In the last week of Pat's life, we spent our evenings in her room at Mount Ephraim House going through the suitcase. One of the photos that appealed to me most was the one below as she is instantly recognisable as the young girl on the left. I wish she'd been awake so we could have asked her about it.
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| Pat (left) in what we assume was her school uniform |
A week later and sadly I was drafting her eulogy. It's the first time I've ever had to write one but fortunately I was basing it on some beautiful words that Tim had already written. It made me realise that although we knew all the vague details about her life, we weren't too clear on the specifics.
Every time I drove her down Calverley Park Gardens in Tunbridge Wells, she would comment that she went to school in a building on the right hand side. It was only after she died that I realised I had no idea what it was called. She talked about the nuns and the fact that they spent a lot of time in bomb shelters but that was really all I knew.
Finding out more about the school proved (and is proving) extremely difficult. I've been really lucky when posting pictures on Twitter and Facebook - someone is almost always able to help. In this instance, there were several suggestions about where the shot above was taken but I'm now fairly sure it is the school she attended in Calverley Park Gardens.
Searching the internet (my usual first port of call for all information) proved fairly fruitless but huge thanks to Carolyn Gray who managed to locate the cutting below, via a local historian.
We believe that Pat must have attended 16 Calverley Park Gardens, Convent of the Blessed Sacrament. I would love to know more about the school and to see more pictures but so far, I've had no luck.
I'm hoping this post might prompt some memories so we can find out more. Do get in touch if you think you could help.
I like that picture. It is fun to find things out. I hope you and Tim get all the answers you're looking for.
ReplyDeleteI asked Marie about the school and it was indeed the convent as you thought. The building is no longer there of course but Marie remembers it and Pat used to tell her about it. perhaps we could arrange a get together at meh with Marie and put together some stories and information.
ReplyDeleteFantastic - Tim was very pleased to hear that, thank you :-) Perhaps we could sort out the get together along with the tea party? About to email you anyway!
DeleteI have stumbled across your Blog and delighted to see a photo of my old school Blessed Sacrament convent.. I was a pupil there in 1950/1960's and would appreciate any contact with past pupils or photos. Thank you. Susan Rideout.
ReplyDeleteDid any more memories come out of this? It seems the Convent was one of the schools attended by the Belgian Refugees who came to Tunbridge Wells in World War 1, and there was also a building at 25 Prospect Road: Kelly's 1914 Directory "Convent of the Blessed Sacrament, Misboume house, 16 Calverley Park Gardens, AND 25 Prospect road; Hilda Dennison, Rev. Mother Superior "
ReplyDeleteThe picture is of Beechwood Sacred Heart School - Still in operation on Pembury Road
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