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| Kathleen & Eva Collett |
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| Darjeeling, 25 Oct 1937 |
The search for memories started when no one in my family appeared
to have any photographs of Eva. A few photographs have since been found, but to me the memories are priceless! If anyone
else has any memories of Eva, or her daughter Kathleen, I would love to hear from you.
"I remember your
great grandmother very clearly indeed, and with great affection. She was matron in charge of the junior school. I at St Paul's
between 1943 and 1952. I think she must have left us at the end of 1945 or 1946.
We were always made to kneel by our
beds to say our prayers before going to bed. When prayers were over we were tucked up and as she put the lights out we had
a little ritual chant: " Good Night Mrs Collett, God Bless you Mrs Collett, Sweet Dreams Mrs Collett!"
Great Lady!
Great Times and a Great School! "
K. Pearce
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| Eva Collett |
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| Late 1950's |
HELLO THERE,
WHILS'T BROWSING THE ST. PAULS WEBSITE, I CAME
ACROSS YOUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON YOUR GREAT,GREAT GRANDMOTHER MRS. EVA COLLETT.
I WAS IN THE ST.PAULS JUNIOR SCHOOL
FROM '39 TO '41,SO AS MRS. COLLETT WAS OUR MATRON,I REMEMBER HER VERY WELL INDEED.
AS THE JUNIOR SCHOOL HAD BOYS FROM
AS YOUNG AS SIX YEARS OLD,AND LEAVING HOME FOR THE FIRST TIME,MRS. COLLETT WAS REGARDED AS A BIT OF A MOTHER FIGURE.NOT ONLY
WAS SHE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CLEANLINESS,BUT ALSO OUR SMART TURN-OUT,OUR LAUNDRY AND OUR GOOD HEALTH AND WELFARE.
EVERY
NIGHT BEFORE LIGHTS OUT,WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO KNEEL WHILE MRS. COLLETT CONDUCTED OUR PRAYERS.
TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL
TERM (APPROX. MID NOV ), WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS DROPPING FAST AND THE SNOW WAS GETTING NEARER,MRS.COLLETT USUALLY HAD A
ROARING FIRE IN THE MAIN DORMITORY FOR US TO WARM OURSELVES BEFORE TURNING IN.
THROUGHOUT 1941 MRS. COLLETT HAD A LADY
STAYING WITH HER AND HELPING HER WITH HER DUTIES,WE BELIEVE THAT THIS LADY WAS A DAUGHTER,BUT I HAVE NO IDEA OF HER NAME.
I AM IN TOUCH WITH A TEACHER FROM THE JUNIOR SCHOOL WHO TAUGHT FROM THE LATE 30'S TO THE EARLY SIXTIES.THE NEXT TIME I
SPEAK TO HER,I WILL TRY AND GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR GREAT,GREAT GRANDMOTHER,AND WILL PASS THIS ON TO YOU.
YOU
SAY MRS. COLLETT WAS AT ST. PAULS FROM '36 TO '43.THIS IS NOT SO,AS MRS COLLETT WAS STILL THE JUNIOR SCHOOL MATRON WHEN I
COMPLETED MY SCHOOLING IN '47.
I HOPE THAT I HAVE BEEN OF SOME HELP,AND AS THE SONG GOES "OH YES ,I REMEMBER HER WELL
"
WITH BEST WISHES,
FROM G. ALDRIDGE.
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