The reunion weekend
Part 1
The Invitations

Two invitations had arrived at the Grey's house within a week of each other the first:

You are invited to the Chalet School Reunion weekend
For June 1994
At the Sunday Services Presidents and preachers will be:-
Our Lady of the Snows Dom Charles Maynard assisted by Sister Margaret Mary
And at St Mary’s Rev. Dr. L.M. Bettany.
And to A Twenties and Thirties Sale which will take place on Monday at 1400 hours.The Sale will be opened by the Rev. Dr. L.M. Bettany.
RSVP to Mrs Entwistle

and the second one

You are invited to the ordination to the priesthood of
Rev. Dr. Lucinda Muriel Bettany At Northcastle Minister
On May 1994

Rosalie Grey received the invitations with pleasure; she remembered her puzzlement at an invitation she had received some thirty years before. On that occasion it had not been Lucinda in Holy Orders, but her father.


The Bishop of Peartree Wick and his wife invite
Mark and Rosalie Grey to the Wedding of their daughter
Lucinda Muriel to
Richard, Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R Bettany
At Peartree Minster on May 1964
RSVP
Rosalie remembered puzzling over the invitation for days. She knew no Lucinda and although she was a friend of Bride Bettany’s she was unsure who Richard was. Bride had joined the guests at her wedding to Philip Grey two year ago. She had also attended Bride Bettany’s wedding a few years previously but she did not expect to be invited to other weddings in the Bettany family.

It was only several days later that a letter from her first friend at the Chalet School explained the mystery. Her friend announced that she was to marry the older brother, (Rix,) of their close friend Bride Bettany. Suddenly Rosalie understood the invitation. Rosalie had not met her friend for a while as she had had a difficult time with her first pregnancy and living in the North of England did not know her friend had met Rix again through her work with young people in London.

Her friend had in fact met her husband-to-be when she was visiting one of the teenagers’ from the youth club she ran in the East End of London, who had been admitted to hospital following a road traffic accident, whilst riding his new motor bike. Richard or as he was known by the family, Rix was the Senior Registrar looking after the boy, and he had recognised the intelligent, attractive looking visitor as a school friend of his sister Bride who had visited them during the long summer holidays.
They had started to talk and after that they met several times during visits, they had gone out for a meal together and had found that they enjoyed each other’s company more and more. It was difficult to meet as often as they would have liked as Rix was busy in his work as a neurosurgeon and in looking for a consultant’s post and she was busy with the Clubs she ran as part of a Mission to the East End.

When Rix found his post it was in a Northern city, near to where Lucinda had spent her early years, before her father started to gain recognition within the Church of England and where her father was now a bishop. Rix asked her to show him around the area when she was next visiting her parents and to help him find a house. As they got to know each other better they found the separation between the North of England and London increasingly hard to bear. Lucinda knew that boys and girls she had had as club members when she started could now take on the leadership, and when Rix asked her to marry him and go north she agreed, and arranged to hand over the running of the clubs in London.

Lucinda knew her proper names must be used in the wedding service and not the name she commonly used, so decided to send the invitations out in her full name to surprise her friends and to avoid a gasp of astonishment during the service. So with her parent’s and Rix’s agreement the confusing invitations had been sent out.

Lucinda and Rix had been happily married now for thirty years, and had two children, twins of their own. Lucinda had started to provide clubs in the Northern city they now lived in attached to a city centre church and when the children had grown and were away at school she had completed her doctorate on the benefits of clubs and a range of outdoor activities in keeping young people out of trouble with the law. In the eighties when women were admitted to the deaconate she had studied for it and worked as a curate in several inner city parishes. Now with the ordination of women she was to be ordained as a priest and Mrs. Entwhistle, head of the Chalet School, had asked her to celebrate the Reunion Eucharist as the first woman to celebrate in the schools’ Anglican chapel. Lucinda with happy memories of her time both in Wales and Switzerland with the Chalet School had agreed.

Lucinda had asked Len Entwistle, her cousin by marriage and headmistress of the Chalet School, to use her real initials and not her name on the invites. Rosalie who had stayed in touch with Lucinda knew that many of their school friends and subsequent pupils of the Chalet School would be puzzled by the invitation as, not knowing it was an old girl of the school and expecting the service to be taken by the school chaplain as usual. Lucinda and Rosalie had shared the problems of bringing up children as Rosalie’s second child had been a daughter of similar age to Lucinda’s twins. In fact their daughters were now working together in the Switzerland branch of the Chalet School.

Rosalie’s daughter Jane had let her know that this was likely to be Len Entwhistle’s last reunion as headmistress as she and her husband Reg were retiring back to England at Christmas when Reg finished his time as Head of the San. Len had therefore decided to be make the Reunion Weekend as special as possible.

Mrs. Entwhistle had asked her brother Dom Charles to celebrate in the Roman Catholic Chapel and he would be assisted by their sister Margot. She was now based at Mother House of her order in England as she had completed her work in India as a doctor which she had commenced on completing her medical training and joining her Order, and was now working in tropical medicine in England, training others to do the work she had loved for all of her adult life.

Their sister Con and her husband Roger had recently moved to Wales from the wilds of Canada to be involved in restoration work in the Valleys and so the triplets would be together at a Chalet School event for the first time in a number of years.

Con and Len like Sybil and Josette had grandchildren at the School now and it was hoped that four generations of the Maynard/Bettany clan would be present.
The School had expanded its appeal to the daughters of diplomats, Aid workers, and of service children from forces from around the world. The differing religions and cultures learning to live together in the way in earlier years girls of differing religions and European races had learnt. Now however Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Christians shared in the activities of the school and community. The girls flying back to be with their parents in the holidays when it was safe to do so or staying together in small groups visiting old girls who acted as guardians when it was unsafe to do so.

Ooooh! Tom married to Rix

Thanks, Pauline

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“I have had too much experience of life to believe in the infallibility of doctors. Some of them are clever men and some of them are not, and half the time the best of them don’t know what is the matter with you.” ~ Miss Marple

This looks good! I always liked the idea of Tom as a woman vicar!

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Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing which ever has.

I always thought Tom'd make a great vicar too .

I got to the end still not picking up on who Lucinda was. Thank you Liz!

Might be time for another read through, methinks

I wondered how many would realise who Lucinda was! I thought what a shame Tom was looking at careers before the time of Women Priests in the Church of England then did the maths and realised it was still possible she could have been ordained with the first group as a friend of mine was after working in other roles first. This was rewritten whilst on holiday, hence two posts in one day but it will slow down now I am back at work. It was originally posted on the Sally Denny Board, but got stuck and then lost in the new board. It goes further this time and School has changed to met the last decade of twentieth century


Part 2

The Friday

The School had been busy preparing for the Sale for the previous year, toys had been made, needlework completed, cakes and sweets baked and the House Stalls set up ready for filling by the girls on Monday morning. The different stalls showed scenes more commonly seen in the early years of the School, a drawing room ready for the needlework, including hand and machine knitting and sewing, delicate embroidery pictures on silk complete with frames the girls had made: a nursery with children’s clothing ranging from babies to ten year olds, again both delicate embroidery heirloom pieces for new born babies and hard wearing dungarees and playwear for toddlers and school children: a kitchen from a large house was ready for the baking, and a play room for the toys, both small indoor ones and some larger ones suitable for outside, again showing a range of skills with wood metal and softer materials.
Another stall showed the hardship of the General Strike in Britain and was ready for goods which might have found their way to a pawnbrokers shop which had been given by friends of the school. Other stalls were based on market and street stalls of the twenties from around Europe in styles which early Chalet School girls would have recognised from their school days even if they had rarely visited markets, offering the fruit, flowers, vegetables and herbs the girls had grown, art work and pottery, second hand books and a range of cards for all occasions.
Entertainments had been prepared, a demonstration of twenties dances, Morris and folk dance displays from the Schools early days and some disco and rap representing the styles the present girls enjoyed in their leisure time. A group of girls who studied ballet were to give a display which Felicity had specially choreographed to music by Nina Rutherford a “Celebration of Life” which the school orchestra was to play.
Several of the mistresses regretted that no one had provided a Dolls house for many years as several girls had done in earlier time, both whilst they had been at school and after. Several of the houses were in the school museum, for example the Elizabethan House Miss Denny had won, and the houses from around the world which Joey Maynard had won made by Tom Gay and a seventies detached house and a corner shop with living accommodation above made by Jack Lambert. Others were enjoyed by the children and grand children of former pupils, such as those won by Con Richardson (formerly Maynard). However at least this year Tom and Jack who had provided the early houses would be with them and many looked forward to renewing their acquaintance with one or other of them.

On the Friday before the Sale the girls filled trolleys ready to wheel out to the stalls on Monday, and baked some loaf cakes and sweets which improved with keeping, prepared the plates and trays for the baking which would be done by the Jewish girls on the Sunday or others on the Monday or stored in tins or frozen ready to be put out just before the opening. The garden was filled with girls and staff making sure all was ready when Len Entwhistle appeared looking excited after greeting Lucinda and her husband. She quickly found Lucinda’s daughter Sara and Jane Grey, and took them off with her.
The Jewish girls and mistresses left the others for Shabbat and evening prayers in the newly completed Prayer room in the grounds next to the Churches and a chapel for those Christian girls who came from the non-conformist churches. This had become necessary as the school took the daughters of people working outside their own countries. Diplomats, business people, medical staff, relief workers and those in the armed forces serving in the worlds trouble spots learnt to live together and respect a variety of view points. The Sale being held on a Monday was one example of this to allow the Jewish girls to participate fully without comprising their religious duties.

Len and Sara and Jane were not seen for the next hour and when Sara and Jane returned they would not tell their colleagues and friends where they had been. All they would say was everyone would know on Sunday!

Nice to see that they've finally started recognising other religions.

At our (non-religious) school we had non-religious assembly for everyone Monday and Tuesday, no assembly on Wednesday, and then on Thursday and Friday split assemblies - Christian assembly, Jewish assembly, Muslim assembly etc ... although I'm not sure what you were meant to do if you were agnostic/atheist .

Wonder what Len and co are planning .

thanks this does look interesting

thanks pauline

Very interesting - and good for Tom!


Thanks Pauline.

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*Was ist diese Sache, die eine Klippe genannt wird?*

Thank you Pauline! Very interesting, and congratulations to Tom.

I was at one of the earliest ordinations - it was a very moving and wonderful occasion. Sadly, there were too many memories of dear friends who had died before they could be ordained - one, in particular - but it was wonderful for many other friends who had wanted and prayed for that day to come.

And both I, as a Methodist local preacher, and an Anglican non-stipendiary minister of my acquaintance, felt that our own ministries had been endorsed & verified by the whole thing!

Sorry, that's probably TMI, but you have stirred up memories!

Thanks, Pauline. It's good to see them getting up to date at the CS. I don't know what they'd do with me during assembly time. I don't believe in most religions; the only one I have any time for is the Salvation Army.

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Carpe diem, carpe noctem, carpe pecuniam et exe, celerrime.
A certain edge when she spoke of Mrs Maynard, certainly, but, after all, not everyone could love Joey.
'Life,' said Marvin, 'don't talk to me about life!'

Thanks, Pauline. This is fascinating.

Interesting take on how the CS would be, in more modern times.

Thanks, Pauline

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There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge is love, the only survival, the only meaning. (Thornton Wilder)

Thank you Pauline; I'm really enjoying this.

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Windscreen broken. Cause unknown. Probably voodoo.
He sat musing with the dead chicken in his hand.....

Prayers are the easiest problem to solve, diets and timetable differences are greater. The School had built a series of Appartment blocks named after the Swiss Cantons and cities, each containing groups of ensuite rooms, with showers not baths, so all could wash under running water, with a prefect/senior in charge of each room group. The blocks had their own kitchen and dinning room and prayer room. The house mistress and matron/housekeeper was of the same religion as the girls in the block and took their daily prayers. School assembly was held jointly on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening in the main hall. The school houses named after Saints continued and each girl was part of one and used the house common rooms for leisure activities. In bring the School up to date I did not at first realise the problems there would be to solve.


Part 3
The Saturday dawned misty, with a promise of a hot day developing later as the sun burnt the mist off. The staff prepared for a busy day as they helped the girls complete preparations for the services and the Sale.

After Fruhstuck and prayers the Christian girls choirs had a short rehearsal for the following days services and others set out chairs in the cloister area which had been created by building the Prayer Room, non-conformist Chapel and a refreshment hall near the original school Chapels and linking them with a covered wall way which enclosing an area which allowed the school to join together for services and meetings in the open air during the summer, when the Chapels were not big enough to hold the girls and their guests.

When every thing was set and the choirs released the girls were sent off on walks in mixed groups with their visitors. The girls were able to show their friends and families their favourite places which they had described in their letters and phone calls home. Each group had a prefect or two with them and a mistress and took their lunch with them in their backpacks. Sara Bettany’s group were thrilled to find they had Rex and Lucinda Bettany with them. Lucinda kept the group enthralled with tales of earlier Sales, including her contribution to saving a Sale by locking up burglars in the store room and her consternation when she found it had been senior staff and Madam (Lady Russell) after her marriage.

The Jewish girls and their mistress kept to the grounds with their friends and were provided with a Kosher meal which they ate picnic style, together in the Rose garden which the Sixth Form maintained in the tradition of the School.

The girls came together in time for Abendessen after which they changed into casual wear and joined together in the Hall for dancing led by the girls themselves who played guitars, drums and sang the latest songs from the pop charts from around the world. Some of the parents also provided music for more traditional dancing as a break from time to time.

As the evening progressed the younger girls were called off to go to bed.

Thanks Pauline .

I just cannot get used to Tom as Lucinda!

Thanks Pauline

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of course I don't look busy - I did it right the first time

Thanks! I remember reading the first post of this last year.

It is interesting to consider how the school would have had to change with the times.

And Tom married!

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A good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read. Terry Pratchett

This is great Pauline. Tom and Rix would have made a lovely couple I think - and one I never thought of either. Rix as a neurosurgeon! Congrats to him

Am also giggling at the seventies style house and corner shop that Jack Lambert built - so unromantic after Tom's historical offerings!

But this is great, please keep it coming and thank you.

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"Somehow, he felt, as he had never felt before, the want of a woman to sit facing him as he read a new book on pulmonary complaints." (Jean of Storms)

Nine Dresses

Really enjoying this, Pauline, thanks.