History of St Mary's School Cambridge: the 1930s and 1940s

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About St Mary’s

The 1930s and 1940s

1930s

The Elms and Paston House are amalgamated into one school, known as Paston House.

1930

The Old Girls’ Association, known as The Pastonians’ Association, was formed.

1940s

1946

350 pupils were on the register with 60–70 on the waiting list. The school was full and looking for more accommodation.
The Pastonians’ Association was re–formed after a short break during the war.
“When I think of your splendid work during the war years, either on active service or in other tasks of national importance, or in the less spectacular duties of family life accompanied with such anxiety, I feel justly proud of my ‘Old Pastonians’. To have set the Association working again is a great achievement and I am sure that this first News–letter will be of interest to everyone. If you get the opportunity, pass it on to other old girls who are not members, and persuade them to get in touch again with their Alma Mater.” M. Paul, IBVM, from letter in the Old Pastonians News–Letter.

1947

“The good traditions which you in your time helped to establish are still being handed down. ... ‘I should like to say what a joy it is to come into your school; the cheerful atmosphere strikes one immediately and also the courtesy and friendliness of staff and pupils.’ This tribute from a Homerton lecturer, a stranger to the school till a few weeks ago, is indeed gratifying. ... I do feel that Pastonians take a happy, confident spirit with them wherever they go and this as a result of Christian principles for which they ever stand.” M. Paul, IBVM, from letter in the Old Pastonians News–Letter.
“For a long time efforts have been made to acquire more ground of our own and a contract has at last been made to purchase a field and we hope to have possession at an early date.” Old Pastonians News–Letter
“Speech Day: Mr RGD Laffan, of Queen’s College, was the speaker on this occasion and he commented on the qualities of the girls who passed through the school: that they were decently dressed, that they had nice, easy, friendly manners and that they were reliable and gave the impression of great confidence in practical affairs. ‘Those are achievements in the fundamental art of life, and they confirm me in my view that nuns are amongst the best of the educationists in the country. The first reason for this is that they always seem to me to have such an excellent sense of humour and a sense of proportion which is the fundamental thing in practical wisdom. They are also so worldly in the best sense of the word. They know the world and its weaknesses and they know what it needs. They know what they want and how to get it. To nuns, education is not just a job for which they get paid a salary. It is a vocation which they fulful for the love of God basically and therefore for the love of their charges, and that makes them the supreme educationists they are. The foundation of education as in manners and morals.’” Old Pastonians News–Letter

1949

Sister Christopher, Headmistress 1949-1972.

St Mary's School, Bateman Street, Cambridge, Cambs, CB2 1LY, UK
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