Over 70 former pupils and staff from Burnham-On-Sea’s former La Retraite Convent school attended a special reunion at the weekend.
The reunion on Saturday (14th April) at Burnham’s Catholic Church of Our Lady & The English Martyrs coincided with many 50th birthdays.
The ‘girls’ come from far and wide – one even making the trip from France, and the ages of the pupils ranged from 50 to 94.
The visitors enjoyed sharing memories and photographs, even though many had not met for 30 years or more.
The Sisters of La Retraite have been in the town from 1888 until the last one left for a retirement home last year.
Pat Nicholls gave an illustrated talk on the history of the Order, which started in the 17th Century.
Sister Elizabeth Ann, who taught many of the girls present, told some of her funnier memories.
At the end of the afternoon, there was a nostalgic tour of Burnham Nursing Home, the old convent and former school.
The organiser of the event, Angeles Solway, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and the reaction to the day.”
“People were so happy, and the team at the church worked very hard to set everything up, make us welcome, and look after us so we could enjoy the day. It was a very memorable event.”
A group of French Sisters of La Retraite founded the boarding school in Burnham-On-Sea’s Oxford Street.
The boarding school and convent closed in 1984 and it was converted to a nursing home.
