Page 33 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017
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32  RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION EVENTS                       RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION EVENTS                  33




 CLASS OF 2012 REUNION COCKTAIL PARTY  THE RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION PAST PRESIDENTS’


 SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST 2017  DINNER

         FRIDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2017
 To  celebrate  their  five-year  anniversary,  the  Ratcliffian
 Association welcomed back the Class of 2012 for cocktails in the
 Old Boys’ Bar. The group were lucky to have such good weather,   The evening started with Mass, celebrated by Fr Philip Sainter   Ted Mullen (60), Richard Gamble (64), David Jolliffe (64), Abe
 and many took the opportunity to arrive early and take a tour   (69) in the Chapel, followed by a reception in the Old Library.   Mee (92) and Sam Bird (98).
 around the School. Some of the ORs commented that, while it   Sebako Siame (91) presided during the superb meal, prepared by
 had changed since they’d left, it still felt very much the same.   the College catering team, and she proposed a toast to Ratcliffe   Michael Heath (56)
 Once the tour was over, the ORs headed back to the Old Boys’   in  her  new  role  as  Association  President.  As  the  Headmaster,
 Bar to enjoy the cocktails and canapés on offer. With a good   Jon Reddin, had flown to America for the New York Dinner, he
 number of the year group attending, the room had a fantastic   was  unable  to  attend  this  year’s  event.  However,  Kevin  Ryce,
 atmosphere, and the ORs caught up with their old classmates,   the Deputy Headmaster, replied on behalf of the College and
 finding out what they’d all been up to in the five years since   toasted the Association and its former Presidents. Many thanks
 they’d left Ratcliffe.
         to all for another memorable event.
 The Deputy Head, Kevin Ryce, came along to the event, and he   Those in attendance were: Sebako Siame (91) (President), Rob
 enjoyed meeting the ORs and getting a sense of what the School   Williams (95) (Vice President), Fr Philip Sainter (69) (Ratcliffe’s
 was like before he arrived. Nick Walsh, one of Ratcliffe’s Religious   Father  President),  Kevin  Ryce  (Deputy  Headmaster),  Fr
 Studies  teachers,  also  attended,  and  he  spent  the  evening   Christopher Cann (Preparatory School Headmaster), Alex Slack
 discovering what his past pupils had gone on to do. Meanwhile,   (née  Gamble)  (03)  (Association  Manager)  and  Fr  David  Tobin
 many of the ORs took advantage of the photo booth that had   James Montgomery-Stuart (12), Claudia Mills (12) & Joe Hesketh (12)  (59)  (Former  Ratcliffe  Father  President).  The  Past  President
 been set up, enjoying taking pictures with old friends that they   guests  were:  Michael  Coker  (52),  Anthony  Jewell  (54),  Sir
 hadn’t seen in a long time.                                  L to R: Michael Coker (52), Paul Rudd (60), Sebako Siame (91) & Sir
         Anthony  Holland  (56),  Michael  Heath  (56),  Dick  Cunningham
         (59), Paul Carter (60), Fr Simon Giles (60), Paul Rudd (60), Fr   Anthony Holland (56)
 Towards the end of the evening, Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03)
 brought  the  ORs  together  to  say  a  few  words.  She  thanked
 the bar and catering staff who had provided the cocktails and
 canapés.  She  also  thanked  Lara  Addison  (a  current  Ratcliffe   THE NEW YORK REUNION DINNER
 student) for taking photos on the night. Alex then gave special
 thanks to George Herrick (12) for setting the reunion into motion
 when he suggested an event a few months earlier. Alex’s last   SATURDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2017
 thank you was to Sarah Kerridge (12), who works for the Ratcliffe
 Foundation, for her invaluable help with the night, assisting Alex,   In Midtown Manhattan, the Headmaster joined Old Ratcliffians   dinner included Eric Ciambra (79), Michel Ciambra (82), Chris
 who was still recovering from a broken leg. Alex then surprised   from Philadelphia, California, Michigan, Rhode Island and Florida,   McGlashan (82) and Hilary Langer (70). Thank you to all those
 the ORs by presenting their leavers’ video, which Gee Kerridge   as well as more local ORs from New Jersey and Connecticut. The   Old Ratcliffians who made the effort to support the event and
 (12) had made for their Leavers’ Assembly in 2012. The group   atmosphere was most convivial, and after some speeches, the   for all your good wishes to the College and its current students.
 very much enjoyed watching their video, as old teachers wished   conversations over dinner reverted to much storytelling about   We very much look forward to the next New York Reunion Dinner
 them well and recounted memories of the students, including   L to R: Rishi Kotak (12), Joe Smith (12), Sukh Singh (12), George Herrick   the ‘old days’. The most senior member of our group was Frank   in 2020.
 their  History  teacher,  Mr  Cantrill,  who  had  written  a  book  of   (12) & Jay Thobhani (12)  Lum (67), who had travelled from Michigan and had also visited
 stupid things that they’d said!  Ratcliffe just a month before. The youngest was Joe Astill (94),   Andrew Yell (82)
         who joined other 1990s leavers, Ken Wong (91), Clare Nugent   Development Director
 Taxis  arrived  at  11pm  to  take  the  ORs  to  Loughborough  to   (née Williams) (91) and Hiu Ho (90). Other ORs attending the
 continue their night out after a very enjoyable reunion event.



















 L to R: Amelia Woolford (12), Hayley Marvin (12), Sarah Kerridge (12) &   L to R: Holly Allison (12), Charlie Dickinson (12), James Perfect (12), Harj
 Hannah Spooner (12)  Johal (12) & Ruth Hall (12)  Guests at the New York Dinner


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