Faith

Jackie Wilson was awarded the ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’, the highest award given to the laity by the Papacy for distinguished service.

Jackie is awarded the Holy Cross

Mrs Wilson’s 25 years service as head teacher of St Francis Catholic Primary School was marked by Mass celebrated by Bishop Crispian Hollis, Bishop of the Portsmouth Catholic Diocese. He also made the presentation of the medal on Wednesday, July 1, 2009.

The service was held in St Francis of Assisi RC Parish Church, Coronation Road, Ascot.  The celebration was joined by pupils, staff, school governors, local Catholic head teachers and parishioners.

St Francis Parish Priest Father Charlie McCloskey said: "Today was a very important day for Jackie Wilson, for St Francis School and for the parish community.

The Bishop with children from St Frances School

"It is a memorable event when a school celebrates having one head teacher for 25 years. It is a very special occasion when our Bishop celebrates Mass to mark her forthcoming retirement and a uniquely special day when someone receives such an important award from the Pope.”

Jackie Wilson started working at St Francis Catholic Primary School in 1984.

She said: ”Little did I know at my appointment in September 1984 that I would be celebrating my Silver Jubilee on my retirement in August 2009! "

St Francis was started by the nuns of St Mary’s, Ascot in 1892 with thirty-four children. A London school was evacuated to Ascot in 1939 and shared the school building.

However, in November 1940 a stray bomb destroyed the building. Luckily it was 5.20am and the only casualty was a pet tortoise asleep under a hedge. Difficult conditions in temporary buildings ended when the present building was opened by Archbishop King in 1962.

In 1984 there were 160 children in school with six teachers and a few parent volunteers. In 2009 there are 219 children with eight teachers, seventeen teaching assistants and many parent volunteers.

“The strongest memory I will take away is of the many hundreds of lovely children who have walked uncertainly through the front gates on their first day and who have grown and developed into confident and capable young people ready to go on to secondary school, said Mrs Wilson.

Many of  Mrs Wilson’s earliest pupils are now parents themselves and bring their own children to St Francis.  “My oldest "next generation" child is now in Year 5 with the youngest arriving in Reception this Summer 2009." she said.