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

[LostMyLastHatfulOfWords]

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!)

It rings bells... Will think.

Was it a Noel Stretfield? there was a Petronella known as Peter in those, I think.

Is it the Malcolm Saville Lone Pine books?

Or Chalet School?

Peter IS in the Lone Pine books, but the rest of the description doesn't fit with those.

These?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Pine_(books)

But it's Tom not Tony

Does Angela Brazil ring any bells for you? During the first half of the 20th century, wrote about 50 stories set in traditional English girls' boarding schools. Her girls were plucky and fun, exactly the sorts to ice-skate initials and have frosty eyelashes. Have a look at a list of her novels and see if any are familiar to you:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angela_Brazil

I was going to say Lone Pine, too.

There's a Nella in Chalet School, also, but sure that's not it.

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

I know it isn't the Chalet school.

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

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

@picklemewalnuts

Was it a Noel Stretfield? there was a Petronella known as Peter in those, I think.

it was Petrova known as Petra

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)?

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.

Ballet shoes Noel Sreatfield

@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.

@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!

@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.

Is it this www.amazon.co.uk/New-Prefect-Dorothea-Moore-ebook/dp/B07MQKCRFL/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ref=plSrch&keywords=dorothea+moore&dpPl=1&dpID=51YbavyZ19L&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1547567523&sr=8-8

Thanks for being so abrupt
Onlyafleshwound

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

@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.)