Convent Of The Sacred Heart Barnes

HI, I WAS ALSO AT THE CONVENT AND HAVE LEFT MORE MEMORIES ON ANOTHER PAGE WITH LIZ AND SUE RIGGS. MY NAME WAS CYNTHIA WILBY AND I WAS IN A CLASS WITH MARY HURST-BROWN, JILL BOSHER, GABRIELE, GEORGINA AND ANOTHER MARY WITH RED, CURLY HAIR. I BELIEVE I WAS THERE ABOUT 1958-1961 APPROX AND REMEMBER BOAT RACE DAY WHEN WE USED TO HAVE BADGES MADE OF WOODEN OARS, CROSSED AND WITH A COLOUR OF LIGHT BLUE OR DARK BLUE. WE ALSO USED TO GET LITTLE CROSSES AT SCHOOL FOR EASTER THAT WERE MADE OF PALM LEAVES. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR TIME THERE AS MUCH AS I DID; I HATED LEAVING WHEN WE MOVED OUT OF LONDON. AND I REMEMBER ALL THESE TEACHERS YOU MENTION (I ALSO DESCRIBE SOME MORE EVENTS IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED LINK). MY FRIEND, JILL BOSHER LIVED IN NASSAU ROAD I THINK; SHE HAD A YOUNGER SISTER, WENDY, AND AN OLDER BROTHER CALLED CHRISTOPHER WHO WAS AT BOARDING SCHOOL. DO YOU REMEMBER THEM; SHE WAS THE SAME AGE AS ME? REMEMBER WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO EAT SWEETS ETC., UNTIL WE WERE AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL AND THE PREFECTS USED TO STAND AT THE SCHOOL GATES TO TIDY US UP BEFORE WE LEFT THE SCHOOL? LOVELY MEMORIES OF A MAGIC PLACE.
BEST WISHES, CYNTHIA.

Hello Cynthia,
Your comments have brought back happy memories. I lived at 49 Nassau Road in Barnes - a lovely house with a delightful two bedroom cottage in the garden. Your friend, Jill Bosher, lived next door and we played together. Her father was an estate agent and his offices were based by The Boileau - just before Hammersmith Bridge. I do remember, too, how the prefects would examine us at the school gate, ensuring we were wearing our hats and white gloves. I also remember we were not allowed sweets in the school and it was regarded unladylike to eat sweets in the street, too! How strict they were in those days and I still feel guilty to this day eating an ice cream in the street and I am now aged 70! I will be paying a visit to Barnes shortly, as I have very fond memories of this special place.

Best wishes,
Suzie Duprez

Hello - My name was Christobel Samuels when I attended SHC Barnes. A wonderful experience. I remember Mother (Sr Augustus and Sr Theresa we were so proud to discover her real family name Franklyn - she also used to pin back her head dress flaps at lunch. She was good at rounders too. She also directed a few operettas - what a laugh). I probably was the only prefect who took detention at the same time as looking after the girls... tut tut. Our boaters had to be just so, and winter berets French Sailor Navy with huge yellow pom poms . We were severely reprimanded for cutting them off in the cloak room. We also were part of a gang there were many coming and going Carol Fowler, Theresa Presack (?) a very sparky Persian girl whose father was a diplomat. Monica, Pamela (Rowdy No2) The civilian teachers needed a medal (Mrs Bulger was great fun) A little girl Frances we nicknamed Fleabag an American lass surname Dangerfield (?) a Rosalyn Teague, Rosemary Grafton, Marion Dringle... lots of us!! Favourite Evelyn her uncle turned out to be Patrick McGoohan (Dangerman). Spike Milligan made an impromptu appearance parents day and was thrown out. We came from Richmond, Twickenham, Hammersmith and as far as my home off Fulham Palace Road - 2 buses to get to school - Lollypop man from the Midlands used to call me Blossom (as he did everyone else). Sister B gave up on my needlework, allowed me to read to the rest of the class instead.... We locked the French teacher in the secret cupboard between the two classes 4b and 5... those were the days St Trinians??? SHC far better - Barnes Common for field trips. Oh and I was editor of the school paper Banana! (1959-63 ish). Se la vie.... I retired to Portugal in 1989 after a hectic career in UK. Good luck all of you. Those WERE the days!!!