THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE ALUMNAE OF ST TERESA’S EFFINGHAM 2017–18

Keeping in touch with old friends all over the world WELCOME! STOGA 2018 Welcome TO THE STOGA NEWSLETTER

I am thrilled to report that the STOGA membership is forever growing and we are delighted to welcome new members any time. We are always pleased to hear from old girls and love it when you pop in to visit. Please just call fi rst to make sure there is someone here to show you around. There is no subscription fee so please encourage your old friends to get in touch with us too. We have 1100 members on ‘Teresa Effi ngham’s Facebook which is a good place to look for old friends. Best Wishes

Jilly Cooper

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR DETAILS!

Please visit: www.st-teresas.com/school/stoga/ and fi ll in a STOGA MEMBERSHIP FORM or email [email protected]

2 REUNIONS & EVENTS STOGA 2018 Reunions & Events ANNUAL REUNION

Saturday 14th October 2017

Over 200 old girls came to the reunion this year and it was wonderful to witness the shrieks of delight and happy faces as old girls met up with friends from many years ago. The weather permitted us to be outside and the atmosphere on the front lawn was buzzing. This year STOGA commissioned a plaque for the Chapel to honour the Religious of Christian Instruction who founded the school in 1928 and Sister Carmel, Sister Josephine, Sister Pauline and Sister Brede were invited back as special guests to witness the unveiling and celebrate with us. The plaque was blessed by The Rev. Ian Wells and unveiled by Marion Corrigan at the Reunion in front of a packed chapel and afterwards the girls went for tours around the school in decade groups followed by a delicious afternoon tea. More pictures of guests and their news can be found in the In Touch section.

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Top: The commemorative plaque which reads: “THIS STONE RECORDS THE AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE FELT BY THE OLD GIRLS, PARENTS AND STAFF OF ST ST TERESA’S FOR THE RELIGIOUS OF CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTION WHO WORKED UNFAILINGLY FOR THE SCHOOL AND IN PARTICULAR MOTHER TERESA AND MOTHER WINIFRED WHO FOUNDED ST TERESA’S IN 1928”

LEFT – Sister Josephine, Sister June Shirville, Sister Carmel and Sister Brede

3 STOGA 2018 REUNIONS & EVENTS

ANNUAL REUNION continued

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1 Marian Corrigan 5 unveiling the plaque

2 Father Sebastian Paul with Sarah Conrad

3 Marina Miller, Sister Carmel, Tracey Fordham

4 1960s

5 1970s

6 1980s

7 Diana Cheveley, Fiona Hooper, Tamsin Banton, Ali Lomax, Joanna Wilson

8 Monika Brohn, Clare Dawson and Erika Banfi eld

4 REUNIONS & EVENTS STOGA 2018

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9 Fiona (Smith) Rowberry 11 12 1987, Fiona Stanley, Maria (Dobbe)

10 1990s

11 Marcela Quintero Grijalba Gavilan, Pippa Wheeler, Eloise Anthony and Marina (Allam) Alexander-Sefre

12 Susan (McCoach) White and Belinda (Bain) Cooper

5 STOGA 2018 REUNIONS & EVENTS

FAMOUS SQUARE MILE GUIDED WALK

Thursday 9th February 2017 It was a bitterly cold day in the city when we met up for this fascinating tour around the most historical and famous sights of the city including the Lloyds building, the Walkie Talkie, The Bank of England and The Guildhall. It took us through alleyways and cobblestone lanes, ruined churches and the fi sh market. Our guide gave the most amazing gems of information such as the gold stored at the Bank of England cannot be stacked more than 5 feet high, and has to be continuously moved around. Why? Because the London clay does not provide a solid enough foundation. Gold is so dense and thus heavy, it would start to sink the foundation of the vaults.

Hilary Suckling, Julia Lang, Lindsay Thynne, Jilly Cooper, Anne Jackson, Jane Evans, Sue Jackson, Stephanie Wilson Carey, and Clare Dawson plus Diane Humphreys, photographer

OLD WESTMINSTER BY GASLIGHT GUIDED WALK Monday 20th March On a drizzly afternoon we set off for our trip to Westminster. Thankfully by the evening it had fared up and we had a very enjoyable walk discovering all sorts of places we would not have known existed without the knowledge of our blue badge guide. At the end of the walk Parliament was still in session so some of us went to visit the House of Lords and House of Commons in its fi nal few minutes. It was a very interesting experience. The area where Parliament sits is actually much small than you would imagine from seeing it on TV. I was so glad we had done this although 2 days later when there was a terrorist attack where we had been it was rather disturbing. Guests included: Ian Cooper, Julia Jarrett ex SEN teacher, Jackie and David Remington (Stanley) 1965, Jilly Cooper alias Teresa Effi ngham, Vicky and Derek Read (Bennet) 1964 plus Irene Mallinson (Heath) old girl 1964, Sandi Layton and Michael parents of Frankie 2012 leaver, Josanne Stroud and husband parents of Tjasha 2012, Deborah Wagstaff and Mike parents of Antonia 2012.

6 REUNIONS & EVENTS STOGA 2018

BOAT TRIP TO HAMPTON COURT

Friday 21st April 2017

Jilly Cooper, Monica Brom, Dominic Smith, Vicky and Derek Reed The Gloriana, privately commissioned as as tribute to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee

BLUEBELL STOGA CUP TENNIS WALK TOURNAMENT Friday 5th May Sunday 7th May Simone Ellis and Jo Bray STTA hosted its fi rst STOGA Tennis Tournament for the senior joined me for a spring girls on Sunday 7th May. We all enjoyed a wonderful, sunny bluebell walk near afternoon watching some highly competitive matches. The girls Leith Hill produced some fantastic tennis with many nail biting rallies! We were really impressed with their competitive spirit. It was a great way for the girls to put their tennis match skills into practice in a fun but competitive environment. We had 24 girls participating in timed matches and they enjoyed a buffet lunch throughout the afternoon. We were delighted that Marian Corrigan, presented the STOGA trophy to the winner, Leonie Brennan-Lister (Year 7), who won a very tight match against our runner up Lara Samme. Well done to all of the girls who took part!

7 STOGA 2018 REUNIONS & EVENTS

A VILLAGE IN PICCADILLY

Monday 12th June 2017 This was one of the best walks ever through one of the most elegant and interesting parts of London with beautiful arcades and shop displays. Brought alive by our amazing guide Simon who really had some wonderful stories to tell. We were able to sample the Queen Mother’s favourite perfume at Floris perfumiere on Jermyn Street and taste the Queen’s favourite exquisite chocolates from Charbonnel et Walker in The Royal Arcade – chocolatier since 1875. From left to right: Clare Dawson, Hilary Suckling (Annie 2013), Margaret Ford (former Deputy Head), Stephanie Wilson Carey, Sue Jackson (ex-staff), Simone Ellis, Carol Smith (Sarah 2013), Liz Butler, Liz Mclaren, Jo Bray and Di Cheveley, plus Diane Humpreys (ex-staff), Carol Ivey and Carol Bentley who are not in the picture.

JACK THE RIPPER WALK Friday November 17th Little of the old city of Jack the Ripper’s days remains however we visited the very spots where some of the horrifi c murders took place. The only place which remains almost untouched is the hostel where one of the victims lived in Artillery Lane.

8 REUNIONS & EVENTS STOGA 2018

HOCKEY MATCH

Sunday 19th March The following old girls took part in a STOGA hockey tournament against staff: Jenni (Annis) Turner, Charlotte Scudamore, Heidi (Thorpe) Williams-Richardson, Lara Bates, Poppy Disley-May, Ellen Mason, Cat Smithham, Frankie Cook, Bunty Rowbotham, Jessica Martin, Tasha Reed, Becky Piddlesden, Niki Chaudhry, Emily Dudman, Freya Tait, Francoise Balfe, Immy Kelly, Isobel Elburn, Catherine Lewis, Kristjana Bjarnason, Hannah Garnet The Old Girls won!

2ND ANNUAL STOGA HOCKEY MATCH Staff & Current Pupils v STOGA Sunday 18th March 2018 2–4pm at St Teresa’s

Please make an extra big effort as it will be Miss Nelson’s last STOGA Hockey as Director of Sport as she is being promoted to a Senior Teacher role in September. Come and help her celebrate her years of achievement particularly on the hockey pitch and for a glass of bubbles after the game! We look forward to seeing you. Miss Kay, Head of Hockey

9 STOGA 2018 FAMILY NEWS Family News

GRADUATIONS Catriona Smitham Genaffa (Ahmed) Virjee Catriona Smitham, 2011, graduated with a First Class BA Honours degree in Television and Film Production from the University of Portsmouth last summer. Catriona was at St. Teresa’s from 2005–2011. She has many happy memories of her years at St. T’s and has kept in touch with most of her year. She looks forward to returning to see the progress of the school in future years.

Genaffa (Ahmed) Virjee 1977 Graduated in 2014

Jemima Hayes 2014 Jemima has graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc in Marketing and Management.

Georgina Hayes 2014 Georgina has graduated from the University of Leeds with a BA in Classical Literature and Philosophy. Both girls are off to Courcheval in France to work as Chalet Hosts for the 2017–18 ski season. Jemima Hayes

ENGAGEMENTS: Gemma Bates Gemma Louise Bates 2010

I got engaged on 14th October to Jack who I met Amy Jones when we were on the same course at university. We are getting married on 28th March in the Caribbean (Montserrat). We live in Taunton where we are both in the geo engineering sector. Jack is a geotechnical engineer and I am in geo-environmental.

Amy Jones 2010 Matthew Edwards and I got engaged on 22nd November 2017. Matthew is a police offi cer and works for British Transport Police. We have arranged our wedding for 1st September 2018 at St Dunstan’s Church in Woking. We are really excited about the wedding and beginning our married life together. Georgina Hayes

Holly Rose Baker 2008 Got engaged to Seb Arnell on Mother’s Day as well as moving up to County Durham. We are planning a winter wedding for 2019.

Isabella Chung 2012 Isabella got engaged to Michael Cheng

Courtney Louise Adams I got engaged in June 2017 to Peter Michael Misch of Rumson, New Jersey, to be married in NYC October Isabella Chung 6th of 2018. We live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.

10 FAMILY NEWS STOGA 2018

WEDDINGS Kate (Dennison) Jones Kate (Dennison) Jones 2007 Married Tyler Jones in Vernon, BC in Canada on August 26th 2017. We live together in Edmonton, AB in Canada where I am an Emergency Medical Responder and Tyler owns his own automotive repair business.

Suzannah (Steer) Leonard 1985 We got married in Bath at The Pig Hotel on 6 June. My husband is called Simon Leonard and I have taken his surname.

Sarah Vasey- Keeble 1986 I got married for the fi rst time on 25th June 2016 and waited 52 years to do it!

Suzannah (Steer) Leonard Claire (Macklin) Black 1991 I now live in Portishead, near Bristol. I have two sons, Laurie and Fraser (Mowbray), who are 10 and 13. In October 2016, I married Paul Black, and Laurie and Fraser gave me away. I am still in touch with Alex Jelly, who was at my wedding, and is the only person from St T’s that I still see on a regular basis.

Gemma (Borham) Errington 2004 I married Jonathan Errington. He works in IT and I work at the YMCA

Henrietta (Gundry) Trollope 2007 Henrietta married Michael Trollope in May 2017

Francesca (Bisgood) Cook 2005 We were married at Our Lady Of Sorrows Church Effi ngham with the reception at the RAC Club in Epsom, 17th June.

Kate Sibley 1983 I married Scott Morley (a fi reman with the LFB) on Saturday 16th December 2017 at Chilston Park Hotel in Lenham, Kent. We have been together for fi ve and a half years. His watch provided a guard of honour with an arch of silver axes! It was a very special day.

Claire (Macklin) Black Gemma (Borham) Errington

11 STOGA 2018 FAMILY NEWS

Henrietta (Gundry) Trolloppe

Francesca (Bisgood) Cook

Kate Sibley BIRTHS Elsie Trevor Adriana Marcela Quintero Grijabalda 1990 Our new news is the birth of our daughter, Lara Constanza Gavilan Quintero, born 9th July 2017 at 10:51 am in St Félicité clinic in Paris, weighing 3.9kg and 50cms in size.

Josie (Middleton Heath) Cope 2012 Nic and I are delighted to announce the arrival of our beautiful baby boy: Theodore (Theo) Marc James Cope. Born 19 May 2017 at 11.04pm, weighing a healthy 8lbs 5. We are completely and utterly besotted with him.

Lizzie Trevor 2006 Lizzie gave birth to a little girl Elsie on 11 June; a sister for Alfi e who is now 18 months old.

OBITUARIES Lara Constanza Quintero Grijabalda Kristy Fordham 2007 passed away suddenly last year while I was also very sick with meningitis and in a coma at same time she was rushed in to hospital. She has two daughters, 24 and 21, and a son aged 10. I have three daughters, 32, 22 and 16, a son aged 30 this June, a granddaughter aged 14, two grandsons aged 10 and 2, and a new grandson due in May. Tracey Fordham

Pricilla Drew (Martin) 1968 sadly passed away last year.

Lindy Williams sadly passed away 1st February 2018

12 FAMILY NEWS STOGA 2018 Lindy Williams Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lindy, old girl, widow of Peter, mother of Judy, Jennie and Biddie, and the former Chair and Treasurer of STOGA for many years. She was one of the linchpins of STOGA and contributed so much to its success. Lindy was loved by all and and we will miss her and her enchanting smile.

Left: Lindy with her daughters Jennie and Bridget at the 2016 Annual Reunion

Below: Lindy and friends at the 2017 Annual Reunion

I fi rst met Lindy when I went to St Teresa’s in May 1947 and we became friends from that day for another 70+years. She had been there for a couple of years and it was apparent that she was very happy and loved every minute and this sense of contentment never left her which manifested itself in her strong support for the Community and Stoga. Looking back over our time at St’s I can not recall Lindy ever receiving a bad mark which does not infer that she was a Goodie Two Shoes or Miss Prim and Proper rather that her caring and friendly personality had no need of transgressions to enliven her life at School. I remember especially two very important traits - her sincere devotion to the Catholic Religion, to which she converted soon after leaving school, and if she could not be found one had to seek her out in the smallest room in the house where she would be ensconced reading a book. How she loved her books! After school she never changed, her looks just became more mature but girls who had not seen her for 50 years still recognised her immediately from photographs. Having been nurtured in the loving and caring environment of St T’s she carried this forward by becoming a fantastic Mother to her three daughters who happily followed to her alma mater. Lindy was a very good and loyal friend, a strong supporter of Stoga and the nearest to a Saint that I am likely to meet. There will be a Memorial Service at St T’s later this year to which I hope many alumni will attend - please consult the Stoga web site for the date which will be fi nalised in the next few weeks. Meanwhile her family and myself ask for your prayers. Rest in Peace dear Lindy. Marian Corrigan (Ococks)

13 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH In Touch 1940s Joan (Turvey) Forbes 1945 with daughter Jo Forbes 1973 1948 Joy (Skelton) Chamberlayne 1948 Visited the school whilst Jo was over from Australia.

1945 Sister June Shirville (below) 1950s Sister Brede and Marian Corrigan 1952

Dawn (Newman-Horrill) Horrill 1952 (left) Jill Amandini 1948 (right) After a fantastic holiday in Fish Hoek, Visited with her partner South Africa early in the year, I have Eric been on my travels, cruising the high seas. In April my friend and I boarded the Oriana, docked in Southampton to sail the Iberian Lynne Reid Peninsula. The weather was sunny skies, fi ne and stayed dry Banks 1948 throughout the trip. On the 13th April we approached Santander (formerly Bindi and after docking had time to explore the sprawling and delightful Banks) now city. We sailed in and out of ports. El Ferrol, memorable for the Stephenson Good Friday religious festival. Oporto famous for the fortifi ed I am an old wine. Easter Monday port of Cadiz, with the authentic Spanishness (very) girl of atmosphere and onto Gibraltar,a fascinating place to visit. Lisbon, the school. quaint and old fashioned but a visit to Sintra to the Royal Palace I attended and the Moorish Castle (now in ruins) was worthwhile. Last of all from 1938 till was La Rochelle, with beautiful architecture and the yacht harbour. shortly after Returning to Southampton. After a couple of weeks home, I fi nd war was declared. myself back on the ship Azura to cruise the Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, Faroe Islands and over to Belfast . Having a balcony one was Yesterday I was out for a drive with my son and daughter-in-law able to appreciate the steep mountains and superb scenery. The and they decided we should see the school, so we came. It brought town of Akureyri is nestled at the head of Iceland’s longest fjord and back many memories. I have been back more recently when Sister surrounded by mountains. Alesund is built on three islands which Catherine, who was my best friend at school when she was Sue are connected by bridges and a sub sea tunnel, it is now Norway’s Felstead, arranged for me to visit to talk to the girls. This was leading fi shing port, and tourism a grown importance. Isafjordur, shortly before she died in 2015. Of course the school has changed (The Westfjords), noted for peace, quiet and endless calm. Reykjavik and grown since my time. But it was basically as I remembered. a modern city, with hot springs, There is the Blue Lagoon in which I became a writer, novels for all ages. One of them, “Scarlet to bathe plus many scenic delights. Last port of call was Belfast, a Footprints”, which remains unpublished, largely dealt with my time vibrant city. There are many attractions to seduce the senses. Titantic at St. Teresa’s. Experience and The Giant’s Causeway just two of the many. It I wish the school well. Fancy having a head master! The only male has been an amazing year to travel and most enjoyable. To end, I presence in my time was the good Father! All other men were have a week in Spain with Carol in September, just to recharge my anathema to the nuns as you’ll see if you have time to glance at batteries!!!!!! My golf is not in a good state of play, but I have taken up the book. playing Pickleball, a little more lively. www.lynnereidbanks.com I still love my theatre visits to the Salisbury playhouse, and swim weekly. “Scarlet Footprints” memoirs of Lynne Reid Banks – for an excerpt Thank you so much for arranging the Reunion; it is always worth please see page 30 the trip from Salisbury. Best wishes and happy days.

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Valerie (Urquhart) Suzanne (Cobb) Hill 1956 Ransley 1953 (right) with Thank you for the invitation to the STOGA REUNION. daughter Liz (Ransley) Unfortunately this clashes with a prior engagement, so I won’t Lancaster 1983 get there, but wish you all a fi ne day, lots of fun and chatter. I’d like a fi ne day too, since we should be careering about in our Lindy Williams 1953 1934 Riley MPH Racing. In the wet it’s a small travelling submarine cum bath-tub. Please see ‘Family News’ for Lindy’s obituary. Keep up the good work with the Newsletter. I regret that I really do appreciate the hard-copy, as being easier to pick up at the odd moment. Also I’m more inclined to read it than browse on any form of screen. I loved seeing the photos of “Penny Bun” with the dogs and “Woody” with Blackie & Kim. The gymkhanas were indeed fun – the back lawn was full of four leaf clovers and crickets. And the sun generally shone. My love to the Sisters. All good wishes for the day.

Rosemary (Howlett) Skoyles Pauline (Wood) Sheppard 1958 1959

Rosalind Ococks Morgan 1954 The Reunion was my fi rst visit since 1952! I would never have recognised the old school. Fantastic place now. Still nobody from my year but I still see my best friend Valerie Lonsdale.

Penny “Bun” (Rivers) Chamont Margaret (Homan) Cianni 1954 1955 1960s

Sally (Giddings-Green) Douglas Irene (Heath) Mallinson 1962 1963

Micky (Grindle) Langham 1955 (not pictured) Erika (Harrison) Banfi eld 1963 Sorry I am unable to attend the Reunion. I have very happy memories of the school. My husband and I have recently moved to France and settled down in the countryside with Frances (Andrews) Rodgers 1956 two donkeys, seven hens and Received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Hetty our feline friend after Honours in 2015. It was for volunteering and having run our own company child care and education (Dauphin Acrylic Design) displaying antiques in Historic Houses, Museums and Palaces all over the UK. We have three children and seven grandchildren and love entertaining them in France and making frequent visits to the UK. We love staying with Moni (my sister) nearby so hopefully there will be more STOGA visits in the future.

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Annette (Firman) Messenger 1964 Maxine Levers 1964 joined the school as the 17th (Penny Candy) the 18th (Margaret Candy) and 19th (my mother Mildred Candy) pupils! I then went to St Teresa’s at the age of 6 in 1952 (before Grove House). I left in 1962/3 and spent the next year working at Grove House as a teaching assistant before going onto Digby Stuart College of Education. I later returned to Grove House as a teacher from Jan 1969 to April 1972. My sister Margaret Duffy and cousin Terry Butt also went to St Teresa’s! Perhaps the strangest coincidence was that a cousin I only met at teacher training college for the fi rst time has a sister who later sent her daughters (the Loftins) to St Teresa’s unaware that I had been! Known at school as Duffy by my friends and Big Duffy by the nuns! Monica (Harrison) Brohm 1964 Liz (Hobbs) Eaton 1964 I have been very busy I love getting the newsletter and recovering from my sudden reading what everyone is doing. stroke in August 2015. Plenty I live with Wilf in Oxfordshire of rehab and looking for and we are lucky to spend the ways to re build one’s life three cold winter months in NZ and confi dence. If anyone each year! After we moved here “out there” has been in the in 1982 I became involved in same situation please feel the WI as it fulfi lled my belief in free to contact me as it the necessity of community and can be comforting. I am still friendship. It is a fascinating and living in Henley. My daughter interesting organisation which Dominique lives near Oxford opened so many opportunities for me, not just in my village, but also and has been a wonderful within Oxfordshire and fi nally I spent 5 years on the national board support. She also enjoyed two – I often think how fl abbergasted my mother would have been! STOGA Hampton Court get togethers. The biggest challenge was About 10 years ago Wilf and I became involved in the Kenya Children to travel to France to stay with my sister Erika and her husband. Centres and today we have two residential homes and three feeding groups in the slum areas – which has added so much to our lives, Vicky (Bennett) Read 1964 Caroline Corbould 1964 especially as we were unable to have a family ourselves, for we support over 300 children. We visit Kenya every year, which is very grounding!

Valerie (Baird) Pridgeon 1964 Annabelle (Balls) Gardner 1965 (below) Still living in Bookham after nearly 40 years, 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Thanks to St T’s and the frightening Miss Challon, I am enjoying singing in the local choral society, and participate in all the usual hobbies for a 70 year old!

Liz (Duffy) Chalk 1964 My family has a long connection with the nuns going back to when they fi rst arrived. For their fi rst 2–3 years my grandfather Dr. George Candy was their GP, sadly he died very suddenly from a heart attack. My grandmother, a nurse, continued looking after the nuns and accompanied the sisters who could not speak any English back to the Mother House in Belgium when needed. My mother and her two sisters Stephanie Collins 1965 (left)

16 IN TOUCH STOGA 2018

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11

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1 Janet (Hovenden) Trythall 5 Kate (Hovenden) Tjomlid 8 Pamela (Hoare) Hanratty 10 Jane (Elliott) Timis 1967 1964 1966 1967 I am still teaching as a Special 11 Jo (Gibson) Bray 1967 2 Jackie (Stanley) Remington 6 Sarah (Allison) Pallin 1966 Needs Teacher at Fulham 1965 It is so wonderful to have Prep in London. I enjoy the 12 Becky (Ellis) Collins 1967 been at the Reunion and challenge of dealing with my 3 Diana (Ward-Smith) seen all my old friends again. pupils. Each child is unique 13 Lisbeth (Gillies) Butler 1967 Cheveley 1965 and has different needs. 7 Alice (Hovenden) Kirwan 14 Clare (Lockett) Dawson 1968 4 Diana Hayes 1966 1967 9 Sue Moss Symonds 1966 15 Melody (Sarant) Paton 1968

17 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH Margaret (Duffy) Langley 1968 1970s We moved to Northamptonshire at Christmas 2013, shortly after Josephine Mclaughlin 1970 my husband Christopher retired. Nothing newsworthy from me. A complete change but we are Very proud of the three children very happy here. We have fi ve I raised, mostly alone. Satisfi ed I children: Clare, was living in did my best work helping young Warwick and is an orthopaedic offenders. Now retired, happy consultant, Joseph in Sheffi eld is a granny and step granny. Love senior research analyst at Sheffi eld being part of a large close loving Hallam University, John in Bedford family. Forty seven years of a working for the National builder very ordinary life with the usual and hopes to move into partnership with an old school friend, Mary highs and lows. Carmel in Colchester is a family solicitor and Sarah is in Aylesbury and is a intensive care nurse at Stoke Manderville. By Christmas we will have 10 grandchildren, three of them born this year so we are Helen (Williams) Norman 1971 Anne (Bannister) Oliver 1971 kept very busy keeping up with family and friends.

Cathy Johnson 1968 It was good to catch up with old friends recently....I have kept in touch with a couple of ex-students, who were not able to get there on that day: Sally Gilbard (now Arlidge) and Mary Rankine (now Loudon). After a few years working as a PA to a solicitor and then with the Arundel and Brighton RE Service, I trained as a teacher and taught for many years. I trained to be a counsellor while I was teaching and have now been counselling in schools for 20 years. I am working in Buntsy (Sheila) Bines 1971 Gina le Seelleur 1971 a school in Reading at the moment. I have a foster daughter who has just got a First in her degree, so I’m very proud! My dearest memories from school are of Madame Menjou and Mrs Gledhill. They were inspirational teachers and they kindled passions for French and for literature and poetry in me – passions which remain to this day. I am forever grateful to them.

Patricia Perry 1968 Patricia popped in for a visit in the summer. She is now retired and living in Reigate.

Judith Navey 1971 Judy (le Seelleur) French 1972

Deborah (Davis) Temple 1969 Liz (Cousland) McLaren 1969

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Jill Trevor 1972 Simone Ellis 1972 1973 Rebecca (Davis) House I’ve just become a Grandma Rebecca (Davis) House 1973, for the second time. Lizzy and Debbie 1969 her sister, gave birth to a little girl, Elsie, visited school May 2017 and on 11 June, a little earlier than enjoyed looking around their anticipated, a sister for Alfi e old haunts. who is now 18 months old...so Becky is a senior lecturer at she and James have their hands Bournemouth University and full and I am regularly going up Deborah is a farmer. to Wimbledon, where they live, Becky started school in 1961 to help out. aged 6 and Deborah started in 1959 aged 8. Both girls boarded until 1963 when their father was posted to Singapore.

Jo Forbes 1973 (below) DON’T FORGET TO Jo now lives in Australia and visited the school with her mother, Joan, who as well as attending SEND US YOUR NEWS! the school worked at the stables afterwards. email [email protected]

Jenny (Smith) Weston with Elizabeth (Smith) Damiano 1975 (below) Had to go to Sherborne this afternoon so took a chance and called in to St Antony’s Convent Julia (McCoach) Rosie (Riley) and saw Sisters Pauline and Whitehurst 1975 Dowbekin 1975 Josephine. Had never met Sister I have been happily J as she came to Sherborne married to Paul for before I arrived at St T’s. 38 years and have Recognised Pauline straight away, an amazing son and though unsurprisingly she doesn’t daughter, Dominic remember me! Had a lovely chat and Joanna. I run a remembering the old times and very busy kinesiology discussing the new. Hope I didn’t practice from my outstay my welcome – I think home here in Nunney. it was only about half an hour. I would love the They’re both looking forward to opportunity to meet Saturday. up with or hear from Have attached a photo taken of anyone who may Lizzie & I on holiday together in remember me. May (my “little” sister has the white hair!). We’re sorry to miss Jane (Sunderland) Janine Lucas 1976 Amanda Dennis the gathering. Sunderland Hall 1976 1976

Susan (McCoach) Fiona Maxwell-Smith Sue (Backhouse) White 1977 1977 Frisby 1977

19 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH 1980s Gilly (Ellis) Coleman 1980 (right)

Susie (Fallmann) Peat 1980 I was at St Teresa’s for four years as a day girl in the senior school from 1974 to 1978 doing my O levels (1978) and I am trying to track down my class mate then, Sandhya Jethwa. Belinda (Bain) Cooper 1977 (left) If you happen to have any contact details for her, Married to Graeme for 35 years and have two children – Caroline 30 and Adam then please send her mine, and she could contact 27. I live in South Holmwood, Surrey me if she wishes. I couldn’t see anything on the website from my cohort, though I do remember Sarah Rickets 1977 (centre) Mrs Snowden fondly and often remember her as the best maths teacher ever. She always made sure every single student understood before moving on. Caroline (Browne) North 1977 (above right) Without her, I would not have got a B in maths!!! The I am recently retired living in Frimley with my husband Brian and whippet Woozle. other best teacher ever was the English teacher Mrs European travel, art classes, charity patient driving and gardening keep me busy. Andrews, who told the scariest ghost stories!! I look We are fortunate in having our son Jonathan living and working locally. forward to hearing back if anyone from my era is in touch and shall look on your Facebook page too. (left to right) Sally McLaughlin 1978, Julia (Witten) Roberts 1977 and Phillipa (Dennis) Bottomley 1976 Yvonne (Graham) McGuinness 1980 I am currently living with my mother (who has Alzheimer’s) with my husband and son who is studying computer science at Portsmouth University. I am still teaching piano and accordion and playing for musical engagements such as Scottish country dancing, Bavorian French and general light music evenings.

Liz Vickers I went to Grove House then briefly St Teresa’s around about 1974 when I was 11 or 12. I had a great friend called Lisa Landini – I was wondering if anyone is in touch with her? Sally McLaughlin 1978 Happily settled in Brighton where I raised my two sons. After a few false starts in I had happy memories of the school and knew the Civil Service and Finance I accidentally got into pre-school education. I work Sr Carmel well. managing a pre-school and an after-school club. Rosie (Moran) Johnston 1982 Chantal (Purden) Witten Claire (Sunderland) Mills Helen Backhouse I enjoy getting the magazine and the facebook site 1979 1979 1979 and seeing if I recognise anyone! I haven’t seen many faces I know yet, but I did recognise Kate McCall McCowan from the last magazine. For info – I was a day pupil at St T’s from 1974 – 1980 (leaving at the end of lower 6th), and my maiden name was Moran. I was one of Mrs Snowdon’s girls and enjoyed seeing the photos she put together, recognising some people including myself. Unfortunately I have lost contact with everyone I knew there. Since leaving St T’s I was a nurse for 30 years and now work in an admin role in a Chartered Accountants. I live near Oxford and have been married to Ken for 29 years and have 3 grown up children.

20 IN TOUCH STOGA 2018

Paola Gorrara 1983 How lovely to hear of Mrs Andrews – certainly a blast from the past. She was a fabulous English teacher. Alex (Palmer) Prior 1983 I left St Teresa’s and went on to do a law degree and Living in Brockham, married to Richard, two Law Society Finals in Guildford then became a solicitor daughters aged 25 and 23. The eldest is a special in Birmingham where I found a training contract with needs teacher in Horsham and the youngest is doing a fi rm where welfare law was practiced (at that point I her LPC. I am working as a secretary for Buchanon was of course going to change the world!). and Curwen Electricians in Bookham. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 caught it early and very lucky I eventually specialised in social housing advising local 2 years clear! authorities and Housing Associations. I did things like write tenancy agreements and joint venture and management agreements for accommodation for mother and baby units and over 55’s housing and the like, as well as court work getting injunctions and ASBO’s and evicting people for serious anti social behaviour. If I say so myself I became well known for the work. I eventually set up my own law fi rm and worked far too hard until I was 42 being a career woman. I then received a diagnosis of Breast Cancer and went through some gruelling treatment which made me re evaluate life. I merged (effectively sold) the practice and concentrated on getting my health back. Since then I have worked part time for my family property company and travel as far as Hong Kong and Israel to Dubai and Russia. I also spend a lot of time in my home in Italy where most of my family live – my parents died when I was Lis (Urquart) Ransley, Bridget (Williams) Davies, Emma (Hammond) Fennelly 1983 only 28 and I have only 1 brother in the UK so I tend to be in Italy for Xmas, Easter and the Summer. Laura (Denny) Everest Luckily for me my health has steadily improved 1985 and my life is perhaps less challenging but a lot less I very much look forward stressful than when I worked full time. to receiving the newsletter. Angele Dowmunt- It was most disappointing Iwaszkiewicz 1983 that I couldn’t be in UK for 1983 Stephanie (Rosin the reunion at the end of de Gastell) Swaddling last Summer. Married since 1989. Three Just a news update… My children – two girls and a husband, Richard, and I are boy. Two grandchildren Ali (Clare) Lomax 1984 still living and both working – one boy and one girl. I I attended the junior in Dubai. Our daughter have been living in Wales school and kindergarten is currently at boarding since 1988. so remember Sister School in UK. Our son has Carmel and Sister Pauline almost completed his A very well! I am now 51 levels in Dubai and will be Valerie (Urquhart) Ransley with daughter Lis heading off very soon to (Ransley) Lancaster 1983 and live locally so look forward to coming to the begin training as a Pilot (his I am married and have two children: Henry 20 and Reunion with Joanna van life long ambition!) James 19. I live just outside Bath and my mum (also a der Lande It will be strange to have a St Teresa’s old girl) lives nearby. semi empty nest, though Joanna (van der Lande) Tracey Fordham I feel our 4 Labradors Wilson 1984 1985 will enjoy more focused attention. 2017 was a tricky year as I had 3 major surgeries, following my accident 3 years ago (13 operations to date and a couple more ahead) and my Father died unexpectedly. Needless to say we are looking forward to a happier Year ahead. Sending my very best wishes.

21 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH

Suzanne (Roberts) Greenwood) Jen (Owen) Wicks 1989 Marina (Corrigan) Miller 1985 1985 and Becky (Steer) Hughes For the last two years I have worked as a welcome host for Greater Anglia Trains. My son Jon is at college studying animation and fi lm and Jacob my youngest is about to take his GCSEs

Tersine (Milnes) Sansom 1989 Tamsin (Hooper) Banton I work for Children’s Social 1986 (right) Care, Disability and run an I married Mark in 1999 and we online website selling militaria. have four fabulous daughters. This year they are busy doing A levels, GCSEs and SATs. I have lived in London and Maria (Dorking) Dobbe 1989 Southampton working in (left) recruitment and television Having run my own fl orist since I advertising. We are now based left school I sold my business last less than a mile from where I grew year and am now working in a up in a small village near Reigate. local school as a cover supervisor. We are close to completing the refurbishment of a beautiful old farm house in the country with dogs, horses, and hens. At the moment, Heidi (Thorpe) Williams- I am a full time chauffeur, maid and Richardson 1989 with her bottle washer for the family. daughter

Siobhan Hand 1986 (right) Kate Nienmann Parkinson 1989 (below) Giselle Gearing 1986 Recently moved to New Zealand

Frances McCarthy Turko 1986 Fiona (Smith) Rowberry 1987 Jaseon Horner 1989

Alex (Danby) Preston 1988 Ceilia Gresswell 1989 (below) To reconnect with I am living in Warminster with old girls, ‘befriend’ Francis (Wood) Bamber 1989 my husband, who is in the army, and two children. Life is a mixture St. Teresa’s of juggling work with family life! on Facebook Our postings have taken us to which is listed nice places – we have had three blissful years in Germany and, under the name of most recently, four happy years ‘Teresa Effi ngham’ in Shrivenham and I was lucky to be working as Headmaster’s PA at Pinewood School. I am now working at Hanford as School Secretary which I love.

22 IN TOUCH STOGA 2018 1990s Eloise Anthony 1990 I am still living in Holland with my husband and two children, James (13) and Caitlin (11). I have worked in the research division of the national blood bank for the last 20 years. My function now is fl oor-manager for 4 departments. I am participating in an internal management development programme which will give me the opportunity to manage the blood donor centres in the north of Holland for 6 months in 2018 which will be an exciting new experience.

Marina (Allam) Cathy Rua 1990 Lisa Smith Wilcock 1990 Alexander-Sefre and Pippa Wheeler Le 1990 Marina wrote: I am working as a GP in a busy practice in Northampton. I am married with one daughter now aged 14. I spend a lot of time in London where I have family and friends. Enjoying travelling to visit family living all around the world. Anyone visiting Northampton is welcome Caroline Troy 1990 Beckie (Young) Irvine 1990 to get in touch.

Marcela Quintero Grijalba Gavilan 1990 I am living in Paris, married to Spanish national Ignacio Gavilan on 24 September 2016. We have a baby Lana born on 9th July 2017. I am working as an economist.

Claire (Bingley) Amanda (Morgan) Madeline (Dykes) Donaldson 1990 (above) Mathers 1990 (above) Halliwell 1990 I am now married and Shelly (Smith) Forrester Kerrie Dorman 1990 live locally with my 1990 (below) (above right) husband and 2 children I have a 17 year old who are 6 and 3. I still daughter called Charlotte Nicky Dorman 1990 play tennis and have and a 15 year old son (right) taught for many years. called Matthew. I work Catherine Marriner at Petworth House and Honey 1990 (below) Park – a National Trust Pauline McEllin Pinchoff Sonya Qureshi Davies Property. I still sing and I 1990 1990 am in a band and a choir!

Katherine Herriott 1993 and Claire Gresswell 1994 (not pictured) came to the reunion.

23 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH

Marie-Luiza de Menezes 1994 Jane (Knights) Sullivan 1997 and Laura (Thon) Mtharu Our latest news is the family grew this last year. My second son Kaian Naveen de Menezes-Pattenden joins his bigger brother Rupin, to keep me and my partner, Anoushka very busy! With Kaian three weeks old, I then started a new job with The Royal Economics Society as their Operations Manager to set up a new London Offi ce and centralising infrastructure and operations. All the while I was still keeping in touch with other St T’s girls from my year.

Eppie (Hung) Kosinarova 1998 (right)

Rosie Butler 1998 Rosie Butler has completed her phase 1 training and is now a private soldier

Gillian (McCulloch) O’Loughlin 1997 (below)

Suzy (Allan) Fowkes 1999 (below right)

Diana (Herriott) Davies 1995 (right)

Jenny (Staple) Hallinan 1996 (below right)

Claire (Henry) Guise 1997 Emma (Colebrook) (below) Woodhouse 1997 Shiona (Eve) Bacon 1997

Tessa (Grobel) Marchington 1999 (not pictured) Co-founded the Investec International Music Festival in 2009 with Wu Qian. Tessa is performing on May 4th at Holy Trinity Church, alongside Wu Qian and opera singers Anna Huntley, Anna Patalong, Ben Nelson and Paul Curievici. For more information on the festival visit www.iimf.co.uk

24 IN TOUCH STOGA 2018

Elizabeth Irvine 2000s 2008 (right) Modupe Agun 2001 (right) Selina Greenland Victoria (Kelley) Shirvill 2001 2011 Every year the Worshipful Company of Attended the Engineers gives medals to outstanding reunion. engineers in a number of categories. This year Lt. Cdr Victoria Shirvill (née Kelley) Rosina Simmons M. Eng., C.Eng., RN, received from Princess 2011 Anne the Royal Navy Operational Engineering I was an old girl in Award: https://tinyurl.com/y9a2rtfr the Prep School from Pre-Nursery Chammy Lucas (Somboonsuk) 2001 up until Year 6 in Does anyone have an affi liation with any 2004. I am graduating university this year and I was schools in Melbourne, Australia? I am looking back at how much my academic life was expecting a little girl in September and the shaped in my formative years at St T’s and I felt it enrolment process out here is extremely fi tting that I should reach out to some of my teachers competitive. that really stick in my mind. I would like to express my gratitude to Judith Irvine, Mrs Paradise and Elaine Larque who have all now left. Caroline Buckman 2002 (right) Caroline is now head of St Teresa’s Pre Prep. These old girls popped in to see us just before Anouska Maloney 2002 Christmas: Anouska came to visit Janet Gardner in May

Gemma Nelson 2007 (left)

Esme Banting 2007 This year (10 years after leaving St. Teresa’s) I graduate from the University of Oxford with Kristjana Bjarnason, Cara Ballard, Abi Curry a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. I am taking up my fi rst post as a Clinical Psychologist at University Hospital College London next month. I am also due to get married to my fi ancé of 12 years (he came to all the St. Teresa’s summer and winter balls with me) in May 2018.

Esme Banting, Hannah Miller, Stephanie Palmer, Gemma Nelson 2007

Lydia Hutchinson, Lucy McCutcheon, Maisy Presley

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email [email protected]

25 STOGA 2018 IN TOUCH Former & Current Staff News

Steve Atkinson had a baby boy, James, on 13th December 2017, Sister Carmel Mike Farmer – Head weighing 6lbs 12oz.

David Neil-Gallacher Annette Turner – Former Chair of Governors – Chair of Governors

Juliette Lester Ex Teacher 2003 – 2007 I am still enjoying retirement in West Sussex and I seem to get busier and busier. There Sarah Heafi eld – Ex Chemistry Teacher and Head of Year are so many opportunities for at the Reunion with Jill Elburn – Deputy Head, Pastoral (on the left) retired people both in terms of taking up new interests and in terms of volunteering. I started drawing and painting classes four years ago and haven’t looked back. I love it – a compulsive and time-consuming passion. We are running out of wall space! Walking the two dogs is also part of every day and if it is sunny we all take off to our beach hut in Ferring. There is nothing like sea air. I am part of a small but active church congregation and I am also loosely involved with the Chemin Neuf Community at the Priory, Storrington. Last year I went in as “conservation partner” to students on their language programme. From the end of October I shall be going in for 4 weeks as a volunteer EFL Teacher. It is always a pleasure to be there. Finally there is the garden. We now have a greenhouse and I raised tomatoes from seed for the fi rst time. It was hard work but very rewarding and we are still eating the very last crop. I always enjoy reading news from school both past and present.

26 IN TOUCH STOGA 2018

Shirley Andrews Ex English Teacher 1975–1985 I still teach English Literature – far better now than at St T’s – as I know more. I have three classes with U3A – 2 Jane Austen groups – in Guildford and in Dorking and one Shakespeare, big mostly men in Guildford. These classes have been a god send as I lost my darling husband in 2002.

Sister Pauline and Sarah Conrad, Prep Head

Jean Wells – Ex RE Teacher Deborah Gallacher Ex Food Fiona Hooper 1993 Tech and Chemistry Technician ex Drama Teacher

Mrs Pam Rua Ex Head of Boarding and Sheila Longman Ex Teacher 1991–2003

DON’T FORGET TO UPDATE YOUR DETAILS!

Please visit: www.st-teresas.com/school/stoga/ and fi ll in a STOGA MEMBERSHIP FORM or email [email protected]

27 STOGA 2018 SCHOOL NEWS School News

OUTSTANDING GCSE STARS Our Year 11 achieved excellent GCSE results this year, with over 50% of the cohort PREP INSPECTION achieving A* and A grades. There were incredible performances across the year, with Following the inspection in May the Prep School many girls achieving a string of top grades, and a host of others proved that dedication has been rated as excellent in every category. and determination are the keys to success, surpassing expectations and enjoying richly Commenting on this success, the new Chair deserved results. Deputy Headmistress (Academic), Dr McShane commented: ‘We of Governors, Annette Turner, said “This are utterly delighted with is a tremendous achievement and a ringing all the girls’ achievements. endorsement of all the excellent hard work of At St T’s we are blessed Mrs Conrad and her dedicated team of staff. to have girls who work They deserve real praise and thanks.” with such commitment and good cheer. Importantly, we will never lose sight of

INSPECTION REPORT the victory of the hard- fought B and C grades as well as the many A*s. We are proud of all our girls.’ ST TERESA’S EFFINGHAM Not to be outdone, our

ST TERESA’S PREP SCHOOL, EFFINGHAM A Level cohort achieved Independent Schools’ Inspectorate Inspection Report June 2017 some excellent results and there were truly

EDUCATIONAL QUALITY INSPECTION outstanding individual ST TERESA’S PREPARATORY SCHOOL performances. Nearly all “The quality of pupils’ academic and other achievements is excellent. JUNE 2017 Expectations for the achievement of all are consistently high and took up places at their pupils of all abilities are challenged.” fi rst choice university, and will be remembered as a cohort of diligent, humorous and thoroughly likeable young ladies, who combined academic focus and rigour with good humour. They are true St T’s girls, and venture off with our fond good wishes.

NATIONAL U13 HOCKEY CHAMPIONS St Teresa’s U13 Hockey team were crowned champions of the Schools U13 In2Hockey tournament, making Hockey history as the fi rst St Teresa’s team to be named U13 National Champions.

28 ST TERESA’S PREP STOGA 2018 St Teresa’s Prep Entry Into Year 3 Pre-Prep Applications are invited for Year 3 entry at our PRE-RECEPTION FOR BOYS & GIRLS AGED 3–4, RECEPTION FOR GIRLS 4–5 outstanding prep school. St Teresa’s Effi ngham is a dynamic, thriving school aiming for academic What greater gift can you give your child than excellence and offering wonderful opportunities. a place at our delightful Pre-Prep, rated ‘Excellent’ by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). • Rated ‘Excellent’ in our Our extensive curriculum includes computing, French, 2017 ISI Report cooking and soft-play, and we provide specialist teaching • 55 acres of grounds in a for music, PE, dance and ‘Forest School’ activities. stunning location We have our own • Specialist teaching for horses, an indoor Music, Sport, Swimming, swimming pool, and French/Spanish, Drama an excellent staff/ & Art pupil ratio which ensures the best • Equestrian Centre, possible start to your swimming pool and child’s education. Tennis Academy • Priority place at our over- “The quality of pupils’ subscribed academic and other Senior School achievements is excellent. for all our Expectations for the Prep pupils achievement of all are consistently high and pupils of all abilities are challenged.” ISI Inspection Report, June 2017

The perfect place for enquiring minds

For more information, please contact Annabel Charles, Admissions Registrar: Telephone 01372 750204 or email [email protected] • St Teresa’s, Effi ngham, Surrey RH5 6ST

All families are welcome to come and take part Join us for a Toddlers’ in a range of fun Easter activities: • Enjoy a fun toddler obstacle trail EASTER EGG HUNT • Make friends with one of our ponies on Friday 23rd March 2018 • Meet some new-born animals in our petting farm • Collect an Easter treat from from 10.00–11.00am the Easter Bunny

For more information or to reserve your place please visit www.facebook.com/StteresasEffi ngham or contact Annabel Charles, email [email protected]

29 STOGA 2018 FEATURE Lynne Reid Banks

Lynne Reid Banks 1948 (formerly Bindi Banks) The following is taken from ‘Scarlet Footprints’, born 31 July 1929, is a British author of books for unpublished memoirs of Lynne Reid Banks, a children and adults. manuscript of which is held in the library at St She has written forty-fi ve books, including the best- Teresa’s which Lynne has kindly provided: selling children’s novel The Indian in the Cupboard, which has sold over 10 million copies and has been successfully adapted to fi lm. Her fi rst novel, The CHAPTER TEN. L-Shaped Room, published in 1960,was an instant and lasting best seller. It was later made into a I Commit a Mortal Sin movie of the same name and led to two sequels, The Backward Shadow and Two is Lonely. Banks Every fourth weekend parents could visit and take their daughters also wrote a biography of the Brontë family, entitled out for a few hours. My mother always came. If Sue’s dad was home on leave, her mummy didn’t come, so sometimes mine Dark Quartet, and a sequel about Charlotte Brontë, would take her out to the village for a cream tea and cakes with us. Path to the Silent Country. Seeing Mummy made me feel all upset, inside. I never failed to ask if I couldn’t come home for the night, even though I knew we weren’t allowed to go home until the end of term. When I saw her, I remembered how much I loved her and missed her. I usually cried when she left. Sue always said, “Don’t cry, let’s talk about food.” The food at the convent was all right (apart from my most-hated, a single boiled onion on a square of toast, which I got de-merit marks for refusing to even try to eat), but I did long for my favourite home-dish: corned beef hash with a knob of butter, and peas. Of course meat was rationed now so even corned beef needed a lot of coupons and Mummy said I was better off where I was. I think schools got special rations. The war news was very bad. There was more and more chapel, more and more prayers. Reverend Mother had stopped being smiley and hopeful. She’d stopped giving us bulletins. We had to piece the news together from rumours and the odd news broadcast the big girls were allowed to listen to, but that wasn’t very often, only when something the nuns considered vitally important happened. One thing that helped was ITMA. Everybody in the school, including the nuns who spoke English, loved listening to ITMA. ITMA stood for ‘It’s That Man Again’ and was a wonderful radio comedy show. Almost the worst punishment (apart from being expelled of course, which nobody ever was in my time) was not to be allowed to listen. The theme-tune is still in my head. The sound of it coming from the single radio in the big girls’ sitting-room was enough to cheer anybody up, no matter what was going wrong in their lives or in the world. One bit of news we all heard was Dunkirk when the Allied Armies, trapped on the beach at Dunkirk by the Germans, were rescued across the ‘darling Channel’ by fl eets of little boats. Strange as it seems to me now, we didn’t think of this as a terrible set-back and defeat. We thought it was something wonderful, as if we’d won the war – we were all hugging each other and we got a special tea to celebrate. But right after it, France fell. That was so bad we hardly did any lessons for days. The poor nuns were so upset, they just kept breaking down and leaving the classrooms in tears. And that meant we had a lot of freedom. Rules weren’t being kept with the old strictness. Rules like no talking after lights-out. One night Mother Bernard said, “I’m switching the lights off now, girls. Then I have to go out of the dormitory for a

28 FEATURE STOGA 2018 little while. I am putting you on your honour not to talk.” ‘On your yew-berry, and another, and another. I was still eating them and honour’ meant your conscience was supposed to make you keep seeing how far I could spit the pips when Sue came running over. the rule. “Lindy! Mother Virginie says you’re to come back – Lindy! What are But I wanted to talk to Sue. She wasn’t in the next bed, so I broke you doing?” another rule – I got out of bed and went over to where her bed “Eating these. They’re scrumptious. Try one.” was, and sat on it, and whispered. “Are you mad? Do you want to die? How many have you eaten?” “Lindy, we’re on our honour! Go back!” she said. (She was a much “Lots. I don’t feel anything. I don’t think they’re poisonous at all.” gooder girl than I was. I’m afraid I was her Eeyore, a bit.) She grabbed my hand and pulled me away. “You are crazy and I nipped back to bed and was soon asleep. Next morning, when you’re wicked! Were you really trying to – “ we were all dressed and ready to go to breakfast, Mother Bernard stood at the top of the aisle and said, “I want to know who talked “What?” last night after I left.” She stared at me with huge eyes. “Kill yourself,” she whispered. There was a deathly silence. Then Sue put her hand up. “That’s the worst mortal sin of all!” Well. What could I do? She’d hardly talked at all, and only because Suddenly it was as if I’d come-to. I thought of all those poisonous of me. I don’t know if I’d have owned up if she hadn’t, but she had. berries in my tummy. Might I be going to die? I felt myself go pale. I put my hand up too. “You’d better go to the infi rmary right this minute!” Sue said. That was when Mother Bernard said some awful words. Right out I ran there as fast as I could. The infi rmary was in the charge of a loud so everyone heard. nice old nun called Mother Agnes. When I told her I’d been eating “Need one ask. Lindy Hanks can’t be trusted.” yew-berries she nearly had a fi t. I don’t think I’d ever felt so awful in all my life. Well, maybe once, “Don’t you know they’re poisonous? That’s why they grow yew- when I told a lie to my mother, but this was worse. This was public. trees in graveyards!” she cried. “Oh! You must take an emetic!” I was sent to Mother Winifred’s offi ce. “What’s that?” I asked uneasily. I can’t remember much of what she said. I was too shattered She didn’t answer. She just looked at me in horror, and then said, with shame to listen. I stared at the fl oor and struggled not to “It may be too late for that. Come here, child.” cry. She gave me three de-merit marks and forbade me to listen She seized me and led me to the wash-basin. to ITMA that week. It wasn’t the talking so much, she said. It was “Open your mouth!” she said. talking when we were on our honour. I opened it. She stuck two fi ngers half-way down my throat. “But at least you didn’t lie by silence,” she said. It was a horrible feeling. I gagged and choked, and then I was Sue didn’t get punished because I told that she hadn’t really talked violently sick. Red-sick, from the berries. Up it all came, and my except to tell me not to. breakfast with it. Ugh. At breakfast Clare said, “Maybe it’s a good thing you’re not a “There. There. There,” said Mother Agnes. She ran her fi ngers Catholic. You’d have been saying Hail Marys and Our Fathers under the cold tap where I’d bitten them, and then wiped my face. till kingdom come if you’d had to confess a sin like that to Father Her hand was trembling. “All gone. Don’t you ever do that again!” Murphy.” I gasped and drank the water she gave me. “You – you won’t tell That wasn’t much comfort. To earn a big penance like that, I anybody, Mother, will you?” I begged. I’d begun to realise I’d done must’ve practically committed a mortal sin. I was really getting into something dreadful. (By the way, I wouldn’t have died, because I sin by that time. found out later that the berries aren’t poisonous, it’s only the seeds, I sat in class with tears running down my cheeks. After a few which I’d spat out. But don’t try it.) minutes Mother Virginie told me to leave the room and go out Mother Agnes didn’t promise. She sent me to lie down, but I didn’t, into the grounds, walk around, say a prayer to Our Lady, and try I went back to lessons, and I thought and hoped that was the end to calm myself. of it. But it wasn’t. I went into the garden. It was a lovely big one with fl ower-beds and lots of trees and shrubs. I wandered about, trying to get rid of the bad feeling. I had Grubbit in my tunic pocket. I took him out and kissed his dear, velvety head between his ears, which were made of stiff black silk. Nanny had made them, to replace his original Mickey A follow-on to ‘Scarlet ears that had fallen off. Footprints’ was fi rst “What’ll I do, Grub? I feel so awful!” published in 2014, and is Grubbit said, “Remember the League of the Deadly Nightshade. If available both in paperback you eat some poison berries, you’ll be sick, and they’ll all be sorry.” and Kindle formats. This seemed like a good idea at the time. We’d played poisons so often, eating stuff and making guggling noises, clutching our throats, ‘Uprooted – A Canadian rolling our eyes, and falling down… I didn’t think it through. I looked War Story’ tells the story around. There, nearby, was a yew tree with some berries on it. of a wartime childhood, They were bright red, like my footprints. Yes. I could picture it heavily infl uenced by all! I’d be dreadfully sick and have to go to the infi rmary, and then Lynne’s own experience. maybe Mother Bernard would feel bad for what she’d said. I picked the fi rst berry very cautiously and put it in my mouth. I bit it carefully. The fl esh was rather slimy but I have to say, it was delicious. Very sweet. I spat the stone out and swallowed the rest. www.lynnereidbanks.com Then I waited to feel sick, but when I didn’t I picked another

29 www.knibbsdesign.co.uk Keep in Touch!

KEEP THE DATE CONTACT DETAILS A SOHO SAUNTER – Guided Walk St Teresa’s, Effi ngham, Surrey RH5 6ST Friday 16th March, 10.15am Telephone: 01372 750215 email address: [email protected] THE TILLINGBOURNE TRAIL FROM SHERE Website: www.st-teresas.com/stoga Wednesday 21st March, 11am

ISLINGTON PARKS AND GARDENS Friday 20th April, 2pm St Teresa’s Facebook: NOTTING HILL www.facebook.com/teresa.effi ngham (a Lady in London’s self guided walk) St Teresa’s Facebook can be found under the name Teresa Effi ngham. Befriend Teresa Effi ngham to keep in touch with Tuesday 15th May, 2pm old friends and news. STOGA Facebook: LONDON’S OPEN GARDEN SQUARES www.facebook.com/pages/STOGA/302718213188649 Tickets will need to be purchased in advance Click ‘like’ at the top of our page to be kept informed of events and news. Sunday 10th June, 11am

CHELSEA LONDON’S RIVERSIDE VILLAGE – Guided Walk Linkedin this is a business networking group Wednesday 4th July, 2pm www.linkedin.com/pub/teresa-effi ngham-jilly-cooper/70/a91/213 Please add yourself to our professional network to network with OLD HAMPSTEAD VILLAGE – Guided Walk old girls. Wednesday 12th September, 2pm Community 90th ANNIVERSARY REUNION The sisters are now living in Sherborne: [email protected] Saturday 6th October (To be confi rmed) 3 West Terrace, Westbury, Sherborne DT9 3ER

KINGSTON UPON THAMES – Guided Walk Sunday 4th November, 11am

To register for details of all events please email [email protected]

St Teresa’s, Effi ngham, Surrey RH5 6ST Telephone 01372 452037 [email protected] • www.st-teresas.com

St Teresa’s School Effi ngham Trust • Registered Charity No. 1095103