IT was a day for remembering when Powerstock school children planted a rose in memory of former pupil Rose Marie Sinnett.

Mrs Sinnett was evacuated to West Milton during the war and went to Powerstock School.

It was the beginning of a life-long love affair, one that only ended with her death aged 79, last year.

She came to the area with her family when she was three and stayed until she was 13 but she never forgot Powerstock School and came back to visit year after year.

Her daughter Cheryl Francis, who was at the rose planting ceremony, said her mum loved the school and the area.

She said: “We have been to the school every year with her. Going inside yesterday and into that garden it is a different world. I can see what she meant, it was magical, that is the way she described it.

“When she was a child she used to leave her house 1 Pear Tree Cottage, run up through Leigh Gate and get chased by this horse. She said every morning and every evening she said that horse had its eye on her.

“To her it was just a different way of life.”

Mrs Francis said the rose planting had been very special for the family.

She said: “It was a really fun, poignant special day for a great lady. The children were amazing, one read a poem and others planted the rose. It was a great day.”

One of Rose’s school friends, Pat Score also attended the ceremony and told the children just how strict discipline was in her day – she was once made to write out 100 lines about not watching the church clock.

Powerstock head Jean-Paul Draper said it had been a special Powerstock moment.

He said: “The idea was to plant a rose in her memory.

“It made sense to the family to give something back to the school. The Rev Elaine Marsh managed to find Pat who was at the school at the same time.

“She said how strict the headmistress was at the time.

“”One day at the end of break the bell had gone and she was still staring at the clock and saying it was not time to go in yet and was given 100 lines.

“Then we took the older children to dig the hole and they read out a poem about a rose.

“It was just a lovely little Powerstock moment.”

Mrs Francis added her own son Joe had gone to Thorner’s School in Litton Cheney and ultimately to Oxford.

She said: “It was mum’s biggest delight that her little school cluster played a part in that.”

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

SPECIAL LADY: Rose Marie Sinnett and grandson Joe