent fom Hong Kong studied at St. Clare School between 1997 (upper 3) and 1983 (upper 6). I would very much like to get in touch with students from my class or any staff / girls who can still remember me.I would particularly like to have contact with my old dormate Petrina Mabbott who later moved on to the U.S.A. Her younger sister Carloyn Mabbott also studied at St. Clare. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Mary Nowell, nee Ceber As a nearly 82 year "old girl" I was greatly heartened by the news regarding the Bolitho School finances, especially as I was one who had made a small investment in it and lost the money! Although I was only a pupil at St Clares for 18 months 1945-46, I have happy memories of my time there, a lot learnt, and many friends made, especially Anne Haydon with whom I have been friends ever since, until sadly, she died in June 2009. I do not know Ruth (Stephens) - mentioned in Class 69 - but I do know of their very pupular hotel at Dittisham and have enjoyed a meal there - a long time ago. My days go back to Miss Hudson's time. I have been widowed for nineteen years but have a very supportive family. My five grandchildren are all doing well and have graduated two in America (where my son's family live) and my eldest grandson from St Albans, married last year. He is a very dedicated worker with Youth for Christ. Best wishes to you all. Vivien Slack, nee Wingfield I have 3 daughters and 9 grandchildren with one due in January. My husband, Phil, has two daughters and 6 grandchildren. Christmas is an expensive time! Kate
Allpress (nee O'Malley)'83 - '88 It would be great to hear news of
any contemporaries - it was fantastic to see Rosalynd Thompson's entry
(she was in my class) and would love to get in touch with her if possible.
I am now married with one child - Daniel (aged 2) and enjoying spending
time with him at home. I visited the school while on holiday a couple
of years ago and it brought back a lot of happy memories - I enjoyed my
time there, as did my mother (Rosemary Matthews) and aunty (Miranda Matthews)
before me!! Margaret Wigman nee Lawrey - I will be moving to Australia next year to be near my daughter. Rosemary
Skirton, nee Hall I was only at St Clares from 5 to 11, (abt 1951-62)
so some of my memories are a bit hazy! I was the same year as Sally Lakeman,Denise
Lawry (a distant relative) Susan Hall (no relation) Caroline Harvey, and
Heather Stevens who were the main ones that I was pals with and kept in
touch with even when I moved onto the Grammar School. My mother had spent
all her school years at St Clares and if you think she is now 95, (and
very well) that is quite a while ago. My elder sister Valerie was also
there again from 5 to 11. (abt 1946-58) My mother now lives in a flat
in Truro, my sister is also in Truro (married with one daughter and one
grandson). I live just outside Truro also married, retired and have two
sons (unmarried so far aged 28 and 31) who are in London and Henley.
Wendy
White Smith (Formerly Williams & Robinson.)First of all abject
apologies for not keeping you up to date!! Everytime the Newsletter arrives
I devour it eagerly and intend to write to you As I wanted to write a
lot it has been put in my pending tray awaiting a good chunk of time to
put you in the picture. That time seems never to have materialised and
I really am sorry. Patience
Cooper nee Gunther Thank you for the Bolitho/St Clare Alumni newsletter
and invitation to the AGM. My essential details have stayed the same although
I am starting to move my E-Mails to patience.a.cooper@gmail.com.I have
only made it down to the AGM once, 24 years ago when our eldest son was
a baby. I do intend to do so again but cannot understand how the time
flies and I keep prebooking myself. I will be in Nice at a Congress of
Vets this year.I am lucky enough to be healthy and active. I ran the London
Marathon again this year and raised over £800 for Diabetes UK. I
will be running the Beachy Head marathon in October, slowly, just for
fun, and am then off to Verbier in January to do a three month "GAP"
course with the Warren Smith Ski Academy to train to be a ski instructor.
Call it my mid (or even late) life crisis! Our younger son David did it
in his Gap year and let slip that there were older people on the course.
We didn't do Gap years when I left St Clare's in 1971 but hey - it's never
too late. I am lucky to have an understanding husband and be self employed
so I can take the time. I think my attitude to sport was greatly influenced
by Mrs Nichols who taught all sports across the board and made them fun.
I still play tennis using the backhand grip she taught me (much to my
coach's despair) and have come back to Athletics in my 50's taking part
in veteran matches doing anything for a point for the team - running sprints/distance,
throwing javelin,discus,shot & even (very nervously) hammer and this
year have had a go at Triple Jump - Thank you Mrs Nick!Really pleased
to see Jane Melling's update. I am hoping though her to get in touch with
her sister Susan, who was in our year. I liked the reunion report on the
class of 69. Perhaps we could try for a class of 71 next year. I know
Shana Simpson and Elizabeth Eva are active with the association and have
been better than me at keeping in touch. I also am in contact with Carol
Trebucq (Atkin), Cynthia Lambert (Jarvis) and Angela Wills (Withers).Thank
you for all that you do to hold the Alumni together. I really appreciate
news of St C's. Jennie George here (nee Hambly - St. Clare 1958 -1962) Just received notification of AGM on Saturday 25th September next, however I shall be on holiday at that time so obviously not able to attend. Please note my new e-mail address. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me - does anyone know the whereabouts of Elizabeth Day? To those who don't know my present circumstances, I was married in 1968 to Colin and after almost 43 years we are still together!! We have two children, a son Jason who is 40 and a partner in an estate agency business in Wadebridge and a daughter Melanie who is a receptionist at a chiropractic clinic in Bodmin. We are both retired now, have three wonderful grandchildren and enjoy our time looking after them when required, and travelling the world as much as we can. Off to the Holy Land in September, hence non attendance at AGM. Hope to hear from some of you soon. Jennie
NEWS FROM 2009-2010
Vanessa
Catherall nee Penrose. I was a pupil at the school between 1975 to
1983 is there anyone who attened the school around those dates who possibly
remembers me I am trying to get in touch with old school friends |I have
found some on friends reunited and also through Facebook.I am now caleed
Vanessa Catherall but was Penrose when at school Jinny Penneck Bless you for your thoughtful e-mail - I am SO pleased to hear the school has been 'saved' especially after the head's upbeat talk at the AGM in September last. Keep producing the up-date e-mails & a very happy new year to you. Dorothy
Sweet formerly Longman and
on teaching staff of 'St.Clare's' in the 1950's. Thank you for your most
recent and very welcome email. I had discussed on Sunday with a 'very'
old girl of former St. Clare's the happy news that Bolitho school was
to continue and we both hope that the financial troubles can be overcome
for the future. We would also like to thank you, Elizabeth and the Alumni
for helping in the process. I am going to send by mail a copy of your
email to my friend and trust I will hear news as it breaks. We are both
retired teachers and therefore take a great interest in affairs.affecting
school children. Best wishes to the future of Bolitho School. GHOST
AT THE SCHOOL? Wonderful
news the School is to open in January under new ownership and in the nick
of time. I think the ghost of Willie Bolitho would have turned in his
grave at the demise of his hauntings. We believed that he haunted the
small inner dorm at the far end of the first floor, (opposite end to Miss
Johns corridor/suite. ) (1955 - 60). Did anyone else 'see' him? I hated
that room. I think i must have had a vivid imagination. Wishing you all
a Happy New Year
Margaret
Hutcherson Angela Angus nee Williams : I have been following th e news re the administration of the school and although I did not think I would be so concerned I found I was!! So I am glad to know the first hurdle is over and maybe one day I will creep back to a reunion. I was there in the 60s and was in a class with Sally Wakeham and the then Wendy Hall. I am still nursing and have 6 gorgeous grandchildren and so far the same lovely husband! Hoipe all goes well, will keep in touch. Jane
Price nee Carkeek
A year ago I thought it would be a good idea to try and reunite some of
our class - 'The Class of 69'. With help from Carol (Bonds) who has kept
in touch with many of our class and hours spent on the internet I tracked
down 29 of the 34+ girls who had at some time been in our class. Many
sent me news for my newsletter with their contact address so we can keep
in touch. Should I have missed anyone and they would like contact details
or news please contact me at jane_price@hotmail.co.uk
Sue Jennings neeOwen-Jones I visited my sister Jill in America twice this year, once in February and then again in May for her yougest daughter's wedding. My son has a son agred 2 and my yuungest daughter has a daughter of 1. My eldest daughter has 3 children so the next generation marches on! Best wishes to you all. Jane Hofmann-Thomson nee Melling So many names on the website that I remember and have fond memories of from my wonderful years 1957 to 1968 at St Clares!!Miss Crankshaw, wow, if she can make it we can!!I live in Dubai, am married now to Malcolm Thomson (half Scottish and half Dutch! We met 9 years ago here in Dubai). I have a daughter from a former marriage called Stephanie in London, part time International HR masters degree and looking for a job at the present time in the present circumstances!!! (24 years old) and two step daughters 26 and 24 years old Rebecca and Laura (in Abu Dhabi working at British embassy ex Durham Uni) and Dubai (working Dubai in luxury marketing ex York Uni). After leaving St Clares under a self imposed cloud!!!! I went to London to seek my fortune worked for the Evening Standard, Vogue Magasine (great time 7 years as Travel Promotion Manager, traveled the world) and The Guardian (BD Manager). My first husband passed away very young and I moved to Spain, Italy, Greece, then on to Germany and eventually to Muscat , Oman and Dubai, UAE and have been in the Middle East for the past 20 years. I was a Jazzercise teacher for 11 years in Oman 1988 to 1999 and ran a spa and opened a restaurant and am now (1999 2009) helping run a business in Dubai, UAE for entrepreneurs and larger businesses from all over the world to set up in the ME. Jack of all trades!I have two small villas (self built and maintained on the island of Corfu Greece in Paleocastritsa) I rent them out on www.holiday-rentals.com property 53648 if anyone fancies a break! My international contact number is 0097150 6515281(jane.thomson3@gmail.com or janehofmann@gmail.com ) if anyone is interested in coming to Dubai, UAE or Corfu, Greece let me know.I am in UK for one week from 10th Sept to 18th Sept in Norfolk visiting family and mother in law then on to Corfu for a few days, returning 25th to Dubai.We plan to retire back in UK and Greece but have a few more years to go yet!!Warm Wishes
Oenone Cox (nee Horton) 1929-1936 Thank you for the newsletter and I was impressed by the Schools many outside activities. I think ours consisted of an occasional Guide Rally and Hockey, Netball and Tennis match's with other Schools, the Annual drastic defeat by St Erbyn's Prep School's 2nd Eleven Cricket Team and the Cornwall Music Festival, with an occasional week in France organized by one of the Staff during the holidays. I was also very intrigued there are now so many Boarding Houses - only one at the end of the main building in my day though another house was bought soon afterwards and later sold for economic reasons. My family left Mawnan in 1946 and me to various Secretarial appointments in Hampshire, London Edinburgh and Hong Kong, plus the first 8 years married life in Nigeria. I rather lost tough with Penzance contacts after 1940 apart from Thelma Richards and Vivienne Speeding and any visits to Cornwall since 1970 were to friends in the Falmouth area. Thelma Cutler (nee Richards) married Beryl Cutler's brother Roger (who started his school in the Kindergarden and was ultimately Captain of the P & O Ship Canberra. Sadly they each died at the beginning and end of 2000, the year of their Diamond Wedding. Thelma and Beryl both joined the Kindergarden when the School was Penzance Church of England High School before it became the Woodard Corporation and left in 1936 after Form V1. Vivienne Sale (formerly Coakes) nee Speeding (1931 - 34) spent 14 years in Bermuda and Trinidad with her first husband then eventually settled with her second husband in Sussex and died there. It has been so interesting to see such an increase in numbers and wonderful achievements of former pupils. Rosalynd Morrellnee Thompson. ,At present not working but a mother to my two children, Max(age4) and Beatrix(age3) Unfortunately I have not been able to attend any reunions up to now but now I am living relatively closer, I look forward to the opportunity to becoming more involved. Patience
Cooper (nee Gunther) Thank you for the old girls newsletter and the
Herald. Although I have not visited Cornwall and the School for some years
I like to see how the School is doing and read the news from old girls.My
time at St Clare's was 1963 to 1971. It was a happy experience and I am
sorry I have not kept in touch with more of my contempories. I am in touch
with Elizabeth Eva ( nee Haynes), Angela Wills (nee Withers), Carol Trebucq
(nee Atkins), Cynthia Lambert (nee Jarvis) and Penny Warwick. Unfortunately
the years go by with Christmas cards exchanged but a peculiar inertia
regarding meeting up. Perhaps with 5 contacts (and I know Elizabeth is
also in contact with Shana Simpson) we have the basis for trying for a
reunion!I am a Vet, married to a Vet and we have a Veterinary Practice
in Hastings Chair
Thompson, nee Hinton :Have just been browsing your website -- fascinating
as there were quite a few names I remembered !My name is Clair Thompson
nee Hinton , I am Australian , however lived in England in 1959 and 1960
during which time my sister , Cherry , and I attended St Clares -- had
a wonderful time . Sally Gibbons was in my class -- I enjoyed seeing the
photos , also reading news of Marlene Casley -- Cordelia Briscoe, Julia
Mawditt , Briar Stower and I shared a room when we first arrived and made
me very welcome -- lots of laughs . So interested to read about Sally
Truscott -- also Miss Crankshaw ( who told us to go M Elizabeth Brendon-Cook - I thoroughly enjoyed my school life. I was a boarder and took full advantage of extra sport and clubs. Retirement in exceedingly busy, grandchildren to look after sometimes, encouraging sport and music and academic progress. We visit our daughter and family in Western Australia as often as possible. Lesley Young (Morrison) Divorced. 3 children - 4 grand children. I am very involved in my eldest son's family business golf holidays. Edith Morgan (nee Snell) Managed a ten day visit to Cornwall in June. Stayed with cousin in St Austell area (home patch)! Mary Newing: Appointed MBE in 1997. Retired as editor Dental Practice 2007. Now part-time executive editor. The Dental Web. 2007 Eastman Fellowship in Dental Surgery. Winnter Outstanding Achievement category of The dental Awards 2008. British Dental Association Roll of Distrinction to honour outstanding services to UK Dentistry.
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