Sr Mary Carolan DC, Headmistress of St George’s RC Primary School 1958-1985, died peacefully in St Vincent’s Nursing Home, Pinner on 29th November 2008.

Bride Carolan was born in Middlesbrough in 1921 and educated at St Philomena’a and Newlands Convent Grammar School. In 1939 she entered the Community of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. She trained as a teacher at Mount Pleasant, Liverpool and taught initially in the Holy Family School, West Derby, Liverpool. From 1947 Sister taught in the Sacred Heart Parish, Kilburn, London before coming to York in 1958 as Headteacher of St George’s RC Primary School. This was the last State primary school to exist within the city walls and much of Sr Mary’s early years here were spent trying to persuade the Government to build a new school. Eventually, in the early 1970s, the then Minister of Education, Margaret Thatcher, ordered a new building to be erected on its present site in Fishergate. In 1977 staff and pupils moved to the new premises where it continues to flourish.

Sister retired from teaching in 1985 but remained in York, becoming the visiting Sister in St Margaret Clitherow’s Parish in Haxby. Moves then followed to Hull, Grangetown, St Bede’s, Marske-by-the-Sea, Dumfries and finally to Southport. In the course of these moves, to avoid confusion with other Sr Marys in the households, Sr Mary changed her name to Sr Bride. Following a stroke in 2006, Sister spent two and a half years in loving care in two of her Order’s Nursing Homes in Warley and Pinner. Throughout her years of service in York, Sr Mary filled her school with a joyful generosity of heart and a genuine love of her staff and pupils.

She died in the 70th year of her Vocation with the Daughters of Charity. May she rest in peace.

Brian and Irene Atkin