She's a Diamond
We read about honours lists for people who are being recognised for their contribution to society, yet never have I heard of anybody who has done more for ordinary folk than one of the finest people who hails from Miles Platting, an old Corpus Christi girl Sister Teresa Taylor. Teresa was born and bred in Platting. She lost her father to the dreaded illness Tuberculosis when she was just five years of age. Teresa's lovely mum remarried when Teresa was nine years old, at this point Teresa went to live with her gran, she later moved in with her mums sister.

In 1943 Teresa much to the astonishment of many of her friends left Manchester and joined a convent to become a Nun, I remember her telling me years later that on the day she was leaving her aunt said "We will your leave your room exactly as it is for we're sure you will be back within a few weeks." Sixty-three years later! (June 28th of this year) Teresa celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. Her three years in the convent were a probationary period, she took her vows in 1946 in Bruge, Belgium, staying there for a number of years working for the people that holiday visitors don't see, destitute, penniless sick people, drug addicts, alcoholics, the forgotten souls discarded by their own.

She was then transferred to Paris, dedicating her life to caring for other desperate people for more than thirty-five years. She was devastated when due to ill health the powers that be insisted she returned to England to receive some care herself. Even now though she is virtually crippled by severe Arthritis she helps out one day each week at the Charity Shop in Burnham on Sea where she now lives in the Burnham Nursing Home.

If she was given the option I am sure she would return to her beloved poor in Paris. At her Golden Jubilee held at Corpus Christi ten years ago I said to Teresa "All those poor folk in France you have cared for all these years are going to miss you a lot", typical Teresa replied, "not nearly as much as I will miss them." Happily a number of friends from Paris make the journey to meet up with Teresa every year, long may that continue.
Jack Faircloug