Shocks for the Chalet School
Key Facts (Possible Spoilers)
Headmistress is Miss Annersley
The main school is still on St Briavel's island (minus the Kindergarten who will remain on the mainland for the winter term).
The new finishing branch, under the Headship of Miss Wilson, has opened for its first term in the Oberland (chronicled in CHALET SCHOOL AND THE OBERLAND).
Series characters whereabouts:
Jo Maynard is in Canada with her family and the Russells
Robin Humphries is also in Canada and has decided to enter La Sagesse, a nunnery, as a postulant
Peggy Bettany is starting her finishing year at the newly-opened Swiss branch of the Chalet School in the Bernese Oberland
Bride Bettany is 16-and-a-half and is a Prefect
Biddy O'Ryan is history teacher
Len, Con and Margot Maynard are all in Canada
Julie Lucy is a Prefect
Mary-Lou is a 13 year-old Middle
Emerence Hope is a new girl and joins Lower IVa
While ostracised by the Middles for swearing at Mary-Lou, Emerence takes it upon herself to dam up the newly-uncovered pond and bridge area, thereby causing a minor flood. As the term draws to a close the Prefects lay on a memorable party for the Staff in which, among other things, they lay on an obstacle race for them.
Mollie Bettany is gravely ill and Madge Russell makes a surprise return to be on hand in case things go wrong and Dick needs her. An operation is a success and Mollie slowly recovers.
Although at the beginning of term Elfie Woodward has left due to the death of her stepmother (she is needed at home), she does return for the second half, a distant cousin having turned up to housekeep for her father and two small brothers.
Despite a hand-written note to the school declaring she has a fourth son, Jo in fact gives birth to twins, Felix Nicholas and Felicity Josephine, in Canada. She turns up with the twins at the school in the last paragraph of the book, at the finale of the Christmas Play.
contributed by Jo Marshall-Collins, England __ working from a paperback edition