I went back to Dorchester this week for a visit to my old school, the former St Genevieve’s convent that I have written about in A Sweet Life. It is no longer a convent, now a co-ed prep, called Sunninghill. I had not stepped inside the place since I left at sixteen, though having written about it, I have revisited it more recently in my head.
About fifty women made the trip, though there were just a few whom I knew. Some had happy memories of the place, others less so. Two delightful young pupils showed us around, the lapels of their bright red blazers embellished with achievement medals.
Much of the structure of the place is the same, although the atmosphere seemed lighter and more welcoming. That might be because I am now off the hook as far as fear and discipline are concerned!
Our young guides were keen to show us their IT room, though we were more interested in travelling back in time. Why did everything look so small? The classrooms, the dining room, the hall, all looked more compact than I had remembered. But then, the rows of lidded desks had butted right up against the walls on both sides of the classroom. Apart from the narrow walkways between the desks, there had been very little space at all.
The house interior with its dark wooden panelling, marble fireplaces, stained glass windows and grand staircase is now listed. One of the former termly boarders commented that the stairs were not as well-maintained as they used to be. But then, she announced to our surprise, it had been her weekend job to keep them polished. As day girls, how had we not been aware of that?
The playing field with the hockey pitch in winter and rounders in summer must surely have been levelled. I remember the effort of dribbling the ball up the gradient through the long grass only to be met by a clank with an opponent’s stick and a whack to my ankles. The area that had been the grotto with the statue of the Virgin Mary, silent and tranquil, is now alive to the sound of children’s voices at play on wooden climbing frames. And of course the pungent smell of mash tun drifting across the tennis courts, heady and heavy, has now gone following the demise of the Eldridge Pope brewery.
I offered a copy of A Sweet Life to my hosts which was enthusiastically received. I would be interested to hear what the older children make of it, and the teachers too, on reading of the former incarnation of their school and indeed of Dorchester.
As I left to walk down the drive I stopped to talk to a Sunninghill mum who was collecting her son. We chatted about my memories of the school, and when I mentioned the changing rooms (which are now for the sole use of the boys), she said that the boys, like us, found them spooky and didn’t like being down there at all. I thought it best not to mention the myth of the ghost in the mirror.
It’s funny how going back can help you appraise the present. Returning to my old school that day I felt grateful for what I have achieved since leaving. I have discarded the dogma that was so freely handed out to me and made up my own mind. Though mine was not the inspiring education that my children, and hopefully these new young pupils have been lucky to have, I have come to realise that inspiration can appear from anywhere, and at any stage of life. I believe that we are all built full of promise, and to let anyone think otherwise is a failure in our responsibility as human beings.
14 comments On Back to school
Dear Lucinda, I was googling on St Genevieve’s convent and found you. I remember you very well. My name is Olivia Ashley, I think we were at Mrs Pellow’s together too. I trained as a rafiographer in London and left England in 1991 to work in a hospital in Amsterdam, where I still am. I’m going to get a copy of your book and wallow in some Dorset nostalgia. Please greet anyone else who might remember me. Greetings from Olivia in a Dutch village.
I am Dorset born & bred & I was a pupil at Sunninghill Preparatory School, then on Herrison Road. I was then a pupil at St Genevieve’s Convent in the 1970’s. It seems strange to me that Sunninghill is now based at the old convent building. The convent building was & still is a very beautiful house with many original & stunning features. It’s good to know that it’s still there & still being used as a school.
Yes, it is interesting to see how the school has changed over time. I was pleased to make a visit there a couple of years ago and to chat to the current pupils, who seemed happy and engaging.
I started there, just turned 5 years old, in 1961. There were boys as well as girls as pupils then. We had Mrs Dabs as our kindergarten teacher, and an abacus, proper ink pens, ink wells, a blackboard with “A is for Apple”. Sister Elizabeth, who taught English, Spelling, and Grammar is probably spinning in her grave right now at my howlers. We would be sent to the Reverend Mother’s office with errands, and she would have some sweets on her desk to give us.
I recall being pushed off my chair on the playground by one Julia Abbot. Sister Elizabeth was in such a hurry that the wind blew her wimple off and revealed her shaved head. The treatment for a skinned knee was an old twopenny piece pressed to my knee to stop the bleeding, followed by that strange yellow iodine stuff. Of course, nobody thought it necessary then to phone parents and scream hysterically at them.
I can recall where I was when a nun came out to tell us that President Kennedy had died. I don’t think any of us had the least idea who he was.
Yes, we had all been very naughty and rushed around in the rain one time and we had to line up outside the chapel and hold our palms out to be smacked with a ruler. Rivetting. Not really.
Thank you for sharing your memories Kim. I found them very interesting.
I was lucky enough to be one of the few boys who passed through the school. They wouldn’t let me stay after form 4…puberty lol.
I have great memories of there, and still speak to Sr Augustin most years, as she stays at my Foster parents when she does the fun run, she even came to my wedding.
I remember when they made the decision to close the convent, I was an altar boy for the final mass I the hall.
Then when our church(Holy Trinity) raised money to buy the junior school part as the presbytery, it meant I used to get to go there quite regularly afterwards. I was able to explore the parts of the school I was always banned from, like where the boarders went, or the senior part.
I always like to say my claim to fame was that I was one of 4 boys allowed to go to an all girls school
I was a pupil there I the 90s until it shutdown. I still ise it as my ice breaker that O was the only boy in an all girls convent lol
Sister Augustine actually came to my wedding, and she still stays with my Foster parents each year when she comes back for the fun run
Thank you for commenting Jonathan. Your story certainly makes for an interesting ice-breaker. There were no boys at the school when I was there. In fact, the only men allowed on the premises were the gardener and the priest! Wishing you all the best.
Hi, this was an interesting read for me as I too was a pupil at St Genevieves & I remember Sister Cecilia having us do lots of jobs on a Saturday like polishing her wooded stairs up to her classroom! I started as a termly boarder at the age of 9 (1982) & left just 3 years later. It was only a short time but it shaped me & had a big part in who I am today.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your comment Lennor. I never knew it was the job of the boarders to polish the stairs. Another mystery solved!
Hello
I was a boarder here in the 70’s the youngest one. I have to say it was an awful experience for me, Sister Augustine was my only protector I feel back then, Les Filles De La Croix .. the hats were super hard, kilt skirt and scratchy socks
I am intending on going back now ( I am 60) and revist , lay some demons to rest and focus on the better memories of climbing the big tree outside the dining room for which I got told off. (of course) . I tried several times to run away and then was made to sit in the library (main school) to write down my escape plans…. of which there were many… most of which were in hindsifhr hilariously unachievable.
Not sure what skills I took away from this school, but it sadly left me with a tainted view of being a roman catholic..
Thank you for your comment Sandra. I am sorry you had such a miserable time there. I hope that since leaving school you have found your happiness. You certainly sound very resourceful with your escape plans! All the best to you.
My name is Natalie Mitchamson
I was a pupil in 1980 when Sister Eugene was head mistress !! She wasn’t so pleasant to me! With friends Nikki wood Natasha Parkin Pipa smedley! I had special memories here I won’t forget! X
I was at St Gens between 1967 and ’72 and how I remember those kilts, the lovely green blazers and the hats!! There was a mention of a Julia Abbot in an earlier post and, if its the same Julia, I was in the same form as her all through senior St Gens. I remember.ber as a very pretty girl who pinched my boyfriend Chris (obv a Hardys boy) off me when we were about 14 (Julia I forgive you!! 🙂 I loved my years at St Gens and have fond memories particularly of Sisters Augustine and Celia, probably both long at rest now. Sorry I was such a giggler and used to get told off such a lot, my partners in crime were Linda B and Trish D , I’m an upstanding granny now after a long career in child social care. It would be lovely to have a St Gens reunion!