Les Vauxbelets 1939-45

LesVauxbelets College in Guernsey and at Hale

 

1: Water Colour of Les Vauxbelets

 

In 1904, when an anticlerical Government banned religious in France from teaching or running schools, there were Brothers of the District of Nantes looking for somewhere to live and work outside of France. Their Brother Visitor, C�en, came across the estate of Les Vauxbelets in St Andrew’s parish, Guernsey, and he bought the property. The first Brothers to move there in 1904 worked as farmers, but within two years they had built a school and a community house on the property and also erected a wooden two-floor building to be their junior novitiate.

 

The farm with greenhouses did good commercial business and provided for the upkeep of both farming community and the junior novitiate. The school was a private fee-paying establishment for locals while accepting a few boarders from England. Among its earliest intake was Cecil Adam who later entered the Brothers’ novitiate and was destined, as Brother Celsus, to play an important part in the future District of London. The school was never very large, but to judge by the devotedness of its Old Boys it did effective work in the Island.

 

Initially both farm and school were manned by French Brothers though, once there were English Brothers available from the early 1920s, some of these were posted to Les Vauxbelets; the College head and his deputy were French till the end of the Second World War.

 

The farm, the College and the juniorate were still functioning when war broke out in 1939. The juniorate had its own management and was a separate community in its own quarters at Les Vauxbelets. All groups shared chapel and cooking arrangements. The fortunes of the junior novitiate during the war have been dealt with in its own chapter in this story of the Brothers and their establishments.

When war was declared in September 1939, the Vauxbelets College Brothers were the Brother Director Charles Victor, with Brothers Clarence, Dennis Bernard, Alan Maurice, Philip, Thomas Percy, Brendan Maher, Vincent Huby, Ralph Edward, Chad, Victor, Edward Ambrose, Osmond and Wilfred Ambrose. Brother Clarence was the deputy head of the school. An immediate effect of the war, on both school and farm was a change of Director for Brother Charles Victor was mobilised in the French army at the outbreak and left the island on 4th September. His place was taken by Brother Celsus, a Guernseyman and an old boy of the school, who was sent from Oak Hill. Brother Thomas too, was caught up in the vortex of diplomacy and a fortnight after the re-opening was moved to St John’s College, Southsea. He had been a valued member of the Vauxbelets staff since 1931. Brother Brendan replaced Brother Thomas in looking after the boarders and general school discipline.1

The ‘Phoney War’ from that September brought little change to the running of the school during the next eight months. A very safe and convivial air-raid shelter was found for the school in the cider cellars. Thanks to its existence the school re-opened on schedule on 19^thSeptember. Lessons, Guilds, Knights and Pages of the Blessed Sacrament, the Library, the Chess Club, sporting and boarding life all carried on together. On November 21st the Upper School were the delighted audience at the junior novices’ annual concert. This was two short French plays followed by an extract from Midsummer’s Night Dream. The school magazine, The Echo, continued to be published for two issues the following Christmas and Easter. On account of the war the Beeches football match against the Brothers’ school in Jersey was not held. Past pupils had their club, the V.O.B.A., which continued its existence in Guernsey during the war with an annual dinner.

 

Brother Charles Victor was demobilised at the beginning of January 1940 and came back to Les Vauxbelets and so Brother Celsus’s reign was soon over and he returned to his post at Oak Hill. He left his mark at Les Vauxbelets for we read in the Echo of changes he brought about: the division of both morning and afternoon class into three periods of suitable length; the introduction of a study period in which to make some progress with homework set for that night; the abolishing of homework on half-days; and a regular Benediction service for the School.2  

The College was proud that Brother Clarence that autumn was offered to adjudicate the French Elocution entries at the Guernsey Eisteddfod. Black-out regulations meant no midnight Mass at Christmas. However the boarders dined with the Brothers that day as usual. The annual school play was a comedy-thriller, Someone at the Door. The few boarders from England had hockey for their favourite out-door pastime. Ping-pong was not too successful.

A sodality, under Brother Clarence, flourished on the religious side, together with the Knights and Pages of the Blessed Sacrament. The Football team during the autumn term recorded 10 fixtures: Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 6. The Air Rifle Club played two postal fixtures, winning one and losing the other. A delightful soir�by the College Jazz Band under the baton of Brother Dennis Bernard brought the term to an end.3

Snow in February brought an early end to lessons for a few days. The term was a short one of only eight weeks. Owing to the prevalence of ‘flu, to say nothing of the weather, hardly any school games were played. Brothers Brendan and Philip were the only ones not to go down with ’flu.  

On 19th June 1940, following the fall of France to the Germans and the evacuation of the British army at Dunkirk, the Guernsey authorities ordered the evacuation of school children to England for safety. Brother Charles Victor remained on the island and it fell to Brother Clarence to organise things for the evacuated school. Clarence holds a special place in the history of the Nantes District in England. He is remembered for the tremendous amount he did in the 1920s and 1930s for the Old Boys of St Joseph’s College at Beulah Hill. All knew and admired him while chuckling good-naturedly at some of his ways and his quite remarkable powers of exaggeration. Under God’s grace, a fine set of priests and Brothers remained grateful to him for his example and guidance.4

There were nine Brothers and 110 boys in the Les Vauxbelets College evacuation group. The boat that transported them to England docked in Weymouth and they were directed to the north, arriving in Eccles the following day. Clarence at once contacted Brother Columba, Director of Pendleton, who throughout the seventeen days the boys stayed in Eccles showed immense kindness and generosity. The first few days were not very pleasant. The children from Les Vauxbelets College and a girls’ convent school with their teachers were first housed for approximately two weeks in a large Congregational Hall which became their living and sleeping quarters. Brothers and boys had to sleep on the bare floor, on benches or in armchairs provided by the local people who showed great kindness in the welcome they gave to the evacuees.5

The local education authority soon arranged for five adjacent houses to be allotted to the Guernsey group, but before the Brothers could take them over an order came from the Ministry of Health transferring the group to Hale where the local authority was not very sympathetic. The boys were billeted with families in the area: some were lucky, others less so, but the Brothers themselves were without a home for the next three days some spending the night in the fire station. A permanent home was eventually requisitioned for them as a result of an order issued by the Ministry of Health. It was not until July 12th that two Brothers were able to sleep in beds and the whole community moved in next day and could start ‘community life’. Brother Columba sent bedding, tables and other furniture from Pendleton.

4 Monthly Newsletter, 3, p.238.

5 Monthly Circular, 3, p.3.

 

 2: The evacuation group to Hale 1940.

 

Brothers Ralph Conlon, Chad, Philip, Alan Maurice, Clarence, Dennis Bernard, Osmond, Vincent Huby.

Front Row: Frank Le Bideau, George de Garis, Robert Arthur, David West, Roy Martel, John Clark, Tony

Vaudin, Philip Williams, John Williams, David Martel, Kenneth Hall, John Couch, Henry Robilliard,

Ronny Bishop, Donald Simon, Joseph Merrien, Regie Hake.

2nd Row: Roy Ingrouille, Duke Le Maistre, Eric Piprel, Ernest Heaume, David Warr, Gordon Bourel,

Norman Bourel, Dudley Carr�Gordon Gartell, Leonard Warr, Ronny Gould.

3rd Row: Lloyd Renouf, Gordon Simon, Raymond Robin, Prenderville, Arthur Tardivel, Bernard Kelly,

Donald Piprel, Bernard Robilliard, Bob West, Cecil Mann, Weston Pearson, Tom Warr, Denis Bougourd,

Tom Robin, Fitzgerald, Eric Clark, Bob Allen, John Machon.

Back Row: Francis Merrien, Gordon Fouks, Stephen O’Meara, Gerard Nicolle, Charles Alley, Harold

Taylor, Roy Pay, Paul Pay, Donald Topp, Tony Adams, Bernard Gill, Bill Machon, John Chapin, John

Chapple, Grahame Froome, Rex Warr, Maurice McAuliffe, Le Masurier.

 

 3: Brother Clarence

 

There remained in Guernsey to look after the farm at Les Vauxbelets Brother Charles Victor and six French Brothers with two English domestic staff. The Germans arrived on the island on the 1st July and all communication with France and England then ceased. Via the Red Cross was the only means of contact between the evacuees and their families left on the island. On the 6th August 1940 Les Vauxbelets was requisitioned and some hundred German personnel took possession of the buildings. For the four years of the occupation the seven Brothers worked and prayed and lived their religious life. At first the Chaplain of Blanchelande was available for religious services. The farm Brothers were restricted to living in the former infirmary rooms. Then in 1942, even the infirmary rooms were requisitioned and the Brothers made the farm premises their living quarters. At that time one of the Germans stationed on the property was a priest and he provided Mass in the large school Chapel which remained available to the Brothers for the whole of the war. The Brothers’ policy all through the occupation was passive resistance.

For four years, two of Les Vauxbelets fields were used as camp grounds for workers. The only link with the outer world was the wireless, but it meant taking great risks and living in constant fear of being searched. It would have been rather gruesome to go to prison or be sent to Germany when there was so much to do and so much to save from destruction. The Brothers’ sufferings were less physical than mental.6

 

A good lady, Mrs Collins, asked Brother Charles Victor at one time if he could open a small school for her two sons and their friends.7 Accordingly, a class started with five pupils. This initiative grew with local boys and there was a school of almost seventy boys when the Germans left the Island in 1944. At first a classroom was used near the Chapel, but when the Germans took that room over, they moved lessons down to the farm. Two past pupils assisted Brother Victor in the running of this miniature school. The pupils joined onto the College when Les Vauxbelets returned from the mainland and reassembled after the war.8 Every year of the occupation the Old Boys and their wives helped Brother Director to give a wonderful Christmas dinner in spite of the ban on meetings.

Thanks to their work on the farm the Brothers were not without food all this time. Brother Dositheus, the infirmarian who had resided at Les Vauxbelets for over twenty-five years, took ill in 1944 and died in May 1945. He had been a condescending Samaritan, always ready to apply ointments and bandages to the wounded. He lies buried in the Brothers’ cemetery which is there in the property to this day. When peace came things in Guernsey gradually

returned to normal, though the Germans left the place in a mess. Every room, walls, ceiling and floor were in appalling state. Doors were without locks or handles; windows without panes; the electricity installation was ruined. It was not till October 1945 that the premises could be fully put back to their intended use.

In Hale and without books the evacuated College reopened on the 19th August 1940 in a small house, ‘Burnside’. Here the boys gathered for lessons, part of the school attending in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. After a lot of negotiation it was finally agreed that each Brother should receive an allowance of £1 1s. 0d. a week, five shillings of which had to be paid for the rent of the house. The Bishop of Portsmouth, in whose diocese had been Les Vauxbelets, came to visit the boys in Hale, arriving at the house the same day as the inspectors from the Board of Education who wanted to know what was going to happen. These conditions lasted just over a week when the Vicar of the Anglican Church, seeing the state of things, succeeded in getting the committee of his Sunday-School to agree to let the Brothers have the local school for a month free of charge.

Then the Cheshire Education authorities, after long negotiations with the Ministry of Health, took over responsibility. Whilst the rent of the school was paid by the local authorities, there were school books and other requisites to be seen to. The text book shortage

6 The Echo, 103, p.2.

7 Monthly Newsletter, (1994:April), p.97.

8 The Echo, 103, p.4.

 

was remedied thanks to a gift from the American Red Cross and another gift of £25 from a local Catholic. It took till February for the school to say it was fully on its feet. Thereafter, life was as normal as circumstances allowed. In fact, against all odds, the usual number of boys was presented for the School Certificate in summer 1941. From the day the community had moved into ‘Burnside’ the Brothers regular religious exercises were performed. The spiritual life of the school did not suffer much either, though the atmosphere of the boys’ homes was often anti-Catholic or at least very indifferent. Holiday time made extra demands on the generosity and devotedness of the Brothers who had to organise games and outings for the unfortunate ‘Guernsey lads’ who were without friends to go to, or were too young to work on the land.9

Some letters from the boys’ parents in Guernsey were received, giving the general impression that life was almost normal on the island. Four boys received the sacrament of confirmation on 22nd June. In August the Brothers went to Beulah Hill on retreat and were pleased to meet their friends among the Brothers.10

Towards the end of the first year of evacuation requests came for the College to take in local boys and a start was made. After a year of this existence at Hale and owing to the generosity of the Bishop of Shrewsbury and the initiative of the parish priest, Dr Donnelly, a beautiful property was acquired by the Trustees of the diocese and leased for an annual rent of £132 plus rates and war damage. The Guernsey boys now avoided dispersion into non-Catholic schools, and local pupils were accepted at the newly named school, St Ambrose College. The Bishop of the diocese was Ambrose Murray, hence the name chosen for the school. This permanent school was set up in a house called ‘Oakleigh’ in Dunham Road, Bowden. It opened in September with 69 Guernsey boys and 24 local boys. Meanwhile some Guernsey boys who were of age to leave school had found jobs until the time came for them to join the Forces. In August 1941 Brother Alan Maurice was replaced by Brothers Aldhelm and Francis Hodgson who came from the juniorate community.

The situation of the school at Hale cannot be fully recognised without an appreciation and understanding of Brother Clarence.

He saw big. This was not Les Vauxbelets in evacuation, it was the Order in exile; this was 1904 re-enacted. One story related by Brother Dennis Fricker always remained classical. It tells of Brother Clarence’s interview with the ManchesterEvening News in which Clarence described Les Vauxbelets as “The Stonyhurst of the South”, an extravaganza of eye-raising proportions for those who knew both schools.11 The situation called for improvisation and imagination in both of which Brother Clarence excelled. He regularly sent in accounts to the Brothers’ Monthly Circular which help an understanding of Clarence besides giving information and news of the Community and school. Here are some illustrations of Clarence’s composition that give continuity to the story of St Ambrose College. The first dates from October 1941.

When everything appeared settled, however, every kind of difficulty cropped up and it was not until the eve of being deprived of the house at Hale that heaven intervened, and on the next day, the 30th September, the Brothers slept in their new premises in Altrincham. The school was now given the name of St Ambrose College. Most parishes around us were asked to pray for this new school. Parish priests gave a full sermon on the need of Catholic secondary schooling and the faithful were asked to pray for its successful foundation. On the 8th October the opening took place in a new atmosphere in beautiful surroundings with 82 boys, 22 being local boys.

9 Monthly Circular, 3.

10 Monthly Circular, 2.

11 Monthly Newsletter, 3, p.239.

 

Difficulties were not lacking, the road was steep, and the atmosphere war-like. But with the help of Saint Joseph and their new patron, St Ambrose, the Brothers triumphed over the difficulties.12

For the Easter 1942 re-opening there were 58 Guernsey and 33 local boys.13 Clarence’s extract from December 1942 reads:

In perusing the various newspapers, periodicals, magazines and news-letters, one is stupefied at the propaganda carried on under the name of ‘Drives’ to build weapons of destruction both to property and human bodies. Thus we hear of ‘Warship Drives’, ‘Tank Drives’, ‘Spitfire Drives’, etc. etc. This spirit was bound to catch the pupils of St Ambrose’s and in a true Catholic manner they resolved upon a ‘Purgatory Drive’ having as its object to secure enough money for 30 Masses during the month of November (one a day) to relieve the souls of our relatives and friends and those fallen during the war. Actually money for 42 Masses was collected, one class of 24 boys having 18 Masses to its credit. Besides, just before Christmas a handsome sum was offered to our Parish Priest for the relief of the poor children of his parish whose parents have been killed during the war. In August last we opened another sort of drive – the drive for 100 boys in the School. Prayers were being offered in Tyburn Convent day and night and in various Convents and Novitiates etc., novenas were made to that effect. On the first day of reopening we had 86 boys, and we have now reached 106. Whilst the Channel Island boys are decreasing in numbers, the local boys are increasing rapidly. Through the protection of St Joseph the problem of our canteen has now been settled. Owing to the unexpected benefaction of a friend full equipment for cooking 100 meals has now been acquired. Brother Ralph has only to turn a few handles of his new machines and the work of peeling potatoes, mincing meat, slicing vegetables, etc. is done. One by one the difficulties of Burnside and the early days of Oakleigh are fading away; and slowly but surely a school with a great future is being established in this great and fervent Catholic district.14

A message got through from Brother Charles Victor, who had remained as Director of those Brothers of Les Vauxbelets back in Guernsey durng the occupation, in answer to the many dispatches sent to him and some evidently not received. His message read: Greatest gratitude for your interesting message. Glad boys and Brothers are happy. All well here.

Good wishes and affection to you and all with you. Prayers. Charles Victor. News from the boys’ parents would occasionally get through to the boys from Guernsey.

In March 1943 Brother Clarence contributed, in his recognised style:

On the occasion of the Pope’s Jubilee our Catholic boys assisted at a solemn Benediction at the Parish Church. The Feast of our Holy Founder was celebrated for the first time with some solemnity at Altrincham. Some time ago the foundations of our school choir were laid and small though the beginnings were great progress has already been made. Results achieved have been very satisfactory and beyond all expectation. This is all the more consoling as the only musical instrument we possess is a violin! Our first ‘public’ appearance was at the consecration of the School and Community to Mary Immaculate on December 7th, at the Parish Church. On that occasion we sang ‘Soul of my Saviour’ and ‘O Purest of Creatures’, both in four voices.

The term began on January 11th 1943 with 67 local boys and 40 Guernsey. On January 12th the ’flu made its appearance and created havoc both amongst the Brothers and boys. No less than five teachers were on the sick list at the same time and only sheer devotion to duty kept the school open. The month of Saint Joseph was set apart for special practices of devotion in his honour. The earnestness of the pupils showed how thankful they were to our great heavenly protector for the almost miraculous favours granted to the school.15

12 Monthly Circular, 1 (1941:October 31) p.15–16.

13 Monthly Circular, 1, (1942:May 27) p.36.

14 Monthly Circular, 1, (1942:December 31) p.50–1.

 

By September 1943 the school, though small in numbers, was truly established as a Catholic secondary school for the area. There were then 101 local boys and 29 survivors from Les Vauxbelets Guernsey. That Christmas 1943 Clarence wrote:

The Scout Troop, now in its third year of existence, is prospering in every way. The Troop is run entirely by the Brothers, of whom four are warrant officers, and already it bids fair to become the most efficient Scout Group in the locality. There are at present 50 Wolf Cubs and 37 Boy Scouts in the Troop. Twenty-seven Scouts took part in the summer camp which was held near Beaumaris, in Anglesey. The County Scout Commissioner who inspected the camp declared it to be A.1, and congratulated the Brothers on their success. Both the Scout and Cub sections have each its very own marching song, composed by one of the officers and declared by the Scouts to be ‘smashing’.

We are now enjoying a rest and we hope that these holidays will be beneficial to all the Brothers of the District, to whom we wish a very Holy and Happy New Year.16

Two months later Clarence added:

The other event was a Scout Concert. Great progress was made on last year’s show and all who attended the various performances were unanimous in declaring that it was one of the best they had ever seen. The first performance was given for the benefit of the Reverend Mothers and boarders of Loreto Convent and was for us in reality a general dress rehearsal. The good Nuns greatly appreciated the show and Brothers and boys did ample justice to the refreshments provided afterwards. The last public night was graced by the distinguished presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Altrincham, the Parish Priests of the neighbourhood and the local Scout authorities. One of these gentlemen declared that the show was the best Scout Show he had seen in 24 years. In a few well chosen words Brother Director thanked the first Citizen of Altrincham for the honour done us and His Worship replied, saying how, in spite of a very heavy day, he had enjoyed the evening immensely. He ended by promising his full support to Catholics in the fight for their Schools.

And now we are entering wholeheartedly into the Holy Season of Lent and many are the boys who have taken generous resolutions which they intend to keep. May their efforts bring down God’s blessings upon us in the form we have most at heart: a larger and better school building.17

On Easter Saturday we had the pleasure of welcoming Brother Director of Ipswich who was our guest for 24 hours. The following day, Low Sunday, we gave a repeat performance of several items of our February Concert at the Parish of Saints John and Thomas, Wythenshawe. Our boys once again gave a good account of themselves.

During the second week after Easter, Brother Denis Victor made of St Ambrose’s his H.Q. for the best part of three days. The weather was lovely during his stay and consequently he was not hindered by his umbrella when he went out to cast his net.

We hope that he enjoyed his stay and that he has received many letters of inquiries from boys desirous to know more of our Order.

On the eve of the feast of our Holy Founder, His Lordship the Bishop of Shrewsbury made the visitation of our Parish and administered Confirmation to over 200 candidates, among whom were 15 of our boys. After the ceremony the Community was presented to His Lordship who expressed satisfaction at the work carried on by the Brothers.

The feast of Saint de La Salle was celebrated with all possible solemnity. At 9.30 High Mass was sung at the Parish Church at which the boys and many of their parents assisted. The choir successfully rendered the Mass Salve Regina by Stehle. Brothers and boys felt amply rewarded for their painstaking efforts during the period of preparation. Three Parish Priests were our guests at tea and they all expressed the

15 Monthly Circular, 1, (1943: March 27) p.61.

16 Monthly Circular, 1, (1944:January) p.31.

17 Monthly Circular, 1, (1944:March) p.68–9.

 

hope of seeing our school solidly and firmly established in the district. Brother Visitor has just terminated his Canonical Visitation of our Community and his words of help and encouragement have been gratefully received by all. During his visit, we had the pleasure of receiving the visit of one of the Past Students of Beulah Hill, Fred Hall-Wright, who came to see Brother Director, his old teacher. He was delighted to see the school and later, according to plan, he flew over the school.18

Brother Dennis Fricker was assistant scoutmaster complete with uniform, shorts and staff.

Soon he was to become cubmaster. One of Dennis’s triumphs was to persuade Brother Clarence to be the official scoutmaster of his troop. Unfortunately Brother Clarence never put on scout uniform so that, sadly, all who knew him were deprived of an interesting spectacle.19

The Maltese Brother Hilary joined the community replacing Brothers Philip and Francis Hodgson. The community of St Ambrose College was pleased to have help from three young French Brothers who had once been at Vimiera and came to Altrincham in 1942; they were Herv�anielou, Marcel Le Corre and later Pierre Pelliet known respectively by boys and Brothers as Cyril, Joseph and Peter. Fifty years later Herv�ave this account of Brother Dennis Bernard.

He was only about 45 then but for us young Brothers he was "good old Fricker" and the soul of community life. That's where I often heard his countless stories about his youth... We never got tired of listening to him while watching the famous twinkle in his eye. Those were the war years and things were sometimes scarce -- coal, for instance... Besides, the house was too small for the school and community together and so we slept three in each room. I was with Hilary and Francis Boylan while Dennis shared his room with Ralph and Osmund. But we were happy all the same for we had a nice set of local boys and the school went on well. What I best remember about Dennis is his post as Cub master, the Akela, dressed in Scout uniform with hat, shirt, shorts, stockings and everything. He persuaded me to become his Assistant Cub master and I shared with him the colourful cub meetings on Wednesday afternoons and the picnics to various places like Alderley Edge, Birkenhead, etc. With Aldhelm he was the manager of the yearly Scout concert where he especially looked after dancing and singing. I can still remember a few lines of the pack song, built on the same pattern and probably the same tune as the Vauxbelets troop chorus quoted by Brother Charles Gatt:

"We are St Ambrose, we are St Ambrose

We are the 9th Altrincham pack of St Ambrose

And we pass by with our heads held high..."

With some pride Clarence recorded in December 1944.

Through the good offices of Brother Robert of Mary in Rome, we received a special Papal Blessing for the Community and the school. It has been framed and now occupies a place of honour in the hall. We were very glad to welcome Brother Clodoald Pelliet, known here as Brother Peter, to replace Brother Cyril Danielou now serving with the French Army. The interim period was rather hard on us, two Brothers having as many as twenty-eight class periods a week, not including the catechism lessons. Brother Dennis Robert was our guest for two weekends and we all felt happier for having had him in our midst. We hope that it will not be long before he returns to cast his net in northern waters.20

With the progress of the war on the continent after the landing of the allies, Clarence was asking Brother Visitor, Simon, to allow the school of St Ambrose to continue as a Brothers’ school once the war ended. But already Simon, who understood the community problems and other difficulties, gave no guarantee. When the Bishop wrote with the same request Brother

18 Monthly Circular, 1 (1944:June), p.3.

19 Monthly Newsletter, 3, p.239.

20 Monthly Circular, 2:3 (1944:December), p.41–2.

 

Simon answered that lack of personnel would prevent us continuing in Altrincham.

For Christmas 1944, Brother Hilary started a school magazine The Ambrosian which was favourably received. There was a second edition for Easter. In his editorial Hilary wrote:

Our goal is: A large, well-organised School whose only ambition is to make of the boys attending it true and loyal sons of the Catholic Church and worthy and devoted Citizens of a Mighty and Christian England.

Brother Dennis’s scout group showed its worth when for two nights in a packed Sale Town Hall it gave the audience more than their money’s worth. The French evacuee Brothers, were called to arms by the Free French Army in autumn 1944 and received due recognition when they left. Their letters back to the school and community expressed their continued interest.

There was snow towards the end of January 1945 which a few days later turned into slush and afternoon school was cancelled. The football team were proud of their new jerseys with a white V on a blue background, but disappointed with their performance that season. Already a small group formed an Old Boys of St Ambrose Association and their news was reported.

Brother Simon was aware from his visits and reports from the Community Brothers that Brother Clarence was not fully up to the task of running school and community. He realised the difficulties involved and consulted his Council. A large sum would be needed to build suitable premises and above all a qualified staff would have to be provided, and in the situation in 1945 both of these conditions were almost impossible to satisfy. In January 1945 Brother Simon approached the District of England/Ireland to ask whether their Brothers would be able to take over St Ambrose College. The answer was negative. At the end of the war Brother Simon sadly withdrew the Brothers from St Ambrose College which was then handed to the Diocese. The Bishop invited the Irish Christian Brothers to continue the school and that became the final arrangement. At the Brothers’ departure the school had 175 local boys and 12 Guernsey Boys; there were 158 Catholics. As a De La Salle school St Ambrose closed on 10th July 1945. On August 10th the twelve remaining Guernsey boys took the train for Southampton, boarded the ‘Hanatonia’ and were brought safely back to their own home and parents whom they had not seen for five years. A devastated Brother Clarence returned to France, to his District of Nantes, where he died in 1956.

 

St Ambrose College continued to flourish after the departure of the De La Salle Brothers and became a Public School. Forty-five years later, 14 of the Guernsey evacuees joined in a nostalgic reunion in Hale. They had always kept a warm heart for their Cheshire friends.

There were some happy scenes as the boys discovered their surrogate families and other people at a reception buffet.