Visitation Convent

A Memory of Bridport.

I was a boarder at the convent, with my older brother , from September 1927 until Decomber 1929. Contrary to the report given by Alan Noon, (not of my generation) the nuns treated us well and, with reflection over the years, with understanding and kindness. Some names of nuns _Sisters Agnes, Edith and Gertrude. Reverend Mother was a kindly person - not that we had much to with her directly - my abiding memory of her is that she had a mole on her face.
Walks, long for children of our age, were a great feature - Bothenhampton Downs , West Bay, Eype and other names which I cannot remember now. We also bought sweets ('gob stoppers,' sticks of liquorice etc) in town on our walks.
We also played cricket !
I won 2 prizes, books, which I treasure to this day
Food - I don't remember much about except that on St Cecilia's day (Nov 22nd) those learning music got a little extra . I remember in one of the waiting rooms, perhaps while waiting for our lesson, there was a glass cabinet in whcih there was an ostrich egg and a stuffed baby crocodile (or alligator)
A special treat one year, for all, was a showing of the silent film of "Macbeth"
The projectpor was set up in the recreation hall with a protective cage around it I can still see, in memory, the scene where Lady M declaims "Is this a dagger
I see before me..." Perhaps not entirely suitable for 6 to 10 yeaar old's.
Heating in the recreation hall was effected by a large "Tortoise" stove.
One year we put on a "play" called I think, the Toy Drum Major" and even now I can remember the words nd music
I have no memory of major discomfort - I believe we were aequately fed and were warm at night. A curious feature of bath days was that as little boys we were required to wear bathing trunks !
What I suffered from most was home sickeness
At holday time , for those boys living in London and going home by train, a nun would accompany us to Maiden Newton station and see us on to the London express. What joy it was to find my mother waiting for us on the arrival platform at Paddington.