A Chance Meeting of Wycombe Abbey Girls Past and Present
14 June 2024 - All
Gloria and Caterina (LVI) attend a weekly work experience placement at Shelburne Lodge Care Home as they both hope to study medicine at university. During the course of their visits this year, they have built up friendships with various residents, one of whom they discovered was a Wycombe Abbey Senior. Kristine Rose (C85, Airlie) arrived at School in 1951 and left in 1955. After many conversations and memory sharing, Kristine expressed an interest in visiting the School, which the girls were all the more happy to facilitate. The last time Kristine visited Wycombe Abbey was in 1961, so much has changed. On Monday 3 June Kristine and her carer, Helen, visited Wycombe Abbey and met with Gloria and Caterina.
Gloria and Caterina said, ‘We eagerly anticipated our visits to see Kristine each week, captivated by the stories of her adventures at Wycombe Abbey. Inspired by her tales, we wanted to invite her back to School for a tour. We guided her through the new buildings, such as Pitt and Rubens, that have been built in more recent years. We then walked through Airlie, where she shared stories of the engaging activities and the lifelong friendships she forged in her old House. To conclude our tour, we looked at old photographs and articles from her School years, where she reconnected with her personal history, achievements and significant life events, recalling and sharing her past experiences. It was a heartwarming experience, bridging the past with the new, and we were thrilled to share this special moment with her while celebrating our school’s rich history.
Helen, Activities Co-ordinator at Shelburne Lodge, expressed her gratitude for the visit saying, ‘Kristine had the most amazing time and it definitely brought back such lovely memories. I cannot express my thanks to you all. The day gave Kristine a sense of purpose and meaning in her life. She reconnected with her personal history, achievements, and significant life events, recalling and sharing her past experiences, and she just wanted so much to tell everyone; she regained a sense of purpose and felt valued, thanks to you and the girls.’
Thank you to Kristine for visiting the School and spending time with Gloria and Caterina; they enjoyed hearing the memories and stories connecting them across the generations.
We always welcome stories of our former pupils and we are more than happy to help organise tours and reunions. If you have any memories to share or would like to speak to a member of the Seniors’ Office, please feel free to email [email protected].
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