Page 48 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

48 OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS

RATCLIFFE REVISITED

We have been very pleased to welcome the following Old Patrizia Candz (née Opitz) (02): “I left Ratcliffe fifteen years
Ratcliffians back to the School this year: ago. I was a student from Germany, and I now live in Oxford. I
visited the School on Saturday 10th June with my mum, and
Antonio Gil-Casares (89) came over from Madrid with his wife on Mr Sharpe came and showed us around. I enjoyed the visit very
August 10th 2017 to have a tour of the School and to relive fond much. It was so nice to come back after all this time, as I have
memories of his time here. such good memories of Ratcliffe.”

Gokulesh Patel (89) visited Ratcliffe on May 23rd 2017 with his
daughter and two of his friends. This was the first time that he
had been back since he left in 1989 - 28 years ago. Gokulesh
attended Ratcliffe with his brother, Pintu (89). He particularly
enjoyed seeing the cricket pitches, as he had been a skilled
cricketer at Ratcliffe; he was selected for the First XI in his second
year, aged just 14, and every year after that, throughout his time
at the School. Gokulesh thoroughly enjoyed his visit, reliving the
‘wonder days’ that he spent at Ratcliffe.

Patrizia Candz (née Opitz) (02) at the front of the School

Grace Luk (94): “Sylvester Cheung (95) and I visited the
School on Wednesday 19th April, and I would like to thank the
Association for organising the tour for me and my family. Words
cannot express how happy I was when I finally got to visit again
after 23 years. I was at Ratcliffe from 1990 to 1994; back then,
I was just a teenager who had been sent to boarding school by
my parents, and I knew nothing about the world. My four years
Gokulesh Patel (89) with his daughter in the Square at Ratcliffe were some of the most important days of my life.
A lot of my old classmates are still my best friends now, and
John Larrad (60): “I called in to Ratcliffe on Sunday 23rd July they will be forever. I’m amazed and impressed by how much
2017, after 57 years! It was so nice to see the place again, and my Ratcliffe has been changed, improved and upgraded. The new
school days felt like yesterday. I started at Ratcliffe in September Sixth Form Union is beautiful, which makes me so jealous! The
1954, when I was twelve years old. Charles Salvatori (60) started new Preparatory School is also lovely. Based on my daughter’s
on the same day, and we had afternoon tea with our parents and reaction, I can just imagine how much fun it would be for those
Fr Leetham. Over tea, it came up in conversation that Charles little ones to study in such a wonderful primary school.”
would not be going home during the Christmas and Easter
holidays, as he would be staying in a hotel in London with some
friends. My mother said that we had plenty of room, and that it
would be better for Charles to live with a family. In 1955, Charles’
brothers, Claude (61) and Alan (63), also came to Ratcliffe, and
his sister, Annette, went to school in Kent. So, for the next six
years, my mum looked after three boys and a girl. Charles and I
became the best of friends, and we still are!”

Grace Luk (94) with Sylvester Cheung (95), his sister, Geraldine (96) &
John Larrad (60) & his wife their families

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