Marist Convent, Fulham - London

Black and White photo of the Class of 1946. First year after returning from the evacuations of WWII. The girls were approximately 11 or 12, according to Madeleine Mitchell Rishton, who submitted today's photos of her mother, Josephine Wood, at the Convent. Josephine was born in 1934.

Back row L-R: Pauline Wheeler, Sylvia Saville, Anne Marie Cahouet, Pamela Tonkin, Janet King, Monica Young.

Front row L-R: Joyce Halifax, Josephine Wood (Madeleine's mother), Jean Richardson, Pauline Downes and Helen Robinson.

It should be noted that during WWII most children were shipped out of London. Marist Convent and Putney Girls' school students were evacuated to West Byfleet where local schools had been commandeered to host the London refugees. The Marist students and the billeted Sisters were sent initially to a house called the "The Knowle" on Madeira Road. They eventually settled into a larger house called "The Gables", on the Corner of Sheerwater Rd and Old Woking Rd where they stayed for the entire duration of the war.

After the war, the students returned back to London. This photo would likely have been of their first year back home in the city.

Before the Marist Sisters decided to purchase The Gables in 1947, it had been rented by the American High Command and was a base for General Dwight Eisenhower.

The house was torn down after the war. But a new Marist Convent school was later built on the same site. It remains there to this day.

Further information on the evacuations of women and children from South London during the war from 1939-1945 can be found in Iain Wakeford's article at:https://wokinghistory.org/onewebmedia/170106.pdf

Many thanks to Madeleine Mitchell Rishton for submitting today's photos of her mother Josephine Wood, (1934-2004), RIP.

Class of 1946 reunion photo circa 1994 with Sr. John the Baptist, almost 50 years later. Madeleine's mum was Josephine Wood. She passed in 2004.

Back Row L-R: Diana Gorgone, Josephine Wood, June Powell, Edna Parkin, Monica Young, Sister John the Baptist, Jean Giotti.

Front Row L-R. Anne Cole, Gertrude Giotti, Bernadette Smeesters.

Thanks to Madeleine Mitchell Rishton for submitting photos of her mother's class at the convent.

Marist Convent Fulham School badge submitted to the Bunty Magazine, (now defunct), in 1958.

Who remembers the Bunty Magazine? (Bunty was a comic book for girls and ran from 1958-1997.)

Anyone know who submitted the badge?

Source: https://jkpg.myqnapcloud.com/piwigosb/picture.php?/447

New photo from 1978 submitted by Paul Lanzarotti. Class 1 Junior School. (Paul was 5 years old and is furthest right on the 2nd row from the bottom.)

"Hi Marist folks. This is me at the the Marist in 1978. From top left and the ones I can remember...
Marie, Kylie, Charlotte, Natalie, Amanda, Justine, Spiroula, Katie, Justin, Isabelle,Marcus, Paul Lanzarotti, Rachel, Yuki, Naomi, Laura. And the Teacher was called Miss Banwell.". " I know one of these girls is on Facebook." 😄

Photo sent in by Paul Ashman, Class 1, Junior School, 1977 - first boy standing from left on Top Row. Paul was around 5 years old. Boys were admitted until the age of 8 and then had to leave.

Paul says "I can only remember one name. Tara Cavanagh. Far right of the third row. I think blond in the middle was called Lydia Brandford.
Smiley blond chap far left was called Carlos. And to his left a chap called Charlie."

Anyone recognize any other faces?? Let us know

Class of 1930. Class 4 Junior School, Marist Convent, Fulham Rd., London.
Anastasie Ginette Sahuc, third row from the front, 2nd from the left.
(Photo submitted by Marie Pierre Csn)

Ginette Sahuc, 8-9 years old, 1930, First Communion photo, Marist Convent Chapel, 596 Fulham Rd, London.

Ginette Sahuc was born in London in 1922 to French parents who had emigrated after WWI and after the Spanish flu. Her father was a chef at Romano's in the Strand. (A restaurant founded by an Italian serving French food and frequented by the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. It was bombed during the blitz in WWII.)

Ginette and her parents left London in 1932 and moved to Newcastle and then Glasgow.

Received a message from Marie-Pierre Csn in France regarding a First Communion card that she found in a box of old photographs and documents belonging to her aunt, Ginette Sahuc. It appears that Ginette did her First Communion in the chapel at the Marist in Fulham in 1930. She would have been between between 9-11 years old? Lovely keepsake and whats interesting is that its printed in French.

This is a long shot, since its over 90 years ago - but if anyone recognizes the name or knows anyone else or has elderly relatives that might remember Ginette please get in touch and let us know.

And if any of you still have your First Communion cards or images of fond memories at the school that you want to share, please send them in!