Page 49 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2017

48 OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS 49

RATCLIFFE REVISITED Frank Lum (67), who is a supporter of our Sixth Form bursaries,
came over from America to have a look around the School. It was
lovely to welcome him back; Jon Reddin and Andrew Yell (82)
We have been very pleased to welcome the following Old Patrizia Candz (née Opitz) (02): “I left Ratcliffe fifteen years greeted him and gave him a tour.
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 Anthony (Tony) Workman (87) recently popped in to say hello
Antonio Gil-Casares (89) came over from Madrid with his wife on Mr Sharpe came and showed us around. I enjoyed the visit very and took a tour of the School. He left Ratcliffe in the Lower Sixth,
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 then went to Welbeck, and he later joined the Army. After that,
memories of his time here. such good memories of Ratcliffe.” he worked in the City on the Stock Exchange. For the last seven
years, he has been teaching at Taunton School, and he is still in
Gokulesh Patel (89) visited Ratcliffe on May 23rd 2017 with his contact with Mike Meredith (89).
daughter and two of his friends. This was the first time that he Frank Lum (67) in the Refectory
had been back since he left in 1989 - 28 years ago. Gokulesh
attended Ratcliffe with his brother, Pintu (89). He particularly OR VISITORS: GIVING BACK TO THE SCHOOL
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 We like to welcome Old Ratcliffians back to the College to speak Nathan Eldridge (14) and Sasha Farzin-Nia (15) came back to
at the School. Gokulesh thoroughly enjoyed his visit, reliving the to the students, as their wealth of knowledge on a range of assist with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme in July 2017,
‘wonder days’ that he spent at Ratcliffe.
subjects is hugely beneficial to the pupils. for six days, helping to monitor and look after the groups on
Dartmoor.
Paul Walsh (03) visited the School on May 11th 2017 to conduct
interviews for a PSHCE lesson with Tiff Spencer, one of Ratcliffe’s Fr Louis Beasley-Suffolk (60) was the Guest of Honour at this
Economics and Business Studies teachers. Paul is currently year’s Exhibition Day. He spoke with humour and affection about
working for Google in Sheffield (in their first ‘open’ shop, which his time at the College, recognising the pivotal role that it had
Patrizia Candz (née Opitz) (02) at the front of the School you can go to), and they are hoping to roll more Google shops played in his growing maturity and sense of self-esteem. The
out in the future. linchpin for him was the sense of love and of being ‘at home’
Grace Luk (94): “Sylvester Cheung (95) and I visited the that the School gave him. It was also wonderful to have him as
School on Wednesday 19th April, and I would like to thank the Tim Parker (91) came to Ratcliffe on Tuesday 13th December Principal Celebrant of our Senior School Mass the next day.
Association for organising the tour for me and my family. Words 2016 to take part in one of the School’s debates, based on the
cannot express how happy I was when I finally got to visit again proposition, ‘Democracy is flawed’. Tim is a political reporter for If you would like to come back to the School to talk to our
after 23 years. I was at Ratcliffe from 1990 to 1994; back then, BBC Radio Leicester and for BBC Sunday Politics East Midlands. students, please contact the Association Office.
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 Sam Bird (98), Director of Bird and Howes LLP and former
Gokulesh Patel (89) with his daughter in the Square at Ratcliffe were some of the most important days of my life. Association President, came in on March 23rd to speak to the
A lot of my old classmates are still my best friends now, and Sixth Form students about the importance of staying in touch
John Larrad (60): “I called in to Ratcliffe on Sunday 23rd July they will be forever. I’m amazed and impressed by how much with Ratcliffe and the Association after leaving the School.
2017, after 57 years! It was so nice to see the place again, and my Ratcliffe has been changed, improved and upgraded. The new Sam said: ‘Ratcliffe provided me with the confidence and self-
school days felt like yesterday. I started at Ratcliffe in September Sixth Form Union is beautiful, which makes me so jealous! The belief to go forward into the world of work. My time there has
1954, when I was twelve years old. Charles Salvatori (60) started new Preparatory School is also lovely. Based on my daughter’s presented me with many opportunities in both my personal
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 and professional life. I greatly enjoyed my time with the Sixth
Fr Leetham. Over tea, it came up in conversation that Charles little ones to study in such a wonderful primary school.” Formers, and I would encourage them to embrace the challenges
would not be going home during the Christmas and Easter that they face, going forward, and to have confidence in their
holidays, as he would be staying in a hotel in London with some abilities.’
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 Sam Bird (98), former President of the Association Fr Louis Beasley-Suffolk (60) (centre) with the official Exhibition Party

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