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Memories of the 1940s/50s

Remembering the stunning grounds

I was a non-Catholic pupil at Lourdes Convent from 1948 to 1954.  I remember the stunning grounds, the monkey puzzle tree, the huge cod liver oil plants (fatsia) that I used hide amongst. I remember the daisies on the tennis lawns and the grapes and pears that the nuns used to grow against the wall at the back entrance to the school that led to Cornwall Gardens, which some of us used to scrump!

A strict uniform regime

I felt sorry for the boarders who it seemed spent most evenings darning grey socks and learning their catechism. I imagine I can still smell the mustiness of boiled cabbage that always lingered in the corridor as I walked past the refectory. There was a strict outdoor uniform code which was blue gabardine raincoat, navy velour hat with brim and of course the inevitable blazer. All these had to be purchased from Harrods at an extortionate price of course. The summer uniform was a pale blue dress with a Peter Pan collar and a panama hat. The hat had a habit of changing its shape if worn in a downpour, causing the crown of the hat to rise to a point.

Woodslee – later Lourdes Convent

St John’s – later Lourdes Convent


During the 1860s, when large villa-style properties were being erected in Withdean, these adjoining houses, Woodslee and St Johns, were built on the London Road, just north of Harrington Road. Woodslee was the northernmost of the two. For a long time the houses were occupied by a Catholic girls school, Lourdes Convent. The photographs were taken in 1972, just before the properties were sold for redevelopment. Click on each photograph to open a large version in a new page.

Reprimanded – in French

As I walked home from school for lunch I often got caught in the rain and my gaberdine raincoat was not dry enough to wear on the return journey. One day I wore a plastic plaid raincoat over my blazer and was severely reprimanded by the Reverend Mother. She beckoned me towards her from a little window at the top of the driveway. I did not need to understand her torrent of French to realize she was not happy to see my out of uniform.

The nuns were very kind

The nuns were Mother Mary Elizabeth who I recall being very kind, Mother Mary Agnes, and Mother Mary Paul. Our teacher for English was Miss Lamb, who I remember to be quite strict. Mrs Dann, who had a daughter in my class called Prudence, took us for singing (my favourite subject). Our choir used to win at the Brighton and Worthing Musical festivals. I think there was also a Mrs Thomas, but perhaps someone can confirm this. Among the girls in my class were, Charlotte Cross, Jill Upton, who was so clever I thought she must own a magic pencil, Myra Ward, Christine Bridge, Tessa Johnson, Clare Chalmers, Janet Field, Dulcie Noble, and Nicola Phillips. I think there was also a girl called Madeleine Snow.

Comments about this page

  • I was a Catholic boarder at Lourdes Convent from 1952 to 1957. I remember so well Mother Mary Elizabeth and yes, my memory of her was also that she was kind. There was Mother Claire, a large French nun who cooked our meals. I also recall Mother Margaret Mary, tall, athletic who pulled up her skirts to play lacrosse and far too fun-loving to be a nun! The girls really thought that she was in love with the priest (not sure but his name I think was Father Michael Chick, also young and good looking) and we thought they might run off together (but that was probably our over-active imagination!). I also remember Mother Mary Magdaleine who taught us French (or tried to!). She was such a sweet nun with large beautiful blue eyes and pebble stone glasses which she regularly used to remove to wipe a tear at our terrible behaviour. Tiny, little and wizened Reverend Mother died when I was a pupil and I can remember we all had to file past her body to pay our respects. Mother Mary Agnes took over and was a very well respected Reverend Mother. The girls I remember were Pamela and Sally Malham and Virginia Tchowska (sp?). There were also 2 Iranian (Persian) girls whose names I have forgotten. I would love to get in contact with anyone that remembered me from those days.

    By Sheila Coles (23/08/2012)
  • I was a weekly boarder and in the same class as Gloria. I remember Adriana Novis Camilla Thirunavikarasu the Malham girls. I also remember filing past Reverend Mother’s body and I was so fascinated by it all that I went round three times only to be hauled out by one of the nuns and told what a wicked girl I was!!

    By Anne Yeats (nee Turner) (27/01/2014)
  • I was at Lourdes Convent from 1954 I think.  I remember the nuns named here very well.  I was a day girl, but had the misfortune of being seated for lunch in the boarders refectory where no talking was allowed until dessert. Oh the cabbage aroma… and beetroot with fish! I also remember the first Reverend Mother who would stand outside the changing room and rip down the hem of our grey flannel pleated shorts if she thought they were too short.  None of us could understand what she was saying of course.  I am glad I went to Lourdes, although at the time, I found it to be very strict.  The education I got there was amazing with hindsight, and it has absolutely stood me a good stead over the years.  Even the tennis instruction from Miss Metcalf is still working well for me now! I now live in San Francisco, but have had brief reunions with some girls from my class when visiting Brighton. Shelagh Hogan, Jill Gover, Josie Walsh, Lizzie King, Liz Abernathy among them. Of course the married ones have different names now.  If there is ever another school reunion, I would love to come.

    By Janice Leach(nee Prossor) (19/07/2014)
  • To all three of you above. I used to ‘date’ a Louise Arnett who was at Lourdes Convent in the early ’50s. She lived in a bungalow near the Brighton Stadium and had a friend called Gloria. We used to meet in Patcham Place by the sports pavilion.  

    By John Snelling (06/11/2014)
  • I went to this school in about 1955 until 1958. I was not Catholic but it wasn’t a problem. I learnt a lot there and loved the school uniforms of blue striped dresses in the summer – unless it was a Saint’s day and then we had to wear a special pale blue dress. There were some weird teachers there though. Miss Tobin who was nice but had an aversion for Enid Blyton and you were not allowed to bring her books into the classroom or they would be confiscated!! The fact that they were only in your satchel was ‘besides the point !’  Mrs Rogers who was short and fat and wore an inch of Max Factor pan stick on her face which made her look like a red Indian. She had a habit of leaning back in her chair behind her desk and one day she tipped up completely and all we saw were her legs in the air!!!  We had a lovely teacher for dancing, can’t remember her name but we used to have to dance with long trailing chiffon scarves!!  Oh well, it made the day go quicker and didn’t put pressure on the brain. The worst teacher was Miss Lamb who was just awful. Everyone was frightened of her and she once chased me around the class after lessons and hit me. I can’t remember why and I never told my parents and I wasn’t a naughty child but if she had done it in this ‘day and age’ she would have been in big trouble. I can’t  remember many names but I knew Christine and Teresa Bridge, Rona O’Brien who sadly died about 4 years ago, Vivienne DeSaxe, Jacqueline Pinot, Mary Deakin, Geraldine Goddard who was my cousin, Graham Rumsey, Billy Catchpole, Linda Steed and Ann Leach.

    By Lesley Miles (12/02/2015)
  • I was a non-Catholic day girl at Lourdes Convent between 1948 and 1951, when I had to leave due to ill health. I was Averil Iris Cook. I have many memories of my time there. I remember Reverend Mother, Mother Mary Paul who taught Latin, Mother Mary Agnes, Mrs Dann and Miss Arithoon (sp?) who taught science. I recall sitting next to Angela Dunn, and also Angela Dorling and Julie Fuller. There were some horrendous disciplinary issues and I found the school too strict, but the standard of education was very good. Love to hear from anyone from those years.

    By Averil Garritt (02/01/2017)
  • I was at Lourdes between 1961 and 1963/64 remember all the above Nuns and Mother Catherine who was lovely. Miss Lamb was a terror I didn’t like her I could never do anything right. Who was the maths teacher? she could never control the class!

    By Jo-Ann Bowers nee Schone (26/01/2018)
  • As a lad, I never went to Lourdes but saw it in the distance as I travelled from Patcham to Preston Circus every day when I attended the BSB&E in Hanover Terrace having passed my 13 plus at Patcham SM. In the early ’50s my friends and I used to regularly meet 2 girls, one of which – Louise Arnett was at Lourdes Convent who lived in Withdean.
    Does anyone remember her?

    By John Snelling (10/10/2019)
  • Yes – I remember Louise Arnett through my friendship with her elder brother Mick in the 1950’s. She was a lovely girl and lived in Eldred Avenue. Other girls from Patcham / Withdean who would have been day scholars at that time at Lourdes were Hilary Stevens, Diana Bushell and Penny Arnold.

    By Brian Matthews (13/10/2019)
  • Brian,
    Many thanks for your reply to my request above. I often wonder what happened to Louise. Also, I could not remember if it was Eldred Avenue where she lived – a bungalow near the corner I think.
    I wonder where she is now. Do you keep in touch with Mick? If so he might know. Thanks again. If Hilary Stevens, Diana Bushell or Penny Arnold read this and can help, please leave a comment.
    Thanks
    John

    By John Snelling (13/10/2019)
  • Like many people, I am tracing my Family History and especially that of my Mother Maureen, Margaret, Frances, Anastasia White who I believe attended a Convent School in or around Brighton during the early 40’s.

    I know it is a long shot but does anyone remember her or have access to any records showing if she was a pupil ?

    By Roger Oram (10/11/2019)
  • I’m looking for Janet Carter she was there I think between 1942 onwards or a few years later.
    She could be my half sister.
    Desperate to find her.

    By Gina Owen (26/05/2021)
  • Hi
    I am trying to find out if anyone knew Christina Abczynski who I believe was a boarder from approx 1950 – 1960, I am trying to locate some old pictures.

    By Phil (20/10/2021)
  • Such a delight to read about all the nuns and teachers at Lourdes Convent, most of whom I remember so well. I was a day girl from 1948 but I became a boarder in 1953 after my father died in the Smog of December 1952. Hilary Stevens had a twin sister (not identical) called Vanesa. My best friend was Wendy Leaney who lived in Hassocks. She sadly died earlier this year. I remember Jill Williams who became an actress and appeared in a film. Georgina Guy, Ann Lambert (Head Girl). I left in 1956.

    By Margaret Roca (09/12/2021)
  • I was a pupil at Lourdes Convent from 1955 (aged 4) to 1962. I think I remember all of the teachers – 2 years with Miss Kavanagh in the kindergarten, then Mrs Thomas, Miss Lamb (who was terrifying), Mother Elizabeth (who was delightful), Mrs Price and then Miss Baize for the final 2 years. I also remember very enjoyable singing sessions in the secondary school hall with a jolly male teacher – Mr Langridge perhaps?

    When I started there the ratio of girls to boys was about 4:1, but the boys, including my older brother Bill, drifted away and for the final 2 years I was the only remaining boy in the school. Looking back I wonder what I was doing there being neither Catholic nor female! I missed out completely on activities like tennis and swimming, presumably because of complications with changing facilities. However, academically it was good and I escaped at age 11 to Brighton Grammar School.

    I would love to hear from any of my cohort. I can remember quite a few faces but most names now escape me. I do remember Hilary Dennis, Maxine Broughton (who had lovely blonde pigtails) and Joanne Woolley who was my first crush!

    By John Catchpole (05/01/2022)
  • I was wondering if anyone can remember me, Wendy Male, I used to live in Copse hill.. it would be nice to hear from someone that went to school with me, which was a long time ago.. shame Lourdes convent has gone!

    By Wendy Jackson (11/01/2022)
  • Good morning,
    I am the grandson of a 90 years old French lady called Isabelle Henon (became Isabelle Omont) who attended the convent when she was about 16, in the years 1950-1951. She was very fond of tennis and often sided with the British against the French. I understand she wrote letters to some of the students.
    Did anyone know her ?
    She remembers with great pleasure Princess Elizabeth’s visit to Brighton in 51.

    By Gonzague (03/09/2023)
  • My grand-mother Isabelle doesn’t remember where was the building of the 16 years old in the years 1951-1952.

    Would you please tell me if it was on London Road or somewhere else (Withdean ?), she remembers it was more in the suburbs and that she took the bus to go to to the beach.

    Also she was very fond of an Irish girl who became a nun later, and a girl from Tchekoslovia ? Would you know their names ?

    Thank you so much.

    By Gonzague (03/09/2023)

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