Any ideas when these were taken? Are you in the photos please comment below.
Author
By Janet Penn
Page added
22/11/2012
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I am in the lower picture, which was taken in approximately 1957
By Peter Mooney (09/07/2014)
I am in the lower picture too, 7th boy from the right, and my brother David is in the top photo, 6th from the left!
By Gordon Murray (19/07/2014)
I think these pictures are taken around 1954 – as I have longer hair and my communion pictures 7/8 years my hair was short my sister Miriam is in the top picture and she would have left the convent at around 1955/6
By pauline collier-sandgrove (10/10/2014)
I think 1954/5 is nearer correct date. I am in top photo 3rd from right middle row. My sister Pauline is in lower photo second from left seated on ground. Unsure if it is Sr Aquinas in top photo.
By miriam petheram nee COLLIER (10/10/2014)
i must be in there somewhere I was at the Convent from 53 onwards
I think that’s me back row far left
By Frank Daley (13/10/2014)
showed photo to my elder sister and she confirms that’s me back row far left
By Frank Daley (16/10/2014)
Bottom picture – some of my classmates who I remember . Catherine Culleton, Pauline Quinn, Jeanette Chambers Yvonne Faiers, Ellen Gray, Kevin Mansell, Gordon Murray, Billy Smith, Michael Arnold – This I am sure is not just 1 class
By pauline sandgrove nee collier (17/10/2014)
Names from the past. I can remember everyone mentioned in the comments above and also Chris Shelton, Charlie Corey, Frankie Finch, Roisean Eliot, Sister Annunciata, Mr Diamond. I think the pic was taken 1954. I am in the bottom picture either 4th from left or 1st on right – can’t see too clearly. Happy days.
By Bill Smith (11/04/2015)
To add to my last posting, Peter and Frances Twydell and I used to travel by taxi to school from Cemetery Corner in Benfleet. Then in later years a coach took us after picking up classmates in Hadleigh. I remember John and Gregory Hewitson and their sister Bernadette (I think). Gregory went into the Priesthood. Bobby Mathews is another name that springs to mind, he was a great one for collecting bird’s eggs and I can remember him about 60 feet up a very large elm in Jotman ‘s Lane Benfleet being mobbed by crows.
I’ve had another look at the bottom pic and that could be me at 5th from right – fair hair anyway. I’m sitting here chuckling at the memories. Kevin Mansell’s Mum used to make the most amazing potato crisps.
By Bill Smith (13/04/2015)
I didn’t join the school until 1957 but have happy memories of my short time there and it’s good to see classmates in earlier times.
By Peter Clamp (05/06/2015)
Hello, I’m Christine Thompson and was at the convent school in 1953 – I just loved that school, it was the best time in my education. Sadly, we moved to Corringham where I attended another school, but it wasn’t a good experience at all. I think I’m in the second row from the bottom and the second girl from the right, I have short hair with white shoes and socks. As I look at the photograph it brings back many memories: I used to have long hair tied in pigtails until one day, on the way to school, a boy took his bubble gum out of his mouth and threw it into my hair – I’ve almost, always had short hair from that time on….
Does anyone remember the name of the Mother Superior at that time – she was an amazing women and is still in my prayers.
We are currently living in Australia with several trips back to the UK.
Warm regards to you all, Christine Thompson (Gray)
By Christine Gray (17/03/2016)
Hi, the second photo is definitely 1953. We moved to Canvey Island from Stockley in Harlington in 1952. We lived on Canvey during 1953 because I watched the Queen’s Coronation on my Godmother’s television at her home. I remember the floods and the freezing winter of that time on Canvey – watching the Coronation is my reference point.
Best regards to all Christine Thompson
By Christine Gray (20/03/2016)
Following on from Bill Smiths comment about Kevin Mansell’s mums crisps…I too remember her making them for us when I went for tea. I was friends with Kevin’s sister Anne. Our mothers were friends through the church…happy memories!!
By Janette Sheern ne. Johnson (23/07/2017)
The bottom picture, top left hand is my brother John Hewitson. Think he was in the same class as Billy Smith whom I do remember. We caught the same Eastern National contract bus to school outside the Twydell’s house by Cemetery Corner. I recall Billy being knocked down by a motor cyclist ( dashing across the road!) and John and I playing truant only once – going off to Hadleigh Downs. My old sister, Bernadine went to St Joseph’s as did my young sister Christine. I was head-boy and I recall the head girl being Susan Hardy who live don Canvey Island. Michael Gattrell was one of my friends who lived up the top of Essex Way towards Hadleigh.
By Greg Hewitson (08/06/2020)
From : Chris Groves I attended the school from 1955-60. Just shuddered when I saw the name “Sister Annunciata”….if you hear rosary beads jangling at speed you know you are going to get a whack on the top of your leg….shorts pulled up so no visible marks. My chums were Richard Zugarine and David Gomar. I was very much in love with Kathleen Wooler. Deidre Duffy also a good dance partner around the Maypole. Mr Diamond was a great football coach…we won the South East Essex Schoolboys cup in 1960….one of the only medals I have ever got….given to my Grandson but I thin k he has lost it! The bus driver from Benfleet to the school was Ron….his greeting “Have no fear Ron-Rons here”. My only regret is not realising Dr Feelgood were our local band…would have supported them.
By Chris Groves (22/02/2021)
As I’ve mentioned before I was in the top class of the first year that the convent opened. I think there were only 14 in our class: Peter Easom, Tommy Hendry, Eddie Clifford, Laura and Margaret Rayne, Bernadine Hewitson, Christine Robertson, Gerald Molloy, Julie Keneally, Pat Charles, me Maureen Thorpe, Bridie Collins and David Newman joined us after a year or so. We were taught by Sr. Imelda and Sr. Annunciata who were both very kind to us. Sr. Monica took the other class, Mother Vincent was in the kitchen and Mother Catherine was head mistress. We had country dancing in the dining hall and Scottish dancing in the playground. I was narrator for our Christmas Nativity and can remember all the words! The nuns even took the boys for football. I loved every minute of my time there.
By Maureen Buckmaster (24/04/2021)
I’m sure that I’m top left in the upper photo (I rarely smiled) and my friend John Corboy is 5th from the right. I remember Sr Anunciata tearing round the playground with her habit hitched up. I loved my years at St. Josephs. I can’t see my siblings Sandra and Michael Arnold were in the year below me.
Comments about this page
I am in the lower picture, which was taken in approximately 1957
I am in the lower picture too, 7th boy from the right, and my brother David is in the top photo, 6th from the left!
I think these pictures are taken around 1954 – as I have longer hair and my communion pictures 7/8 years my hair was short my sister Miriam is in the top picture and she would have left the convent at around 1955/6
I think 1954/5 is nearer correct date. I am in top photo 3rd from right middle row. My sister Pauline is in lower photo second from left seated on ground. Unsure if it is Sr Aquinas in top photo.
i must be in there somewhere I was at the Convent from 53 onwards
I think that’s me back row far left
showed photo to my elder sister and she confirms that’s me back row far left
Bottom picture – some of my classmates who I remember . Catherine Culleton, Pauline Quinn, Jeanette Chambers Yvonne Faiers, Ellen Gray, Kevin Mansell, Gordon Murray, Billy Smith, Michael Arnold – This I am sure is not just 1 class
Names from the past. I can remember everyone mentioned in the comments above and also Chris Shelton, Charlie Corey, Frankie Finch, Roisean Eliot, Sister Annunciata, Mr Diamond. I think the pic was taken 1954. I am in the bottom picture either 4th from left or 1st on right – can’t see too clearly. Happy days.
To add to my last posting, Peter and Frances Twydell and I used to travel by taxi to school from Cemetery Corner in Benfleet. Then in later years a coach took us after picking up classmates in Hadleigh. I remember John and Gregory Hewitson and their sister Bernadette (I think). Gregory went into the Priesthood. Bobby Mathews is another name that springs to mind, he was a great one for collecting bird’s eggs and I can remember him about 60 feet up a very large elm in Jotman ‘s Lane Benfleet being mobbed by crows.
I’ve had another look at the bottom pic and that could be me at 5th from right – fair hair anyway. I’m sitting here chuckling at the memories. Kevin Mansell’s Mum used to make the most amazing potato crisps.
I didn’t join the school until 1957 but have happy memories of my short time there and it’s good to see classmates in earlier times.
Hello, I’m Christine Thompson and was at the convent school in 1953 – I just loved that school, it was the best time in my education. Sadly, we moved to Corringham where I attended another school, but it wasn’t a good experience at all. I think I’m in the second row from the bottom and the second girl from the right, I have short hair with white shoes and socks. As I look at the photograph it brings back many memories: I used to have long hair tied in pigtails until one day, on the way to school, a boy took his bubble gum out of his mouth and threw it into my hair – I’ve almost, always had short hair from that time on….
Does anyone remember the name of the Mother Superior at that time – she was an amazing women and is still in my prayers.
We are currently living in Australia with several trips back to the UK.
Warm regards to you all, Christine Thompson (Gray)
Hi, the second photo is definitely 1953. We moved to Canvey Island from Stockley in Harlington in 1952. We lived on Canvey during 1953 because I watched the Queen’s Coronation on my Godmother’s television at her home. I remember the floods and the freezing winter of that time on Canvey – watching the Coronation is my reference point.
Best regards to all Christine Thompson
Following on from Bill Smiths comment about Kevin Mansell’s mums crisps…I too remember her making them for us when I went for tea. I was friends with Kevin’s sister Anne. Our mothers were friends through the church…happy memories!!
The bottom picture, top left hand is my brother John Hewitson. Think he was in the same class as Billy Smith whom I do remember. We caught the same Eastern National contract bus to school outside the Twydell’s house by Cemetery Corner. I recall Billy being knocked down by a motor cyclist ( dashing across the road!) and John and I playing truant only once – going off to Hadleigh Downs. My old sister, Bernadine went to St Joseph’s as did my young sister Christine. I was head-boy and I recall the head girl being Susan Hardy who live don Canvey Island.
Michael Gattrell was one of my friends who lived up the top of Essex Way towards Hadleigh.
From : Chris Groves
I attended the school from 1955-60. Just shuddered when I saw the name “Sister Annunciata”….if you hear rosary beads jangling at speed you know you are going to get a whack on the top of your leg….shorts pulled up so no visible marks. My chums were Richard Zugarine and David Gomar. I was very much in love with Kathleen Wooler. Deidre Duffy also a good dance partner around the Maypole. Mr Diamond was a great football coach…we won the South East Essex Schoolboys cup in 1960….one of the only medals I have ever got….given to my Grandson but I thin k he has lost it! The bus driver from Benfleet to the school was Ron….his greeting “Have no fear Ron-Rons here”. My only regret is not realising Dr Feelgood were our local band…would have supported them.
As I’ve mentioned before I was in the top class of the first year that the convent opened. I think there were only 14 in our class: Peter Easom, Tommy Hendry, Eddie Clifford, Laura and Margaret Rayne, Bernadine Hewitson, Christine Robertson, Gerald Molloy, Julie Keneally, Pat Charles, me Maureen Thorpe, Bridie Collins and David Newman joined us after a year or so. We were taught by Sr. Imelda and Sr. Annunciata who were both very kind to us. Sr. Monica took the other class, Mother Vincent was in the kitchen and Mother Catherine was head mistress. We had country dancing in the dining hall and Scottish dancing in the playground. I was narrator for our Christmas Nativity and can remember all the words! The nuns even took the boys for football. I loved every minute of my time there.
I’m sure that I’m top left in the upper photo (I rarely smiled) and my friend John Corboy is 5th from the right. I remember Sr Anunciata tearing round the playground with her habit hitched up. I loved my years at St. Josephs.
I can’t see my siblings Sandra and Michael Arnold were in the year below me.
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