MARY REMEMBERS...
Sandy Watson shares the memories of her mother-in-law Mary Guthrie, aged 92, who was in St Joseph’s 1926 – 1938.
Mary went into St Josephs at the age of four with her baby sister Nora and her older sister Meg when their mother died at the young of 36, their father having died the previous year. Their maternal grandfather, a devout Catholic, thought the nuns were the best people to raise these small children - little did he know!! He paid for them to go in there and so they were supposed to be treated with more care!! Meg left some 12 or so months later when she reached the grand old age of 14. Mary remembers that Masseur Simpson was the Mother Superior, Sister Monica was in charge of the Laundry Room, Sister Teresa in charge of the girls Mary's age and Sister Angela in charge of the kitchen - there was also a Miss McCulloch, the sewing teacher. She also remembers a Father Corboy and a Father Sharratt from St Augustus Church Darlington.
NUMBER TWENTY TWO
All of the girls had a number, Mary was number 22, their clothes had their numbers on and on every Friday they were given one handmade handkerchief to last them the week - if they lost it they were in trouble. They had one set of "good clothes" for school. When school finished for the day, they had to wear any old thing they could. On waking they had to say their prayers, wash and dress, go to mass before breakfast, then walk one mile to school. Mary remembers she was always hungry and used to ‘steal’ fruit that had fallen off the fruit trees in the garden – this earned her a beating on one occasion. |
A TREASURED TEA-SET
Three of Mary's uncles were merchant seamen. They used to get little treats for Mary and Nora and when on leave would visit with their grandfather once a year on Boxing Day, coming from North Shields. One year he took Mary a "proper" tea set, which she can still see in her mind, she loved that tea set. She also recalls once going to the pictures at Christmas with the money her Grandfather sent her. Local residents used to provide little gifts for Christmas presents but the girls were never sure when they would get them. Once a year they were taken on a bus to spend the day at Seaton Carew, where they would play games and sit and sing on the beach. Apparently "outsiders" used to watch them.
Three of Mary's uncles were merchant seamen. They used to get little treats for Mary and Nora and when on leave would visit with their grandfather once a year on Boxing Day, coming from North Shields. One year he took Mary a "proper" tea set, which she can still see in her mind, she loved that tea set. She also recalls once going to the pictures at Christmas with the money her Grandfather sent her. Local residents used to provide little gifts for Christmas presents but the girls were never sure when they would get them. Once a year they were taken on a bus to spend the day at Seaton Carew, where they would play games and sit and sing on the beach. Apparently "outsiders" used to watch them.
THE SPANISH CHILDREN
Mary recalls that about 16 Spanish girls aged up to 14/15, a Senorita and a Priest arrived one day because of the Franco war. The children in St Josephs were told to make a welcoming banner that was held across the doorway when the bus arrived: unfortunately instead of reading "Welcome" it said "Goodbye»!! Not the best of starts. There were 2 girls called Lolita, one was thin and one was on the plump side; the nuns Called them Fat Lolita and Thin Lolita!! The Spanish girls had their own dormitory and the Senorita slept in there in a curtained-off area. She ordered the food they would eat and they all sat together in one area for meals. They were a fiery bunch; when any of them received a letter from home they used to gather to hear the news then all cry together - once in a bout of emotion one of the girls knocked Sister Teresa’s headgear off; this caused ructions. They didn't drink tea but very strong cocoa
Mary recalls that about 16 Spanish girls aged up to 14/15, a Senorita and a Priest arrived one day because of the Franco war. The children in St Josephs were told to make a welcoming banner that was held across the doorway when the bus arrived: unfortunately instead of reading "Welcome" it said "Goodbye»!! Not the best of starts. There were 2 girls called Lolita, one was thin and one was on the plump side; the nuns Called them Fat Lolita and Thin Lolita!! The Spanish girls had their own dormitory and the Senorita slept in there in a curtained-off area. She ordered the food they would eat and they all sat together in one area for meals. They were a fiery bunch; when any of them received a letter from home they used to gather to hear the news then all cry together - once in a bout of emotion one of the girls knocked Sister Teresa’s headgear off; this caused ructions. They didn't drink tea but very strong cocoa
IN THE ‘CARE’ OF THE NUNS
Mary remembers three girls dying during her time; one was called Josephine Diana Copper, an ethnic girl, another Emily Doyle, she can’t remember the third. If anyone got hurt, they were sent to the kitchen, where Cook used to get a jar of "brown ointment" and put it on everything!! One day the girls ran down the corridor and Mary got crushed against the wall and broke her arm, her best friend Mary Joyce took her to see Sister Teresa who straightened it out - causing Mary to pass out.
If any of the girls where ‘naughty’, they were taken to the upstairs room and were hit with a wooden stick! The girls soon learned that if the held their hand as straight as possible it didn't hurt as much. If what they had done didn't warrant the stick they were put in a cupboard under the stairs for a while. Sadly, Nora, Mary’s younger sister, had kidney problems and hence a bed-wetting problem for which the nuns used to beat her every day. This only stopped when she was at death's door and they finally recognized she was ill, not lazy, although she had the final rites twice before they realised!
Mary remembers three girls dying during her time; one was called Josephine Diana Copper, an ethnic girl, another Emily Doyle, she can’t remember the third. If anyone got hurt, they were sent to the kitchen, where Cook used to get a jar of "brown ointment" and put it on everything!! One day the girls ran down the corridor and Mary got crushed against the wall and broke her arm, her best friend Mary Joyce took her to see Sister Teresa who straightened it out - causing Mary to pass out.
If any of the girls where ‘naughty’, they were taken to the upstairs room and were hit with a wooden stick! The girls soon learned that if the held their hand as straight as possible it didn't hurt as much. If what they had done didn't warrant the stick they were put in a cupboard under the stairs for a while. Sadly, Nora, Mary’s younger sister, had kidney problems and hence a bed-wetting problem for which the nuns used to beat her every day. This only stopped when she was at death's door and they finally recognized she was ill, not lazy, although she had the final rites twice before they realised!
Mary had a couple of jobs while in St Joseph’s, one was looking after the babies for a period of time, the other was sewing loops on sanitary towels. Most girls went into service on leaving St Joseph’s but by the time Mary left her elder sister Meg had two girls, so she went to live with her and help care for them. She felt frightened at first because the house was so tiny compared to St Josephs. To this day, Mary still cannot have an internal door closed; she has never been in a telephone box and panics in a lift. Mary did go back to see the nuns after she got married and had her two sons, but they asked her not to return again as she had married a man with “no soul” as her husband not a Catholic.
Mary is not a practicing Catholic and hasn't been for many years, she talks about the cruelty of the nuns and the impact they had on her faith.
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Mary is not a practicing Catholic and hasn't been for many years, she talks about the cruelty of the nuns and the impact they had on her faith.
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*Mary enjoyed a happy family life after the home and was a good, hardworking mum. She got involved with the war effort, at first working in munitions - but that wasn’t enough of ‘doing her bit’ so she joined the ATS and served on the anti-aircraft guns around London. Mary always liked to have a job, particularly factory work, and was a very sociable and popular soul.
*Details received from Mary's youngest son, March 2019.
*Details received from Mary's youngest son, March 2019.
Mary Guthrie kindly shared her memories late 2013, sadly passing away in January 2014 - now '...the diamond glints on snow...'