Page 44 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

44 OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS

Holly Blount (17): “For my A Level Art current Ratcliffians, often in sports kit enough to join some of my old classmates
coursework, I painted a portrait of Fr following Saturday games. This has in the summer at the Reunion Dinner.
Ted Mullen (60) on glass in oil paints. resulted in a complete lifestyle shift Dave Ricks (07) continues to be a partner
The topic that I chose was specifically (mainly in that I no longer have one!), but in crime, along with his brother, Paul Ricks
catered to portraiture, in which I aimed it’s great meeting so many new and old (03), and my sister, Danielle Isbell (04).
to focus on unpicking the personality, faces. The tearoom is called ‘Beardsley’s’, I’m looking forward to another successful
past, and perception of others towards which was my grandma’s maiden name, year, albeit a little less eventful!”
my subject, and to present these features and it is familiar to many long-term
in a painting. Fr Ted fitted my studies residents of Rearsby, as she herself grew
perfectly, because of his renowned up in the village. If any of you are in the
warmth and kindness. He is an integral area, do call by, as it would be great to
character within Ratcliffe and is admired catch up.”
by many. Through interviewing him, I
learnt that his present position is defined
by an array of choices and paths in his
past, which have created the person that
we all know and love today. The bold
marks that I used in the painting and their Matthew Isbell (07) with his wife, Rachel, &
daughter, Freya
loose connections to each other depict
the many experiences of Fr Ted, whilst Jan Ruddick (01): “I have been
the warm palette shows the truly caring overseeing construction at The Priory in
nature of a man who is so well-loved Leicestershire, for which I recently won
in our school.” Fr Ted, having viewed the NHBC UK’s Best Site for Health and
Holly’s work, responded: “When I was on Safety 2017. I’ve been close to winning
the staff in the seventies and eighties, Hollie Stone (07) outside her new tearoom the award for a couple of years now, and
the boys often said that I had a ‘crooked I’ve been working towards it for a while,
smile’. Holly has managed to capture that Jake Bird (15): “Since leaving Ratcliffe, I so it’s great to finally win it! I have also
in the portrait, which she has executed in have been studying Fashion Marketing won the NHBC Quality Award, which is for
a remarkable way. She has a great gift for at Leeds University. I’m currently the quality of build in the new homes, for
portraying the personality, as well as the undertaking a year’s industrial placement, three years in a row, from 2015 to 2017.”
human form, and she deserves all of the working in the digital distribution team
praise that she has been getting for this for the film giant, Warner Bros. (WB).
work. Well done, Holly; you are a star!” My role is to oversee the transition from
physical product to digital, with the use
of promotional campaigns, marketing and
distribution rights. WB is a great studio
to work for, with many opportunities, so I
shall see where the future takes me!”

Jan Ruddick (01) with his NHBC awards

Holly Blount (17) working on her portrait of Fr Joe della-Porta (81) has found a photo
Ted Mullen (60) from 1980 of the seven della-Portas who
were all at Ratcliffe at the same time.
Hollie Stone (07): “After six-and-a-half Could this be a school record for the most
years in recruitment, I made the decision members of one family attending in one
at the start of the year to try a completely Jake Bird (15) year?!
different career path and purchased a
300-year-old house in Rearsby, with the Matthew Isbell (07): “This year has
ambition of turning it into a tearoom. been another eventful one in the Isbell
Following planning approval and several household. We welcomed our newest
months of renovations, sanding, painting addition to the family in May - a little
and decorating (and, of course, baking girl called Freya - and we’ve never been
trials), I opened the doors to the public happier. Rachel is very much enjoying her
at the end of September. It has been a maternity leave, and I have decided to
whirlwind since then, and far busier and make another career move - this time, a
better than I had imagined. I have seen dream move to Microsoft, which I will be L to R: James (82), Chaz (80), Rupert (79),
many old faces from my time at Ratcliffe starting in January. 2017 marks ten years Francesca (79), Louis (81), Chris (79) & Joe
and before, and I am also meeting many since I left Ratcliffe, and I was fortunate della-Porta (81)

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