FEEDBACK

ACATHOLIC EDUCATION

Your excellent feature on Marianne Faithfull [June issue] stirred many memories – as I am also an ex-inmate of St Joseph’s Convent in Reading! I was a year behind Marianne at the convent and was also taught English by Mrs Simpson to A-level. She was a classic grammar school English teacher – well qualified, experienced and effective – but she had a tough job from 1963–’66 when our ears were tuned to the lyrics of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. She found a way through, however, and inspired me, as well as Marianne, with the Romantic poets.

Marianne was certainly a known presence in the school by her fifth year. The quality of her voice had been recognised early on and the equally beloved Miss Bailey, our music teacher, workedin a Christmas production – I was in the choir. Her voice was quite beautiful – strong and clear.