WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
I was at Port Regis between 1954 and 1956. I was 8 when I got there and left just before my 10th birthday. Was anyone else at Port Regis, Broadstairs when it was a convent for delicate girls? The nuns, thinking about it now, resembled Roman Catholic ladies who were probably forced in many cases to be nuns. This was a great honour during that time for a Catholic daughter to become a Roman Catholic nun. I was NOT a Roman Catholic at all. Neither was my family, but as we children were forced to pray to the rosary several times a day. I assume it was a Catholic convent, also the Virgin Mary was the main issue in the chapel. The treatment there was out of this world CRUEL but only for SOME and only during certain years. Obviously certain nuns were unhappy and took it out over the children (some children). Some of the punishments some of children had to stand was plain abuse. It was a horrible place. It gives me small goose pimples just thinking about it, especially seeing photos of the dark dismal spooky building I remember Cathrine Waring as the girl in the next bed in the dormitary where we were sent to bed at 5.30 pm! She had a skin problem and her hands were tied to the headboard's posts so she would not scratch herself, I also remember Sister Mary Bonventure and Sister Mary Audrey. It would be good therapy at a late date to be in touch with women, or families of women who were there and also experienced this wicked treatment OR AT LEAST WITNESSED IT, 1954-1956, as I think only some of us were picked out to be 'bullied'. Maybe our homee - and parents - played a role too, what some of the nuns thought about our parents ...! I tried to contact these nuns at a later date but heard they were either passed or in The Holy Cross nursing home and rather confused. The child abuse there has of course left a nasty scar but I've managed to stay on the straight and narrow and have a wonderful daughter, her partner and two small grandgirls - Nan's diamonds! It would be lovely to hear from you, and YOUR VIEW. Rita Pilbrow positiveenergy@live.se
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12 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?".
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RE: Re: Were You at The Port Regis Convent For Delicate Girls During The 1950s?
Rita My name is Jackie Aube, and I was at a Roman Catholic convalescant home in the 1950s at Port Regis. From your brief description it sounds like the same place. I'm not sure exactly what years I was there but I do remember being taken to a local cinema to see the coronation so I assume it would have been around 1952 - 54. I think that I was there for about 2 years. I now live in Canada and have been trying to find history of the home for a number of years. I have a number of old postcards of the place and I will scan and send them to you, if you are interested. I would love to hear from you and compare memories, even if it was not the same place it would be interesting to speak to someone who shared the same experiences. Looking forward to your reply, Jackie Aube
Comment from Jackie Aube on Monday, 26th October 2009.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Thank you Elixabeth. Is that your name or is it Therese? I remember you as Elizabeth. I couldn't keep the lump porridge down and threw up every morning, and every morning I had to eat up what I'd thrown up because according to the nuns I wasn't thankful for 'what God gave me'. I'm so pleased to hear from you. Please keep in touch, this is going to be in a book when I get other writing issues out of the way. I remember Sister Audrey giving me praise because I spelled 'biscuit' correctly so yes, you are right, I so remember her giving me a sweet too. Sister Mary Bonaventure was cruel, or very misled. Yes, it does leave a scar, but we have positive things in our life now, so we made it okay I hope, but I do guess some have not. Thanks a lot for answering. My email is: positiveenergy@live.se - I am English from Middlesex and living in Sweden (only 1.5 hours away on the plant). Take good care, I hope to be in touch with you all soon. Anyone who wishes to write, I'd be pleased to hear from you.
Comment from Rita Pilbrow on Saturday, 27th August 2011.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
'My name is Elizabeth Ferrier, nee Tyrrell. I was seven years old in 1953. I was sent to Port Regis in late 1953 or early 1954. I was there for 18 months which included part of 1955. I remember Jean Hankinson, Pauline King, Margaret Sedgewick, Dolores Doyle and Doreen McGovern. As far as I know these girls didn't suffer physical abuse with the exception of Jean Hankinson who was in trouble on occasions. During my stay I was often caned severely on both hands at the same time. I had to hold them both out at shoulder height whilst Sister Mary Bonaventure repeatedly thrashed me using a bamboo cane. This took place in the hall, I screamed and cried. At 7 years old I'd never felt pain like it. Only once on a Sunday morning was I hit on the bottom, kneeling over a bed in a dormitory. All the girls had to go to mass and I was kept back for this. Sister Mary Audrey was very kind to me after the thrashings took place. Once or twice she slipped a few sweets inside the bib front of my apron as I left the dining room after breakfast. I never told my parents what happened. There were other acts which I have difficulty in relating even now'.
Comment from Theresa Ferrier on Friday, 26th August 2011.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Dear all, I went to Port Regis Convent, I was there from 1950 for three months and again in 1952 for 9 months. I was not abused but I do remember that there were people who were. My dad and mum came to visit while I was there, and my dad used to leave, for a want of a better word, a big tip, maybe that was why I was taken out on visits, if there were any going. I remember Teresa who was a child of one of the workers there, and the girl in the bed, who was bound like a mummy, in fact I spent two weeks in a bedroom with her, with the windows wide open in the winter. My first meal there was spaghetti, which I never heard or seen of before, but whoever was sitting next to me at the table, told me to make sure I did not finish quick or you would get more, I hated it, and still cannot abide the smell to this day, next day someone who had refused to eat it was made to stand in the fireplace and eat it cold the next day, when she was sick she had to clean it herself. The Virgin Mary of tthe day and the rosary played a big part there, but I am afraid I thought of it as just entertainment, and the priests coming round, the nuns asking if they could have 2 shilings to pay for their forgiveness of their sins, I always used to wonder what they could be, as they never had contact with the outside world, except for taking us to the beach. At the time my name was Sandra Mills, and I used to volunteer to dry the dishes so that I did not have to lay on the bed for '1 hour'.
Comment from Sandra Popple on Sunday, 31st July 2011.
RE: RE: Were You at Port Regis Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
My mother was at Port Regis Convent as a child, I think she was there from 1954 to 1961. She hated it there, she said the Irish nuns were all evil and cruel. She had servere asthma so she was sent there from London. Her name was Carol Ann Millott while she was there. Natasha, her daughter
Comment from Natasha Buckley on Saturday, 19th March 2011.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Hello to everyone that attended Port Regis Convent School in the 1950s, 1957-59 especially. My name then was Lyn Mawby, I was 4 and a half when I first went there. I recall the treatment that some of the children had to endure, myself included. Some of the nuns were right ogres, yet some were really nice, I remember Sister Mary Odo and Sister Agnes Mary, I used to help her wind wool into balls. I can still see the room where you were punished, a drs room at the bottom of the stairs to the laundry. I remember Mary and Teresa Daly, they were twins. I also remember a little girl called Geraldine who was about two, she came to us while her parents went to New Zealand. I would like to hear from anyone who attended this school. Lyn.
Comment from Lynn Whysall on Tuesday, 21st December 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Hi Diane Thank you for responding. I don't remember Sister Mary Nyier, or however it is spelled, but thank you for writing. I have no memories at all of nice things that may have happened because the pure child abuse was so terrible... it sort of took over and the possible nice moments are forgotten. I THINK I REMEMBER A SHEILA! I also remember Catherine WARING, she was in the next bed to me. She had some kind of skin disease and the nuns tied her wrists to the bed posts so she couldn't scratch herself. I don't think they were evil really,just MISLED, but it has left a deep scar. Even though I've kept to the straight and narrow most of the time! Would you be willing to write a few episodes of bad memories to me, as I am writing a feature, and possible a chapter or so in a book? Thank you, I hope to hear from you or anyone at all who was at Port Regis during the 1950s. Take care. My email address is: ritapilbrow@hotmail.com
Comment from Rita Pilbrow on Monday, 24th May 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
I was at Port Regis about 1957/8 and again about 1959. My sister Sheila was also there but for longer times than I was. My memories are various - the large field behind the formal garden and shrines, going down to the beach (and on good days kind holidaymakers buying us icecreams). The outbreak of scarlet fever when lots of cherished toys had to be destroyed. The three class rooms (and the day the budgies got out. Sister Mary Neyrie was my nightmare, the little nun in the kitchen was lovely and would sometimes let us help her collect the eggs. Irene the girl who slept in the little ones dormitory and Theresa the stunning Irish girl, Mary Maha, who had ginger hair and I seem to remember she had a slight limp. The special kilts we had for Sunday church. But enough for now will check back if any responses.
Comment from Diane Youens on Sunday, 23rd May 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Hello Teresa Thank you. Would your dad like to talk about it? I would like to share experiences with him. I believe it was a boys' convent at one time but so was St Mary's. I'd like to write a feature about it (have been extremely busy with other ussies so haven't as yet had the time). I'd love to converse with your dad, would that be possible at all? Take care Kind regards Rita
Comment from Rita Pilbrow on Sunday, 9th May 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
Hello Rita,
I know this is strange, but my Dad was at a convalescence home in Broadstairs from the age of approx 2.5 - 6 in the mid 1950's. I know you said it was for delicate girls, but the treatment and the Catholicism sounds identical to what my Dad has described during his time there. He had double pneumonia amongst other things and was sent there to recover. He had a horrid time and was very cruelly treated by the Nuns. I don't know if he stayed at Port Regis or St Mary's. He is still alive, but has only recently talked about this with anyone (me) and it affects him terribly. Just wanted to share my father's experiences as he is not computer savvy yet.
Regards, Teresa
Comment from Teresa Turnbull on Tuesday, 6th April 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
I am Rita and I have now (15 January 2010) replied to you Jackie. SO sorry it has taken me such a long time but so much comes between I am afraid, so I'm not on Frith site very often. I have started a cancer fundraising charity too, and have 2 gorgeous grandchildren (2 small girls) as well as visiting the lonely through the Red Cross, so spare time is rare. But I will try to look here once a week! I would love to hear from anyone at all who was at Port Regis 1954-1956 or has a relative who was there then. I am writing about the experience and need the info and witnesses to what I am writing about. But I would be pleased JUST to hear from you, even if you do not want to be mentioned in my book. New year wishes. God bless. Rita
Comment from Rita Pilbrow on Saturday, 16th January 2010.
RE: RE: WERE YOU AT PORT REGIS Convent For Delicate Girls 1954-1956?
At the end of 1956, I spent 3 months at that awful place. A long wooden driveway brought you to the large convent door which they locked behind you and every other door that connected to the outside when you arrived. I had almost died from heart trouble after suffering Rheumatic Fever and I was supposed to be there to aid recovery! I was a Catholic child who had been a patient in the London Jewish Hospital and I suppose I was sent there as an early P.C. exercise. Wrong! Desperately unhappy, I created my own world of ballet classes but I broke down with grief and landed back in hospital again. Took many years to write this. The nuns didn't care how poorly anyone was.
Comment from Julia Lockey on Monday, 31st October 2011.