Page 17 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

THE RATCLIFFE SPITFIRE PROJECT: WE NEED YOU!

The Ratcliffe Spitfi re project is very important to the College, with many
hours of research, design, and labour having already gone into this COLLEGE NEWS
unique build. Ratcliffe’s former Head of Art and Design, and Spitfi re
project lead, Dominic Berry, left the school in July 2020, and so, at the
time of this magazine going to press, a replacement was being sought
to take over the running of the project.

In the meantime, the Ratcliffe CCF Contingent are housing the project
in their aircraft hangar at the Rosmini Centre, until a new home for it
can be found.

We know that many Old Ratcliffi ans are very fond of this
project, and we’d love to welcome some ORs onto the team.
If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch by emailing
alumni@ratcliffecollege.com.

GROUP CAPTAIN MARK LEEMING

OBE MA FINSTLM CHARTERED MCIPD RAFR

Old Ratcliffi an Mark Leeming (83) was due to be the Inspecting Offi cer at the CCF’s Biennial Inspection at Ratcliffe in February. However,
because of the COVID pandemic, this was unable to take place. Mark is still very keen to attend an inspection when such an event can
happen again.
Having been a member of the CCF (RAF) at Ratcliffe, after leaving the school, Mark
joined the Royal Air Force as an administrative clerk in 1984. Serving as an airman
for 12 years, he was commissioned into the Administrative Secretarial Branch on
April 1st 1999. He has held many and varied appointments during his service, both
at home and abroad, including the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
and Afghanistan.

On promotion to Wing Commander in 2010, he was assigned to Employment Policy
and was responsible for the formulation of RAF Personnel Policy, and Equality
and Diversity. Thereafter, he was appointed to Air Personnel Casework, where he
was responsible for the staffi ng of all Casework, Honours and Awards, and the
management of Service Complaints and Service Inquiries. Selected to attend the
Advanced Command and Staff Course, he graduated with an MA in Defence Studies
in July 2012, and he was subsequently appointed Offi cer Commanding Support
Wing at RAF Northolt. For his leadership and contribution to the support of service
families there, he was awarded an OBE in 2015.

Following an operational tour in Afghanistan with the Special Operations Advisory
Group, he undertook a short tour as the Chief of Staff in the Directorate of Flying
Training, before promotion to Group Captain and appointment as the Regional
Commandant North for the Air Training Corps.

Mark has been married to Jeanne since 1990, and they have two children – James, who
is an aircraft technician in the RAF, and Katie, who is currently studying at university.

The Old Ratcliffi an 2020 17