On Thursday 21 September we were delighted to welcome six Sacred Heart Sisters back to Woldingham. The Sisters have a long association with the school as they came here as part of the novitiate programme and taught here after their final profession, with one of our visitors, Sister Mary Hinde, becoming Headmistress. 

The Sisters had lunch with our Chair of Governors, staff, and students, and joined our Community Mass in the school Chapel. They shared many lovely stories of their time at Woldingham and it was obvious to us all that they still have so much love and affection for our wonderful school.  We feel very proud of our long association with the Sacred Heart Sisters, as Woldingham is one of the oldest girls’ schools in the country, and we also feel blessed that we are continuing to build on the wonderful legacy which the Sisters left for us when they moved on from Woldingham in 1985.

As Melody Marshall, manager of the Duchesne care home where the Sisters currently live, commented, “It was a real boost for the Sisters to be back at Woldingham. It is a wonderful school with a clear atmosphere of nurturing and kindness. We were overwhelmed by such ‘royal treatment’”. 

I would like to thank all the staff and students who met with the Sisters and made the day very special. And a big thank you also to the Catering Department for the wonderful lunch and the lovely cake, which the Sisters took back to share with others in the Duchesne community.  It was a great day and we look forward to seeing the Sisters again when we visit them in Roehampton.