Page 45 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

44 OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS 45

Holly Blount (17): “For my A Level Art current Ratcliffians, often in sports kit enough to join some of my old classmates Olly Stabler (12): “In July 2016, I left my Sam Spillane (née Murphy) (91): place again, but the end of the race came
coursework, I painted a portrait of Fr following Saturday games. This has in the summer at the Reunion Dinner. job in marketing to pursue my passion for “The Class of ‘91 is still going strong, a little too soon! He also came fourth in
Ted Mullen (60) on glass in oil paints. resulted in a complete lifestyle shift Dave Ricks (07) continues to be a partner photography. 2017 has been an incredibly celebrating 26 years of solid friendship the British Athletics Inter-Counties Cross
The topic that I chose was specifically (mainly in that I no longer have one!), but in crime, along with his brother, Paul Ricks successful year for my business, with new that has stood the test of time. Early in Country Championships at Prestwold
catered to portraiture, in which I aimed it’s great meeting so many new and old (03), and my sister, Danielle Isbell (04). clients including Tesco, Loughborough 2017, 1991 Head Boy, Dan Bunnag (91), Hall in March. He’s looking forward to the
to focus on unpicking the personality, faces. The tearoom is called ‘Beardsley’s’, I’m looking forward to another successful and Leicester University, as well as a and Head Girl, Sebako Siame (91), were track season now!
past, and perception of others towards which was my grandma’s maiden name, year, albeit a little less eventful!” number of small and medium-sized local joined by Sam Spillane (née Murphy) (91),
my subject, and to present these features and it is familiar to many long-term businesses. I’ve had my work published Paul Ferguson (91) and Paul Whitmore
in a painting. Fr Ted fitted my studies residents of Rearsby, as she herself grew in Vogue, The Telegraph, Rolling Stone (91) for dinner and drinks in London. With
perfectly, because of his renowned up in the village. If any of you are in the and more. I’ve recently expanded by Sebako as the President of the Ratcliffian
warmth and kindness. He is an integral area, do call by, as it would be great to taking over a purpose-built photography Association this year, further gatherings
character within Ratcliffe and is admired catch up.” and video studio in Leicester, just off are anticipated, so all 1991 leavers are
by many. Through interviewing him, I Narborough Road in the West End. In actively encouraged to come along and
learnt that his present position is defined 2018, I’ll be focusing on expanding the support their Head Girl!”
by an array of choices and paths in his wedding aspect of my business, as well
past, which have created the person that as completing some commercial video
we all know and love today. The bold projects that are currently in the pipeline.” Sam Stabler (10)
marks that I used in the painting and their Matthew Isbell (07) with his wife, Rachel, &
daughter, Freya
loose connections to each other depict Tony Ryan (41): “I really do not have much
the many experiences of Fr Ted, whilst Jan Ruddick (01): “I have been news for you, except that I am still here!
the warm palette shows the truly caring overseeing construction at The Priory in My 95th birthday is coming up, and I am
nature of a man who is so well-loved Leicestershire, for which I recently won still in reasonable health for my age. I
in our school.” Fr Ted, having viewed the NHBC UK’s Best Site for Health and L to R: Sebako Siame (91), Paul Whitmore (91), live independently, with a small amount
Holly’s work, responded: “When I was on Safety 2017. I’ve been close to winning Dan Bunnag (91), Sam Spillane (née Murphy) of help from the New Zealand health
the staff in the seventies and eighties, Hollie Stone (07) outside her new tearoom the award for a couple of years now, and (91) & Paul Ferguson (91) system, but apart from that, I look after
the boys often said that I had a ‘crooked I’ve been working towards it for a while, myself, drive my small car, and do my own
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 Olly Stabler (12)’s spectacular aerial photo Barnaby Kent (Dorks) (95): “Both Ben shopping and cooking. One of my sons
in the portrait, which she has executed in have been studying Fashion Marketing won the NHBC Quality Award, which is for of Ratcliffe Dorks (90) and I attended Ratcliffe lives in Wellington, only a few kilometres
a remarkable way. She has a great gift for at Leeds University. I’m currently the quality of build in the new homes, for College, leaving in the 1990s. As you away; he comes to see me about twice
portraying the personality, as well as the undertaking a year’s industrial placement, three years in a row, from 2015 to 2017.” Ben Scanlan (03): “I continue the can probably guess, we are brothers! a month, and he also arranges with my
human form, and she deserves all of the working in the digital distribution team seemingly neverending journey to In January of this year, Ben and I were two local granddaughters to come and
praise that she has been getting for this for the film giant, Warner Bros. (WB). become an existential psychotherapist, promoted to the Board of Ideagen plc visit me. My daughter lives in Dunedin in
work. Well done, Holly; you are a star!” My role is to oversee the transition from having started a private practice - a - a publicly listed company on the AIM the south of South Island, but she comes
physical product to digital, with the use journey which is terrifying and liberating market of the London Stock Exchange. to visit me two or three times a year. My
of promotional campaigns, marketing and in equal measure. Somehow, I’m engaged, Ideagen is a software company with eldest son lives on a farm in Wairarapa -
distribution rights. WB is a great studio and deep into planning that, helped by operations in the UK, US, Dubai, Bulgaria a farming district about 100 kilometres
to work for, with many opportunities, so I one of my groomswomen, Flic Bainbridge and Malaysia. It is recognised as one of away - and I see him once or twice a year.
shall see where the future takes me!” (06). I was touched in many ways to hear the leading suppliers of governance, risk, My parish church (St Patrick’s) has been
from a lot of former Ratcliffians after I and compliance solutions, with over 100 moved recently; the entire building has
was involved in a video about suicide, and airlines and the UK rail network using been picked up and moved to a different
I really felt the warmth of the community, our solutions. I certainly believe that we position on the same site, so as to leave
both around that and in support of are working at the top of an organisation space for a car parking area, which we
Jan Ruddick (01) with his NHBC awards Maytree - a sanctuary for the suicidal. valued at in excess of £180 million never had previously. ‘Phase Two’ of the
2017 feels like a progressive stepping because of the way we were educated!” plan is to build a parish hall alongside
Holly Blount (17) working on her portrait of Fr Joe della-Porta (81) has found a photo stone, but 2018 promises to be even more the church, which is something that we
Ted Mullen (60) from 1980 of the seven della-Portas who exciting!” You can watch Ben’s moving have also not had for the sixty years of
were all at Ratcliffe at the same time. video on the OR Facebook page. this church’s existence. Down here in
Hollie Stone (07): “After six-and-a-half Could this be a school record for the most the Southern Hemisphere, it is currently
years in recruitment, I made the decision members of one family attending in one springtime, and the place is ablaze with
at the start of the year to try a completely Jake Bird (15) year?! early blossoms, which are very pretty, and
different career path and purchased a a promise of fruit to come later!”
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 Barnaby Kent (Dorks) (95) & Ben Dorks (90)
Following planning approval and several household. We welcomed our newest
months of renovations, sanding, painting addition to the family in May - a little Sam Stabler (10) recently won a bronze
and decorating (and, of course, baking girl called Freya - and we’ve never been medal in the English National Cross
trials), I opened the doors to the public happier. Rachel is very much enjoying her Country Championships. He would
at the end of September. It has been a maternity leave, and I have decided to have won the silver, but a treacherously
whirlwind since then, and far busier and make another career move - this time, a slippery mud patch caused him to lose his
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), footing, and unfortunately, he fell almost
many old faces from my time at Ratcliffe starting in January. 2017 marks ten years Francesca (79), Louis (81), Chris (79) & Joe within sight of the finishing line. He got
and before, and I am also meeting many since I left Ratcliffe, and I was fortunate della-Porta (81) Ben Scanlan (03) up and was soon chasing down second Tony Ryan (41)

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