Page 5 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

THE EDITOR’S COLUMN

Here in the Association Offi ce, 2020 feels as though it has passed us by in the blink
of an eye. Having made a promising start to the year, with a full events calendar INTRODUCTION
scheduled and plans to try out new events and initiatives, the March lockdown saw
both myself and Association Secretary Katherine Lang placed on furlough leave,
which, as for many, lasted a completely unexpected four-and-a-half months. As a
result of lockdown and the ongoing restrictions still in place as I write, 2020 has
been a very different year for the Association, as it has the College, and we have
been unable to run 99% of our events, which are such a huge part of what we do.

We are extremely thankful, however, that we were able to bring together current
students and Old Ratcliffi ans for the 2020 Sixth Form Social in January, where we
were treated to fi sh and chips, as well as Mr Sleath’s famous quiz! Our annual London
Dinner also went ahead as planned; this saw over 60 ORs gather at the stunning
Crypt at St Etheldreda’s, Ely Place, for an evening of fi ne dining and good company.
Just fi ve short weeks later, however, as we were preparing for our annual OR Sports
Day, those plans were cut short, as the country was forced into lockdown.
It seems almost odd now to imagine being able to gather in such large numbers, and
so, as we returned on reduced hours in August, we began to ponder how we could
connect our alumni community in this strange new world, whilst keeping a close
eye on the government guidelines and hoping life would soon return to normal.
It was hard to believe, back in January, that 2020 would end as it has, and we still clearly have a long way to go before we can safely say
it’s ‘business as usual’. Nevertheless, we will continue to do whatever we can to support the school, its students, and our Association
members, as well as helping ORs to stay connected during a time when friendship and community have never been more important.
We are extremely grateful to our ORs for their support and patience this year, and we would especially like to thank those who have
worked tirelessly in the NHS and other care settings, offered help to fellow ORs and their local communities, or taken on personal
challenges for charitable causes, all in the fi ght against COVID-19. The Ratcliffe ethos remains forever strong: Legis Plenitudo Charitas.
Sarah Gretton
Ratcliffi an Association Manager

The Old Ratcliffi an 2020 5