LITTLE MADAME, BIG MADAME, & MRS.JACKMAN

This blog has been prompted by Mum talking with Velia and the fact that Maureen Mercer, a very good friend, is a teacher at a Catholic School.
I believe that primary education can be as important as secondary education; it was certainly the case for me when we went to Bath at the latter part of the War. I went to St. John's School in the city just across the river from the Recreation Ground. The School was run by some lay teachers and nuns from La Sainte Union des Sacrés Coeurs, a French order of nuns with a convent and girls' school across the Pulteney Bridge. [The famous MP and TV personality, Anne Widdecombe, went to this school at the age of eleven.]
Two of these nuns were called Madame Lucy Margaret. One was called Little Madame and the other Big Madame. Little Madame was a very tiny lady, like a thistle down, she appeared to glide across the floor and one never saw her feet, and with her face framed in a wimple she seemed the very epitome of holiness and calm. She maintained order and taught by the fact that one could not offend such a sweet person. She looked after the little children and every afternoon all were settled on palliases to rest and try and take a nap. It was always calm in her class.
Big Madame was the other end of the scale, she was a raw-boned North Country lass who boasted of having worn clogs to school. Her voice matched this appearance and she walked with awkward intensity. She somehow gave the impression that she would not brook any nonsense and that was the way it was. It was really amusing to see these two wonderful nuns walking back to the convent together in the evening. The teaching was great too and actually there was love for us all.
And then there was Mrs. Jackman, a lay teacher, a widow with a son at University, a really elegant English lady. She was a good teacher who invited children to her home in Walcot for afternoon tea and then we learnt how to behave socially in elegant surroundings and talk properly, we learnt how to conduct ourselves in good company. There was fine china, silver, and all the right things, and she treated us like young adults in the conversation.
By the time I went to St.Brendan's College in Clifton, and faced the harsh regime of an Irish Christian Brother system I had been given a good start in my eduction.
Having met Maureen, Tina and I are sure that she too belongs to that cadre of women who manage to help children forge their way in life with a good education. I was fortunate, I have always been fortunate.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

George Clayton - Woodside Farm, South Ferriby.

Image
Often when I take Bryn for his morning walk on the bank of the Humber I meet George who is a yeoman farmer of Lincolnshire. He talks of the land, farming, the seasons of the year, and other things of nature. I talk of ships, the sea, and far away places. George was born in 1920 and went to work when he was 14 as a wagoner caring for 5 horses and all their gear. he was paid 12 shillings and 6 pence per week - it was a man's job! he worked for this landowner all his life and that man left him a farm and some land out of his estate when he died. George's son now works for that estate farming and the like - a great story. George didn't go to war for two reasons - he had a weak heart and he was in agriculture. As he said the heart never did bother him and working from 6 am to 6pm daily is good for you! he retired when he was 75 years old but still works his garden etc. Interestingly he is as bright as a button, really switched on, and very fit for a man 85 years old. He eats e...
Read more

AN ISLAND NATION

Image
AN ISLAND NATION Island Nation or EU satellite state? Last night Jeremy Paxman, on the 19th May 2016, presented an objective view of the European Union. It is clear that the EU intends becoming a federal state and that the United Kingdom would become subsumed into that bureaucratic nightmare. I give you an alternative - the open sea  and the Commonwealth. We are an island nation off Europe but not part of Europe.The Commonwealth needs us and we most certainly need them - they are the World. It is not a pipe dream, the building blocks are still there - just - and it is predicated on the following :- “The Charter brings together the values and aspirations which unite the Commonwealth - democracy, human rights and the rule of law - in a single, accessible document. The Charter expresses the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all peoples of the Commonwealth. The...
Read more

1957 Christmas Vancouver BC

Image
I have heard from Davy Makin and Vic Pitcher this Christmas season. They are old shipmates and I spent Christmas with them in Vancouver BC sixty-one[61] years ago in 1957. Actually I have known David for  71 years because he too came from Bath and we were Catholic children being educated by Nuns of the French order La Sainte Union when we met. Earlier that year [1957], in May, we had joined the tramp-ship “Bradford City” in London. [ If any of you have seen the TV drama called “Call the Midwife” we were moored where you see a two funnel ship in the opening scenes.] I had been promoted to Third Mate, I was 19 years of age, David Makin [same age] was the Senior Apprentice, and Victor Pitcher [17] an Apprentice. My best friend [God love his soul] also 19 years old, and my shipmate on the “Fresno City,” joined the “Queen City” as Third Mate in London at the same time. His ship was crewed with Lascars [Indian Seamen].  We sailed away around the world as usual. I say usual...
Read more