Reminiscences
These accounts, some long, some short, most of them illuminating everyday life in the
early days of the village and Shrine, come from many varied sources. There is
fascinating detail, some poignant, some amusing. They speak straight from the past
and we have glimpses of life there of the sort that one rarely finds in the formal
publications of the time. We also see a more domestic side of Fr Patten and of some of
the other well-known residents.
We’re always pleased to add more reminiscences to these. We include what we might call more
‘modern’ reminiscences: ‘modern’ to us now, but just as much part of the Shrine’s history for
future generations to read.
From those still living, and the relatives of those who have died, we have permission to publish
them: some retain their anonymity. A few pieces are in the public domain already. Except where
otherwise indicated the photographs are all from the Shrine archives or are in the public domain.
The reminiscences below are the copyright of the named author. They have not been edited in
any way, and may occasionally appear to differ from other decriptions of the same event!
Winifred Bennett remembers the village from before Fr Patten's coming in 1921
from a former boat boy who was present at Fr Patten's induction
Mrs J A Alderson, one of the first babies baptised in Walsingham by Fr Patten
from someone who visited Walsingham soon after the statue was erected in the
parish church, and later attended the Translation and then the blessing of the
extension of the Shrine church
from George Back, a choirboy at the time, who remembers the first pilgrimage
from Bridget Monahan, whose family started visiting the Shrine in 1926
from H B Ewart, a churchwarden at St Mary's, Bourne Street, who was present at
the Translation in 1931 and his description of the day written for the parish
Quarterly Review is a beautifully-observed record, with many touches that the
formal records do not reflect
Fr Colin Stephenson, Father Patten’s successor as Administrator, remembered the
first foot pilgrimage in 1935
The diary of Frank Wain, a young deacon who stayed in Walsingham for a week in
1938
from Pauline, who first visited Walsingham a year after the war
from Dick Crowe, one of the original party of orphans sent in 1939 by Fr Walke in
St Hilary in Cornwall to form the Walsingham Children's Home, the forerunner of
"St Hilary's"; he reminisces before he returns to Walsingham in May 2008 for the
first time, and then afterwards describes his visit and the impact it had on him
lettercard from a resident sent from Walsingham during the war
the memoirs of Michael Farrer about his time as a pupil at the Sanctuary School
from Enid Chadwick who lived in Walsingham from 1934 until her death in 1987,
and recalls the Thirties; another reminiscence from Enid Chadwick revealing after
the war what might have happened had the Germans invaded
from Paul Lewis, a later pupil at the Sanctuary School
from the ten-year-old grandson of a Guardian who was present on the night that
Fr Patten died
from Kathleen Blayney, a Dame of the Order of Our Lady of Walsingham (died
1994) who describes eloquently and entertainingly what pilgrimage was like from
her first visits in 1932
Sir William Milner, the greatest benefactor of the Shrine, contributed his
reminiscences to the Memorial number of Our Lady's Mirror after Fr Patten's death
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A little anecdote about an earlier pilgrim: a blind lady came annually on a parish
pilgrimage bringing her guide dog (named Stella). She was accustomed to staying
in Room 4 in the 1950s part of Stella Maris (now replaced by the Milner Wing). One
year she was allocated Room 3. On arrival her dog Stella was taken to Room 3 and
refused to enter. She lay down across the door and refused to allow her owner to
cross the threshold: her duty was clearly to look after her owner in Room 4, and no
other. The Room allocation was of course speedily changed.
Malcolm Kemp, a pilgrim for many years, and Ken Fisher, a member of the annual
Tonge Moor pilgrimage, have each written their recollections and impressions of
their times in Walsingham in recent years.
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