Thoughts from down under

I was very young, tiny little girl when I first arrived at Suntrap.  It was the early 50's and I can remember having to line up, for almost everything, even the bathroom.  Naturally, I was very frightened of being there, not knowing anyone, but it didn't take too long before it became "home"  I stayed at Suntrap about two and half years.  The Headmistress was Miss Stout and I  remember the nurse being very kind. I loved the playground and the climbing frame, until I fell off it!  I also recall this one day when playing in the playground, the ball went over towards the classrooms, right under the window where all the camp stretchers were folded against the wall.  I bent down to pick up the ball but when standing up, I hit my head on the corner of an opened window.  (These windows were the type that were hinged on the side and you pushed them out to open.  They were made of metal frames, unlike the hard plastic used today)  As you can imagine, I was rushed off to the hospital, where I received a few stitches to my head and had a bad headache for a while after.  Needless to say, I didn't venture near those windows again when playing.  The camp stretchers were used to rest on, after lunch each day which happens to be the most vivid memory to me.  I'm not sure why!  I hardly remember anyones name, except one, Jimmy James who I was friendly with.  I believe there was a Mary Philips.  My maiden name was Zugg.  I'm sure anyone who was there, the same time I was, would remember that name.  My last boarding school that I attended was St Patricks which was also on Hayling Island.  I think it was on Havant Road, far from the beach front of Suntrap.  I look forward to finding friends from the past as there is no one I can talk to about my childhood, out here in Queensland, Australia.  Until then, kind thoughts, Gwen. Author: Gwen Zugg Posted: April 7th, 2001