Many women are "technologically illiterate" according to Sister Christina, the headmistress of St Catherine's, Twickenham 25 years ago. "They are so often cut off from courses and jobs requiring technical or scientific qualifications, she pointed out. But in her report at the annual speech day at the end of October 1983 Sister Christina said that the girls at St Catherine's were certainly not at a disadvantage. Not only did the school offer the usual sciences of physics, chemistry and biology but had introduced a micro electronics course and opened a computer room, thanks to the generosity of the parents and school Friends. At prizegiving time, four girls were awarded burseries, Sarah Cooper, Clare Jenkins, Margaret-Mary Kane and Romy Summerskill. Among other prizewinners, pictured above, were Michelle Bladon, Nicole Everett, Mary Duffy, Rebecca Wheatley, Kate Rawley, Clare Lees, Julia Pearson, Fiona Gibson, Teresa Pyke, Finola Donovan, Katherine Cook, Mary James, Victoria Saunders, Wanda Walker, Leslie Garland, Laura Pavely and Marinella Soldi.

Ten years ago Ambitious plans for a multi million pound 405 home development on Kew Riverside were unveiled this week.St James Homes hope to transform the 24 acre Kew Sewage Treatment works into a thriving community housing more than 900 people by 2004.


Latchmere Lane will not be closed to cars despite fears over pedestrian and cyclist safety.Due to open in two weeks the Thames Valley Housing Association housing development in Water Lane, Twickenham was sold on the basis of no parking space. But Conservative councillors warn that residents have already approached the council for parking permits.An unusual tribute to Prince Charles on his 50th birthday appeared this week. The work by artist Derek Stockley enticed onlookers into his studio in Chiswick Common Road to view ‘cards’ of Prince Charles painted on an 8ft by 7ft piece of plastic white tarpaulin using steel blue varnish thinned with methylated spirit. The prince’s lithographs, on sale for between £2,450 and £8,000, are considered good investments with one of his paintings recently being auctioned at Christies for £47,000.The government has announced that the Heston branch of the Territorial Army is to close, ending 50 years of history. The centre in Vicarage Farm Road, is home to a squadron of more than 200 bomb disposal experts, part of the TA’s 101 Engineer Regiment.25 years ago In spite of the recession, the Royal British Legion believes that sales of Remembrance poppies have not been hit. Exactly the same number of poppies as last year were manufactured and despatched from the Legion poppy factory in Petersham Road, Richmond and it is believed that sales and the total collection will also reflect last year’s figures.Hill Street, Hill Rise and Petersham Road in Richmond opened for traffic last week. The sewer works were completed four weeks earlier than scheduled and the tidying up of the area has not prevented vehicles using the roads.On the eve of Hounslow Council's Homefield ward by election next Thursday, the SDP Liberal Alliance candidate Dr Michael Wilks pulled off a major coup with the announcement that former Labour Mayor of Hounslow Mary Smith, a former alderman has joined the Alliance.Russell Kerr, who was Labour MP for Feltham and Heston until the election this year, died on Tuesday night.50 years ago Governors of the Star and Garter Home have asked the government for more financial help to meet the cost of maintaining patients...A changeover from handfired coke to oil firing saved £1,000.Only members of the borough council are allowed to use the council chamber and committee rooms at Richmond Town Hall for wedding receptions and similar social events. Attempts by Labour members, supported by one or two Tories, to have the privilege extended to the public were rejected at Tuesday’s council meeting.Well known Chiswick shopkeeper Mr Adam Barszcz has been reunited with his son who lives behind the Iron Curtain, after 22 years of separation. Mr Barszcz hugged 28 years old Jerszy who travelled all the way from Poland to visit his family. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting, Mr Barszcz, who has a delicatessen at 133 Chiswick High Road, proudly announced “My son is here with me”.At Chiswick Empire Theatre Week of November 24, nightly at 6.30and 8.40pm, Cliff Richard and his Drifters, top selling recorder of Move It. Stalls 4/6, 3/-, 2/6.100 years ago The second annual concert of the Petersham Rovers’ Football Club took place on Thursday evening in the church room. The programme included songs, grave and gay and instrumental items, each heartily applauded.If anybody had the foolish idea that London Scottish were for the rest of the season a beaten side, they were mistaken.

Their play against the Glasgow Academicals on Saturday brought out all the old fire and the play all round was excellent. Miss H Tompkins of 34 St Stephen’s Gardens, Twickenham is a prizewinner in the Cassell’s Saturday Journal blousemaking competition.Marriages: Bateman-Wood November 16 at St Paul’s Church, Grove Park W by the Rev Prebendary Loraine, George Henry Barton Bateman, eldest son of George Edward Bateman, Grove Park to Ida May Ruth, youngest daughter of the late Samuel Ekin Wood and Mrs Ekin Wood, Gunnersbury.Whatever they may do if they get official sanction for the formation of a relief committee, the Heston and Isleworth District Council do not shine with conspicuous lustre in their first grapple with the problem of unemployment in the district. What they have done is a paltry effort, the sum and substance of which is to find about 30 men out of 300 a fortnight’s work at a wage that is below the usual rate. Comment.