A long-closed school which provided education for girls for more than 143 years has been commemorated by former pupils.

The Assumption School in Richmond closed its doors in 1993, but the Richmond Assumption Old Girls’ Association, established around 1984, continued to thrive with regular reunions and a magazine.

Many past pupils had very fond memories of their time at the school where lifelong friendships had been formed.

In 2022 it was decided that, given declining numbers of members, the association should cease. The last reunion lunch was held in August 2022 and members were asked for their ideas on what to do with the remaining funds.

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Several suggestions were put forward for charitable donations and also to look into the possibility of having a plaque affixed to the former convent building to commemorate the legacy of the Assumption order in Richmond.

The school was founded when the Duchess of Leeds set up a trust for the education of Roman Catholic girls in the north east of England and invited the Sisters of the Assumption to open a school in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

A small group of sisters, led by Mother Thérèse Emmanuel, arrived from Paris in 1850. The congregation was founded in 1839 and one of its main aims was to work for the regeneration of society through the education of girls and women.

It was agreed to share the remaining funds between a plaque and the Kids Kabin in Middlesbrough, a charity set up and run by the Assumption Sisters which contributes to the regeneration of areas of economic disadvantage by providing creative educational activities for young people.

The Middlesbrough project was established following a similar, well established project in Newcastle.

After the school closed in 1993 the building was empty until 2000 when it was acquired for conversion into apartments. The plaque has been placed on the building with the permission of the Residents’ Association and it was recently unveiled by members of the committee of the Richmond Assumption Old Girls Association.