This site is devoted to St Joseph's school, Basingstoke (the school changed its name to St Bernard's in September 1964) which stood on a site in Norn Hill from 1953 until 1973. History of the school, factual information about the teachers, pupils and staff, the School Song and more are what this site is about. If you want to contact old school friends or share stories about the teachers and what a wonderful bunch they were, you should visit www.friendsreunited.co.uk which has about 55 ex pupils registered..
Happy New Year! Marian Robinson has found our site and spotted herself in the 1957 photo together with her sister Jenny
Diane Errey has been in touch to correct my spelling of her name and to point out that the girl we had as Imogen Stockbridge was in fact her sister Teresa Errey. She has also provided a photo of the two of them taken probably around 1959
Marian and David Appleby found themselves on the 1963 and 1960 photos
Chris Corcoran spotted himself on the 1963 photo
John Veal identified his brother Robert on the 1963 photo
Bernie (Berenice) Rennie (nee Ross) has provided a few more details. She says Anna and Gizella's surname was Kemeter and they were Hungarian. Also the following went to the Convent of the Holy Ghost: Maureen Ray, Dorothy (Dot) ? (Maltese), Georgina ? (Canadian?), Jill ? and Elizabeth Burman. For Norn Hill there was also a Mandy Herbert as well as the Jackie and Sarah we already have. She also mentions Anthony Dasczweitz.
Some information on life after school: Philippa Billington went on to Winchester College of Art, as did Celia Ayton and Gizella Kemeter. Philippa later became a model for Vogue. Debbie Billington tragically died, with her fiance, in a plane crash many years ago aged about 22. Mary Henessey died from cancer some years ago.
She says that Christine Hookings has been mis-identified as Sandra Rivett on the 60/61 photo.
Finally she thinks that No. 4 on the 1962 photo from Nuala is definitely not Philippa - Phil towered over all of us at 6 feet! I think it may well be Ethel Reilly but can't be certain.
Julian Bishop has been in touch to identify himself on the 1960/61 photo. and the 1963 photo
Some faces identified by Debbie Reavell (Sweetman) on the 1957 photo. Paul Wernham, Michael Waine, Mary Fitzpatrick, Barbara Sweetman.
Information from Nuala about one of the Odds and Ends photos. I have moved it to its own place as the July1960 Photo. Also she has some more names from the 1960/61 photo. MaGrath, Sweetman, Mullen, Langridge, Rivett and Oliver. Has the mystery of Peter/Paul Stowell finally been resolved? Peter and Paul themselves emailed to confirm, Paul says " Christine Wright is wrong it is my younger brother Peter Stowell. I am 4 years older and was by that time at Charles Chute." Pauline Benham has some names also. Cronin, Hopkins, Sweetman, McNulty and thinks child195 is Tessa Roca not child98? And finally Tony Rimell emails to identify himself on the 60/61 photo as child168.
Christine Wright confirms that it was Paul Stowell in the 1960/61 photo.
Nuala has spotted some more faces on the 1960/61 photo.Carney, Smallbone, Donnelly, Walsh, Southcote, Johnson, Newcombe, Galico, Collier, Clark and a pair of Rainbows! Is Child 80 Bridget Brophy and 113 a Bradshaw ? and was Peter Stowell really Paul Stowell? Can anyone help?
Even more faces identified from the 1960/61 photo by Christine Kot. Namely Carmel Reilly, Ruth Peck, Peter Stowell, Geoffrey Gifford and herself
A few more faces identified from the 1960/61 photo by Nesta. Namely Julia Walsh, Nesta Turvey, ? Rutter, Ethel Reilly, Dawn Bradley, Anna ?, Susan Rutt, Gizella ?, Mary Etheridge, Sheila Rutter, Celia Ayton and a couple of possibles "Child 137 looks like Veronica Clark and Child 138 looks like Sandra Burgess" Can anyone confirm these two?
