CLASS OF 1951

It is time for another post and this picture definitely deserves to be that post!  The photo was sent to us by Marina Carew Aita and it is from 1951.  It was obviously a special event because the girls are all wearing tams, etc, which was usual for parades and special occasions.  Although Marina  remembers being on parade, she can't quite remember what the occasion was (a visit by the Queen or Pope perhaps?)  Definitely not the Pope because the only Pope to visit was John Paul II and that was sometime in the 1980s.  So come on, everybody, search your brain and see if you can help us out with this please.

Marina has also been able to supply all the names for the girls in the photo.  That is really helpful and, if you aren't one of them, then perhaps your Mother or Aunt or even your Grandmother, is one of those girls.  Have a look, enjoy the amazing picture, and let us know if you can come up with the event.

Marina and Classmates, 1951

FRONT:  

Shirley Gardner, Joan Fitzgerald, Maureen Molloy, Betty Croke, Mollie Power, Mary Mansfield,

CENTRE:

Maureen Doyle, Eileen Penney, Patricia O'Brien, Patricia Dunne, Marina Carew, Claudine Horan, Helen Antle, Mercedes Hearn, Shirley Fitzpatrick, Nellie Power,

BACK:

Edith Byrne, Patricia Whittle, Eleanor Whelan, Betty Fitzgerald, Betty Kean, Helen Molloy, Maureen Squires, Mary Malone, Shirley Ring

Thank you Marina.  This will take many of us on a great little walk down Memory Lane.  I just love the picture and, hopefully, you will come across some more like this one.

"AMAZING" ANTECEDENTS TOO

It is possible that I overuse the word "amazing" when speaking of St Patrick's people but, as I am sure you will agree, they truly are amazing, each and every one of them!  Marina Carew Aita and her sisters are all graduates of St Patrick's Convent Schools.  The story that Marina shares with us shows that St Patrick's people have some "amazing" (oops, sorry, that word again) antecedents too.  With regard to the City of St John's, I feel this is also an historically important snippet.  

St Patrick's Convent and the City of St John's Crests

Read and enjoy - and maybe help Marina along the way. Marina is hoping that someone, perhaps a City Councillor or a B I S Member, might pick up on this and be able to help her locate a photograph of her relative.  Anyway, here is Marina's interesting story.

“My great grandfather John Carew operated a funeral parlour located on Carew St. His son John, my g/uncle, was a St. John’s City Councillor at the time. According to The Daily News of Sept. 4, 1909, an issue being debated in Council on September 3, 1909 concerned a communication from some Chinese people requesting permission to exhume the body of a Chinese man who died some eight years previously. Their idea was to send it to China. In the interest of public health safety, John was opposed to the request and during the heated debate he suddenly suffered a massive heart attack and died instantly in the City Chamber.

My reason for posting this article is that I could never find a photo of my g/uncle John to add to our family tree, and thought perhaps some of your readers might be of help.  As well as a City Councillor, John was a lifetime member of B.I.S. and I believe I recall reading posts on your blog from members of both organizations. Perhaps they might have access to photos as I understand their archives are in the process of being updated.“

What a fascinating, if tragic, story.  Marina's great Uncle John Carew must have been a man of strong character and firm convictions.  I love this story and I hope someone will be able to help Marina in her search for a photo of her Uncle John.

Thanks Marina for sharing this with us.  Any family stories, no matter how old or how recent, are welcome if they have any connection to our School or Parish.  If you would like to share a tale with us, send it to mcallistersmith@gmail.com.

WEST END IN DAYS GONE BY

I have received the most wonderful photo from Marina Carew Aita!  It is an old picture of our neck of the woods, the West End, in all its glory. Marina is a school mate of the late Shirley Hipditch Ellizey.  Marina and several other school friends of Shirley’s recently attended a get together hosted in Shirley’s memory by her family.

Marina said, “This photo was sent to me by Loretta Dawson O’Toole from the West End who obtained it from a friend of hers. Shirley’s family was delighted to receive it.  Thanks again, Loretta.”

Marina went on to say that the photo shows the vicinity where Shirley grew up, Galgay’s Range, which is behind the white building opposite the trestle where Shirley regularly walked as a young girl.

 

DEAR OLD WEST END

Marina, this photo will bring tears to the eyes of so many St Patrick’s girls of a certain age. Galgay’s Range, that trestle, and the old Railway buildings, are embedded in fond memories of years gone by!  Thank you so very much, Marina, for sharing this gem with us.