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2013St Margarets Convent – Midhurst
St Margarets Convent – Midhurst
St Margaret’s Convent was a mixed primary and an all-girls secondary convent school in Midhurst, West Sussex.
St Margaret’s was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1888. By the 21st century pupil numbers dropped substantially as parents opted to send their children to state schools or independent schools such as Seaford College less than a 20-minute drive away. The senior section closed in 2002 and it became a junior school. It was initially proposed that Seaford’s junior school and St Margaret’s would merge but the plans fell through and closure was inevitable. In July 2009, hundreds of Midhurst locals and former pupils gathered at the school compound for the farewell ceremony.
The building it once occupied was designated a Grade II listed building in 2010. The Sisters continued their presence in Midhurst after the school’s closure.
Elizabeth
My Mom was a war bride , met our Dad, Tom Needham.
They got married in Sussex in 1944, moved then to Canada. Our Mom’s name is Gwendoline Turner and she attended St Margret’s Convert School, as a young girl.
She went to Heaven just recently, she was ninety one.
Thank-you for the blessed work of your prayers and your loving kindnesses towards our Mom’s life.
Love your sister in Christ Jesus, one of Mom’s eight children and her fifth daughter Elizabeth… He has watched over His word, blessings to you and your loved ones xx thank -you, ever so.
Miguel
I attended the junior school from 1970-77 and my sister stayed ’til 1980. What I didn’t know at the time was that the Sisters allowed my mother to pay what she could, raising the two of us on her own, and never one asked her for more. We used to laugh but really they were Sisters of Mercy and I left with a scholorship to Churcher’s College and a fantastic educational grounding. I am, and will remain, to them.
Charlotte Bridger
I loved my time there and is like tho know where the Sisters are living now and see a picture of them all. They also did the same for my mum too and allowed her to pay what she could.
Angeline Murphy new Tate
I attended the school 79-82 some weekends I just wanted to stay and not go home I made the choice as the sisters made me feel like family I was cheeky but the sisters understood us all and had so much care believe me we got away with sooo much lol but I guess the sisters gave us strict guidelines but still let us be kids for sure we had sister Katherine who was scary but she was still caring of unwell she did have a soft side. Sister Joseph Clare she was the best house mum plus sister fanny x as we Called her she was amazing totally full of life for all. So many names I could mention beautiful souls and loads of family friends still from those days.
Sad to see it closed a very historical place.
Sarah Boctor
I went to this school with my sister from 1984 to 1989. We were full time borders. Sister Mary Louise was like a second mother to me – I wish I could find a way to get in touch with her. We were foreigners who couldn’t speak much English and I was just 4 years old when I joined (I turned 5 in the November). Sister Joseph Clare was completely awful to me. She physically and emotionally abused me and has left me with so many emotional scars. She used to ridicule me and hit me, and made me feel so bad that I never told anyone. Once, she smacked me so hard on my thigh that I had a hand shaped bruise, which my mum saw when she picked us up at half term. Mum was so upset and she spoke to the school, but it didn’t change much. Sister Joseph Clare hated me, and I was only 4 when I joined and 9 when I left. What could I have ever done for her to hate me so much. Even as I write this, I am filled with emotion, but I have been blessed to have a very prosperous and happy life, despite this trauma. May God forgive her and help me to forget. Apart from that, the rest of them were lovely and I still have such fond memories of those people and the experiences we had at this school. The Bryant family who lived next door were so lovely! The teaching staff – my teacher Mrs Brown – who I’ll never forget. I had a friend called Nicole but sadly I don’t remember her surname. My sister’s friend was called Cheryl and I think Cheryl had a sister called Theresa?
Karla van Essen
Sarah I was with sr Marie Louise today
Email me martinkarla66@hotmail.co.uk
Helen
I remember Sister Catherine. She was kind and motherly to us Boarders – especially when we were unwell in the infirmary. She was a good listener and an excellent School Nurse. She had the gift of creativity which sowed itself in her lessons especially in English and Natural Science.
Sarah Boctor
I went to this school with my sister from 1984 to 1989. We were full time borders. Sister Mary Louise was like a second mother to me – I wish I could find a way to get in touch with her. We were foreigners who couldn’t speak much English and I was just 4 years old when I joined (I turned 5 in the November).
Sister Joseph Clare was completely awful to me. She physically and emotionally abused me and has left me with so many emotional scars. She made me feel so scared and isolated, like there was something really wrong with me.
She used to ridicule me and hit me, and made me feel so bad that I never told anyone. Once, she smacked me so hard on my thigh that I had a hand shaped bruise, which my mum saw when she picked us up at half term. Mum was so upset and she spoke to the school, but it didn’t change much. Sister Joseph Clare hated me, and I was only 4 when I joined and 9 when I left. What could I have ever done for her to hate me so much. Even as I write this, I am filled with emotion, but I have been blessed to have a very prosperous and happy life, despite this trauma. May God forgive her and help me to forget.
Apart from that, the rest of them were lovely and I still have such fond memories of those people and the experiences we had at this school.
The Bryant family who lived next door were so lovely! The teaching staff – my teacher Mrs Brown – who I’ll never forget. I had a friend called Nicole but sadly I don’t remember her surname. My sister’s friend was called Cheryl and I think Cheryl had a sister called Theresa?
Nicola
Hi Sarah
I went to Midhurst Convent school between 75 and 81. I remember Sister Joseph Clare. She was very mean and often ridiculed me in front of the class. I am sorry to hear she was mean to you too. I also remember Mrs Brown although was not in her class. Sister Marie Louise was a delight and very kind. How amazing to have found someone that remembers the Convent.
Hannah
Nicole Northcott perhaps? I think she would have been in the same year as you, along with my sister, Lindsey Fountain
Blair Sanders
Hi
I attended the Primary school sometime in the 70’s I can’t really remember any names though!
I do remember Gary Glitter following the bus on the way to school!! A red Rolls-Royce!
Those were the days
Mary Helen
I remember Sister Catherine. She was a creative and excellent teacher in the Junior School.
When we were ill she was a wonderful kind and caring nurse.
Chanelle
I lived with my grandparents for a short time who were living in Midhurst and ran the Conservative Club not far from Cowdary Park.
I think my time at St Margaret’s Convent was between 1970 and 1972. I wasn’t there long but I have fond memories of my time there. I liked the discipline and structure. I enjoyed learning how to sew a yellow dress that I was very proud of. I remember at meal times we took it in turn to clear up. I also remember the school fete at the end of term where they had an activity of trying to get ping-pong balls into a fish bowl. I was delighted to get 2 ping-pong balls into the fish bowls. My prize was 2 Gold Fish in a bag of water. So, my grandmother and I walked over to what was then a pet shop and she bought me a fish bowl with fish flakes and coloured stones. I looked after the fish until I had to leave England and gifted the Gold Fish to my cousin. Unfortunately I don’t remember any names during my short time at St Margaret’s. But I am planning to visit Midhurst next year and go down memory lane. I wonder if anyone remembers my name
Jenny Macdonald
I attended the convent with my sister back in the 1970s between ghd age of 5 and 7. At the time we lived with our grandparents in Liphook and travelled on our own by train and then a bus . I remember Sister Brenden, Sister Collette and Sister Isadore. We used to wear little white divided skirts and airtex t shirts for sports which was either tennis or picking up the crab apples in the orchard area. I was tought to sew and knit as well as my times tables. You had to stand on a chair to recite your tables which was terrifying. We were charity pupils and didnt have to pay. We couldn’t afford the full uniform but no fuss was made about that so long as we were in school colours. The nuns used to call me with affection, their little barking dog because I was always coughing and very frequently ill. Later when we moved to live in London it was found I had a heart condition which was causing the cough, surgery at Great Ormand Street put it right. I was always treated with kindness by the nuns who even took the time to repair my clothes when they were ripped or very shabby.
Barbara Chatters
My mother was evacuated from London to a farm in Midhurst during the war and attended St Margarets for about 3 years. Amongst her things I recently found a copy of the Midhurst Petmorth and District Times of 10 May 1941 which contained an article about a play called Lady Precious Stream performed by the senior girls, in which my mother, J Mussell, had the title role. My mother would have been 15 then.