Marcus Browne (Dalkey, Co. Dublin) (suddenly), at home April 4, 2007, Marcus, son of the late Joe, brother of the late John and Joe; sadly missed by his mother Bridie, sister Monica, brothers Kevin and Gerard, sisters-in-law Nora, Martina, Rita and Jean, brother-in-law John, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Rest in peace. Removal tomorrow (Wednesday) from Quinn's Funeral Home, Glasthule Road, Dun Laoghaire to The Church of the Assumption, Dalkey arriving 5.30 o'c. Funeral on Thursday after 10 o'c. Mass to Dean's Grange Cemetery . [April '07]

John B. Fiddler: Well I can't believe it is 30 years since I left. Greetings to you, Brother Jim and all who may or may not remember me. I finally got an email from Anne Marie Mahon and it looks like a reunion is being organised for 2009. I hope to attend.

I will give you a little update of what I am doing. Living in NYC for 24 years now but a very regular visitor home to Killiney where my parents are still alive and causing trouble. I graduated with my Master's as an Adult Nurse Practitioner in 2004. Since then I have continued my primary work as an ICU nurse in Burn Intensive Care. I also became a clinical instructor for new nurses for the Columbia University nursing program.

But probably the most exciting thing I have done is join Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres). I left the USA in 2005 to spend 9 months in Burundi working in charge of a hospital in a rural area near the border of Tanzania . This was a calm and wonderful mission which opened up my life to even more possibilities and compassion.

2007 saw me take to Africa yet again and I have just returned from a six month mission in CHAD . The rebels decided to attack the capital just after I left. (I believe I probably had something to do with this event.) As you can tell I have not lost my sense of humour, although I wonder if I ever had one. I am now back in NYC and preparing to advance my career in a new direction. I am healthy and happy and proud to be a nurse practitioner.

I was sad to see that Marcus Browne died, I have no details but it hurts a little.

I am looking forward to renewing my contact with the School and yourselves, a feeling it appears that seems to make itself felt around this 'time' in our lives. I am 45 years old, and I often feel like about 18. Thanks for everything you all did for me. Although looking back I feel like I was barely formed as a person (even in to my twenties and thirties). I do believe that St. Laurence's manufactured the essential DNA of experience that would later translate to who I am now, (perhaps) more fully formed.

I would certainly be interested in sharing my experience with MSF (doctors without borders) with the current pupils if you were interested. Let me know. Until then I remain your grateful past pupil- John B Fiddler RN ANP. [March ‘08]

Ben Farrell here.
Just a quick note to say hello
to all in the college who remember me.
I just got information on the site a few days ago
& thought that I'd look it up.
It was great to see Anne-Marie there
Which brought back some fond memories.
I remember the "Human Chess" well
& can still recall the photo on the front of
"The Evening Press" taken in the library.
My place on the team was beside Anne-Marie
as the White Queen’s Bishop.
The heat nearly killed me that night as the
audience watched quietly for what seemed
an eternity. As to how long it was I don't remember.
I also recall Mr. McGuinness collecting goodies
from those who ate in class & redistributing them later.
I had great times in school although like most
refused to acknowledge it while there.
I've spent the last 10 years, (3-5 months each year),
travelling in parts of Europe but have decided to give it all up.
I returned to college to study business & finance
where I heard about this site.
I hope to meet up with the past pupils again
and would like to take this opportunity to welcome
Anne-Marie back home.
Look forward to hearing from all soon. [Oct. '06]

Anne-Marie Mahon: After Laurences I worked for a couple of years for Bayer Ireland as a Laboratory Assistant (never did science at school but I never let things like that stop me!!!)

Then I went to DCU, got an Honours business degree specialising in HR and Industrial Relations....worked for AIB in various locations around Dublin for a year and a bit then took the boat to London where I worked for AIB initially, and then for Benchmark Bank, Dao Heng Bank and Development Bank of Singapore as a Personnel Assistant, Personnel Officer and then HR Manager for 19 years in the City Financial Centre. Along the way I became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, became a competent Toastmaster (public speaking), Vice-Chair of the City Personnel Group (a networking forum for HR managers in The City of London)....and got a bronze medal for Adult Tap-Dancing and trained as a Reiki Healer!

People from Laurences have been a constant in my life: Claire Brennan ('81), Ruth Brennan and Niamh Billings ('82) and Gill McConnell '(81)...all connections in London at sometime and now back in Ireland again except Ruth who is currently living in Hong Kong working at HSBC - she's due back to London next year and Niamh who is married in London and has one son Oisin!

I returned to live in Dublin this March and am beginning to find my feet again after living away for so long. I took a 3 month contract when I returned as an Outplacement Consultant helping people who were being made redundant to put together CVs, helping with job search and interview techniques. I decided to take the summer off as I felt I needed some time to get reacquainted with friends and family (the curse of having 5 brothers to keep track of) and get back into the swing of things Irish style. Somehow it seems to be a very long summer but the job search will start again soon!!!

I have great memories of Laurences:

Regretfully, I've not yet met Mr Right although I've kissed a few toads on the way. No kids of my own but love my 4 nephews courtesy of younger brothers Stephen (who didn't go to Laurences) and Alan (who did but not til 1983ish!).

Warmest regards. [Sept. ‘06]

Stephen McNally: I have very few memories of St. Laurence’s but only because Mark and I didn’t join until 1977 when we moved up from Cork -- but we were made so welcome it was definitely the best 2 years of my school life. I particularly remember my Irish teacher. Not his name but I learnt more Irish from him during those 2 years than all of the other 9+ years.

My best memory of St. Laurence’s is of my peers. In particular: Jon, Niall, Peter, John, Shane, Peter, Pat, to name but a few. I always remember the day we all bunked of school just to say that we did it once. We all cycled down to Killiney beach and spent the day there. Another fond memory is having to clean up rubbish from the school ground as part of a punishment. I always had fun because it meant we could spend more time with our friends after school.

My worst memory was losing a very close friend. To this day I never knew and still can’t understand why. Regards [Oct 07]