We are always grateful to the clergy that come each week, on Wednesdays, to celebrate Mass at lunchtime in the school Chapel. Last week’s Mass was a particularly special one for us as it was Father Mansel Usher’s last Mass at Bishop Vaughan before leaving Swansea to take up his new parish in Tenby. His sermon was, as always, thought-provoking, and it guided us towards understanding our greater purpose and striving towards discerning God’s intentions for us.
Father Mansel is a frequent visitor to the school, being also a committed and supportive school Governor. He has also been a Governor in one of our primary feeder schools, St. David’s in West Cross, which is located in his parish, and at his request it was a privilege to link with the school for a joint Parish Carol Service at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Mumbles in December. We will miss Father Mansel greatly but very much hope both that he will enjoy his ministry at St. Teilo’s in Tenby and that he will be back visiting us again very soon. In the meantime, we suspect that some Swansea schools – ourselves included – will need little excuse to develop our links with the parish in Tenby, especially when the summer months arrive! Phob bendith, Father Mansel, gobeithiwn eich gweld yn fuan!
Our Sixth Form Leadership Team have been working hard to develop an Alumni Association, for all those that have left Bishop Vaughan and who wish to retain their links with the school. At present, Johannah and Giezl are working to put together details for the association and also to write to some of our more ‘famous’ alumni to invite them to feature in our school newsletter, on our website and on our new alumni wall! If you are reading this as a former pupil of the school and would like to be a part of the group, please don’t hesitate to forward your contact details to us using our contact form. We would love to hear from you! We hope to collate memories about our former pupils’ time in the school, both nostalgic and humorous, and to set up a forum for doing so.
Some of our current pupils and staff were delighted to read a copy of the school magazine from 1968, as pictured below!
It was amusing to see that our interest in this magazine had been anticipated back in 1968! The Foreword reads:
Many thanks to Mr. McPherson, who sent this in to the school via Mrs. Marnell, our former Head of Sixth Form – and who perhaps marked out the lines about our interest in this magazine! It is a wonderful addition to our archive.
Mrs Pole