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Original poster

A character called Peter (Petronella) in an old boarding school story

58 replies

LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 18/02/2022 18:34

Can anyone help? I'm searching for a book I remember but don't have its title. It was an old book when I was a child.

It was a very traditional boarding school story with the main character 'Peter'(real name Petronella), her school friends (one whose name began with an i) and her brother Tony (who went to another school but featured in the story by almost dying after a car accident).

I recall that Peter and Tony had lived in Canada but were in England when the story began. Peter had stories about her eye-lashes freezing and other tales from Canada. She was an excellent ice-skater. (I remember her friend's name began with an I -because she joked it was the only letter she could figure-skate... dotted with her hat!)

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SwelegantParty · 21/02/2022 11:39

Actually, I don't think it is the Matthewman title - I've just flicked through my copy and I can't spot any of the names you've mentioned.

RustyBear · 21/02/2022 11:26

Just searched my Kindle edition of the complete works of Angela Brazil - no Petronella or female Peter there.

SwelegantParty · 21/02/2022 11:25

Could it be Peter - New Girl by Phyllis Matthewman?

ArabeI · 21/02/2022 11:24

I think I recall Petrova was always referred to in full, though I also have an old edition.

RustyBear · 21/02/2022 11:22

Not Antonia Forest.
There's a Facebook group called Finishing School, which has lots of members knowledgeable about school stories; you'd probably get a lot of suggestions on there.

tcjotm · 21/02/2022 11:15

Off topic, I thought Petrova was always called the full name, I don’t recall her being Petra. Pauline, Petrova and Posy. Maybe my edition is really old and it changed?

Sorry OP, I’m no help, I came to suggest the Lone Pine Peter/Petronella too.

haba · 21/02/2022 10:55

I'm fascinated - it sounds like a Bobsey Twins/Chalet School mash-up!

NotMeNoNo · 21/02/2022 10:52

Remember you can download a sample of the books from Amazon. Fascinating reading.

Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 21/02/2022 10:44

@NotMeNoNo

Is it this ]]
Thank-you I will check the author Dorothea Moore to find out more about her Peter/Petronella (though don't think that the story in the link is the one I was thinking of- it isn't set in a school - and the language in that one does look more 'exotic' than I remember.)
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AcerLady · 20/02/2022 20:27

Winifred Norling wrote school stories and one is called Petronella Pan. Could it be that?

whatwoulddexterdo · 20/02/2022 19:57

Thanks for being so abrupt
Onlyafleshwound

Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 20/02/2022 19:20

@FuzzyPuffling

I remember it...but have no idea what it is, so am following this thread now.

Was it spelled "Peta" or have I made that up?

I'm pleased that you remember it! The name spelling I'm not sure about.
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Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 20/02/2022 19:19

@gogohm

I do recall it, my edition is navy blue hardback and is boxed up at my old house about to complete so I can't help for 3 weeks. I loved those kinds of books
I am so pleased that you might be able to help!
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OnlyAFleshWound · 20/02/2022 18:49

@whatwoulddexterdo

Ballet shoes Noel Sreatfield
No.

As above, that character was Petrova, known as Petra, and the story is nothing like the story described in the OP.

whatwoulddexterdo · 20/02/2022 15:12

Ballet shoes Noel Sreatfield

ArabeI · 19/02/2022 19:32

You could try asking on BookSleuth at Abebooks. It's not as busy as it once was but they're good identifying the obscure books.

TheHomesickRestaurant · 19/02/2022 19:13

There was a Lone Pine Petronella/Peter but I didn't think they had much about school in them.
Could it be one of the Antonia Forrest books (though not the main family)?

OnlyAFleshWound · 19/02/2022 19:13

@picklemewalnuts

Was it a Noel Stretfield? there was a Petronella known as Peter in those, I think.
it was Petrova known as Petra
Classica · 19/02/2022 19:11

I was going to say Chalet School as they were obsessed with re-naming the girls things like Ted and Bob.

gogohm · 19/02/2022 19:09

I do recall it, my edition is navy blue hardback and is boxed up at my old house about to complete so I can't help for 3 weeks. I loved those kinds of books

FuzzyPuffling · 19/02/2022 19:05

I remember it...but have no idea what it is, so am following this thread now.

Was it spelled "Peta" or have I made that up?

Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 19/02/2022 13:47

I remember some of Malcolm Saville's Lone Pine books! No though - it wasn't these. It really was a girls boarding school setting.

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Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 19/02/2022 13:42

I know it isn't the Chalet school.

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Original poster
LostMyLastHatfulOfWords · 19/02/2022 13:42

Thank-you all - there is plenty here to work on!

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