Three generations of Cornelia’s descendants visit Mayfield!


In February 2017 , Charlotte Vanni d'Archirafi, the Danish wife of Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi, great‐great‐ grandson of Cornelia’s son Frank Connelly, contacted Mayfield School and asked if the family could visit, and of course she was told that they would be more than welcome.


How did it happen that the link to Mayfield, the School and the Society was renewed?


British playwright Diane Samuels and her friend and research consultant Ghislaine Kenyon, a Mayfield School ‘Old Girl’, are working on a play about Cornelia. Their research led them to make contact with the family and Ghislaine put Charlotte in touch with the School.


However, Charlotte’s interest in Cornelia and her story goes back some time: she and Francesco met in Spain, where their respective parents were diplomats, representing their countries: Denmark and Italy. Charlotte’s best friend and later chief bridesmaid turned out to be the daughter of the Spanish gentleman who bought the property in St. Leonards! Charlotte had heard about the Cornelian connection from her mother-in-law, Simonetta, granddaughter of Frank Connelly, and when she heard that the property in St. Leonards was called Holy Child College, she became even more interested.


Charlotte and Francesco have two daughters, Caterina and Allegra, aged ten and eight, who attend school in London. Two years ago, Allegra had to do a project on her family tree. Assisted by her mother she did a lot of research and produced a very impressive book which she brought with her on her visit to Mayfield. Simonetta now lives on the Island of Elba, and does not travel much these days. However, when she heard of the planned visit to Mayfield she made a special effort and came over to the UK. She knew that her grandmother, Marina Borghese, Frank’s daughter, had been to Mayfield as well as other houses in the Province in the late 1950s.


She brought with her a rosary of Cornelia’s which she had been given by the Spanish owners of St. Leonards; this she presented to the School. It is planned to display it near Cornelia’s tomb. Mayfield showed itself in glorious spring sunshine and flowers. The family arrived in time for the School’s Sunday Mass and were welcomed by the celebrant. This was followed by lunch in The Courtyard where they were joined by Antonia Beary, Mayfield Headmistress, the SHCJ Community (Teresa Joseph, Jean and Maria) and three Mayfield students who made friends with the children. After lunch the family were taken on a tour of the School, including the equestrian centre.


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...WAS ‘A MEMORABLE AND EMOTIONAL DAY FOR OUR 3 GENERATIONS OF


DESCENDANTS OF CORNELIA’. A TRULY HISTORIC DAY AS WELL.


As Francesco said, it was “a memorable and emotional day for our 3 generations of descendants of Cornelia”. A truly historic day as well.


Francesco is a banker, based in London, but working in New York too. In his free time he heads an educational charity, active worldwide, and he is especially interested in promoting girls’ education. He is also keen to have contact with Holy Child Schools!


In 2015, the Mayfield SHCJ Community was visited by Tom Garson and his wife Nancy. Tom is Cornelia’s sister, Adeline Peacock Duval’s, third great-grandson and Cornelia is Tom’s fourth great-aunt. Francesco did not know about the American family so he was supplied with their email address and the Community heard from Nancy that contact has already been made. The two families hope to meet in Rome later this year.


Francesco has one brother, Uberto, a diplomat like their father, married to Roberta. They have three daughters: Sofia, Clara and Letizia, all a few years older than Caterina and Allegra. Simonetta, Uberto, Francesco, Sofia, Clara, Letizia, Caterina and Allegra are the only living direct descendants of Cornelia and Pierce Connelly.


OC Sr Maria Dinnendahl SHCJ The Old Cornelian SUMMER 2017


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