A very special reunion

Today we welcomed three nuns from the Convent of Mercy in Sunderland to our home for lunch. They are a teaching order. We have long friendships with some of the nuns from the days when Dad was an educational welfare officer and Mum taught in St. Anthony's School, a girls' Catholic grammar.

Sister Mary Francis started as a pupil at St. Anthony's in 1961, when she was Margaret Stringer. She was in Mum's form. During the first year, Mum had the idea that the whole class would contribute to an embroidery of the convent, which they then gave to the Headteacher, Sr Mary Gabriel. After all these years, it still exists in its original frame. The names of all the girls are on the back. Sr. Francis brought along a school photo, when the girls were older, to show Mum.

We all enjoyed lunch and lots of chat. Sr Francis had us in stitches with her account of her first day at the school. It was traumatic to say the least. It started with her being placed in a form with no girl from her Primary School. Then she had forgotten her dinner money - which Mum paid for her. Then she slipped on the floor of the dining room, pulling over a table and all the cutlery on top of her and onto the floor. One of the fiercest teachers shouted across, "Who is that hooligan?" Not an easy start.

She joined the convent after her O levels and was in the sixth form as a postulant, returning to teach at St Anthony's later on.

Sister Dolores came today and the driver was new to us, Sister Josepha. She used to be a headteacher in Walker in Newcastle. She was great fun and we have a new friend.