The class of ’72: Non-stop laughter as former St Mary’s schoolgirls celebrate 52 years of friendship in Bishop’s Stortford

Former pupils of what is now St Mary’s Catholic School reunited in Bishop’s Stortford to mark 52 years of friendship.

One alumna, Charlotte Bathurst, travelled from her home in Australia to make the date at the Windhill Churches Centre and classmate Dorinda Metcalf arrived from Belgium. Penny White, who left St Mary’s with no qualifications and became a solicitor in her 40s, now spends part of the year in Mexico.

Others were already close by, including organiser Philippa Bishop, who was born and bred in the town.

Although Charlotte’s brother, Robert Bathurst, is a well-known actor who played David Marsden in Cold Feet and Sir Anthony Strallen in Downton Abbey, Philippa said: “Numerous girls went into teaching, nursing, commerce. No one has become famous – well, that we know of – but also, thankfully, no one has become infamous!”

They joined the Windhill secondary school – then single-sex St Mary’s Convent – in 1972. Philippa said: “It seems like the Dark Ages now.”

The advent in 2000 of Friends Reunited – a website designed to reconnect old school and college pals – was the catalyst for bringing the class back together.

“I got to 50 and just had a panic that I needed to know all my old friends were ok,” said Phillipa.

That prompted the first meeting “en masse”. She said: “Lots of little groups were still great friends, but none of us were in contact with everyone.

“Friends Reunited paved the way! We had two huge meet-ups in the early 2010s and, since then, lots of smaller get-togethers regularly.”

The Covid-19 pandemic wrecked plans for a 50th anniversary bash, but 22 old girls – and one old boy, Martin Ross – got together on Thursday August 29.

Martin, who joined in the sixth form, is believed to be the school’s first male student, and other boys taking A-levels followed until the school became fully co-educational in 1979.

When the class of 1972 joined St Mary’s, the school had around 300 pupils – a far cry from the nine who attended in 1896 and the roll today, which exceeds 1,100.

The school was founded in Grange Road by the sisters of St Mary of Namur in Belgium. A year later they were able to buy Windhill Lodge.

Philippa and her friends reminisced about a strict regime where the length of girls’ skirts was strictly monitored and straw boaters were still mandatory, along with a pale blue and white summer dress reminiscent of a nurse’s uniform.

The friends are still in touch with some of their old teachers, including head of PE Rachel Lott, who is now 90. Her daughter Bobby is one of their number.

Philippa had lunch with nun Sister Doreen, known as Sister Madeleine when she was the girls’ religious studies teacher.

Some of the girls went on to work at the school, including Jackie Bigg, who was personal assistant to head Frank Morgan – the first lay principal in 80 years. The late Carol Butterworth did the same and was remembered fondly by her classmates.

Philippa said after the reunion ended: “It was a wonderful, wonderful day... we talked and laughed non-stop from start to finish until we were at a standstill.

“And not one mobile was brought out or used – unless to show off pictures of grandchildren and weddings!”