Page 68 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

along a road with his blue helmet on, amid He simply replied, as he was dozing off, and then left without saying anything. He
all the bullets. The next image showed him “Everyone deserves to be saved.” eventually told me to see my own doctor as
a matter of urgency when I got home. He
working on the soldier on the ground, with
OBITUARIES a medic holding a drip in the air. the Curragh Army Hospital at Christmas later said that my blood pressure had been
Christopher saw his last military patient in
so very high that, if I had been his patient,
2018, representing 47 years of medical care
he would have called for an ambulance
The other story involves the Irish Forces
to the Irish Defence Forces, with last year
in the Sinai Desert. They positioned
there and then, so it is highly probable that
bringing him into 50 years of practising
themselves between the Israelis and
not be here now to tell you about him.
the Egyptians; then, a belligerent tank
literally thousands and thousands of
unit attacked the Irish, and they had to medicine. In all, he helped and cared for he saved my life that evening, and I might
evacuate. Less than an hour later, one people over the years. Christopher died of heart failure in a
of the same tanks was hit by a shell from Dublin hospital on April 22nd 2019, leaving
the opposite side, and Christopher ended Just one more story of a very personal his wife of 48 years, four children, three
up performing emergency surgery on nature. I used to visit him in Ireland as often grandchildren, and my family in England,
the crew members from that tank who, as I could (usually once a year), and on one not to mention various cousins in Northern
just minutes earlier, had tried to kill him. occasion, he offered to take my blood Ireland, to mourn his passing.
Just a few days before Christopher died pressure. I knew it wouldn’t be high, as I had
in Dublin, his son, David, asked him about recently stopped driving trains in England, Peter Browne (65)
the times when he risked his own life to so I agreed. First, he took it, then he called Brother
help others, both at home and abroad. in his wife (a retired nurse), who took it

HELEN LOUISE MURPHY
JUNE 17TH 1974 – DECEMBER 21ST 2019
OLD RATCLIFFIAN 1990 – 1992

Helen first attended Bishop Ellis Primary huge and varied CD collection, and she
School in Thurmaston, before attending introduced me to so many kinds of music.
Evington Hall Convent. She then went on I credit her for my love of soul, Prince, and
to Our Lady’s Convent in Loughborough, some rap/hip-hop; I will always think of her
prior to joining Ratcliffe in the Sixth Form when I hear ‘Summertime’ by DJ Jazzy Jeff
to study French, Geography, and Politics at and the Fresh Prince!
A Level. Although only at Ratcliffe for two
years, she made many good friends. Her After Ratcliffe, Helen studied in Cambridge
brother, Michael Murphy (95), and cousins, for a year, before completing her Combined
Andrew Mason (96) and myself, were Business Studies degree at Hull University.
also at Ratcliffe, along with her cousins Like many graduates, she then chose to go
Charlie Murphy (92) and Sam Spillane travelling. She embarked on a trip around
(née Murphy) (91), and family friends John the world, through Malaysia, Australia, New
Yates (95) and Gianpaolo Mantini (95). Zealand (where she did a bungee jump!),
Her other good friends there included Tasmania, and America. On her return, she
Niamh Sweeney (92), Emma Thomas moved to London and lived with her old
(92), and Nadia Hawes (née Chbat) (91). school friends, Nadia and Malcolm Hawes
(93), where she began to plan her next trip
Helen had an infectious smile and her with her brother, Michael, through Malaysia
trademark red, curly hair. Not forgetting and back to Australia.
her red Fiesta – a popular getaway vehicle
for many of the borders, making trips up Helen soon settled in Australia and worked,
and down to Sileby for essentials and for a time, in Sydney. I still have one of the we were sisters, due to our big, curly hair
takeaways, with her favourite tunes playing letters that she wrote to me from her desk – a comparison which I loved. Although six
on the tape deck. in June 2000. She was looking out over years older than me, she always looked out
Sydney Harbour Bridge, telling me about for me, like a sister.
Growing up in Birstall, Helen’s family the nights out and fun that they were
attended St Theresa’s Church, and she having. Email was still relatively new then, When Helen returned home, she bought her
was part of the Youth Group formed by Fr and generally only through internet cafes, own house and worked in Leicester for the
Joe Mullen, along with Toby Linnett (90). but Helen was great at writing letters. NHS, and then for NIACE, an organisation
I remember her playing various instruments She was a very positive person; I loved dedicated to lifelong learning. She
in the music section there, including being around her, and we always had a completed her TEFL (Teaching English as
the tenor recorder and piano. She had a good laugh. Many people thought that a Foreign Language) training and, ideally,
68 The Old Ratcliffian 2020