At School

A Memory of Lechlade on Thames.

I was at the Convent when this picture was taken. In the foreground you can see the tennis courts. Our dormitories were on the 'Top Landing', the windows you can see on the second floor. The Convent was run by the order of St Clotilde and was started by Mere Fontaine in Paris to look after the orphaned children of the revolution. At this time the Reverend Mother was Sister Marie-Dominique, who sadly died recently [2009]. On the 20th June 2009, we attended a memorial service for her in the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Lechlade, as Lechlade Manor is now in private hands and the chapel, which was brand new in 1960, has been de-commissioned.
In 1960 there were approximately 180 girls from age 5 to 18, some boarding and some day pupils and we were taught to have a thoughtful and giving approach to life
The atmosphere in this wonderful school was homely and caring and we were brought up like one big happy family - a tribute to the dedication of this order and to the lay staff, Mrs Vine, Mrs Manley, Miss Warren, Mrs Husband and many others.
There is a stone, which was laid last year at the entrance to Lechlade Manor to commemorate the school.