Page 2 - The Old Ratcliffian 2010

The Old Ratcliffan 2010 | Introductionhe Old Ratcliffan 2010 | Introduction T cOnTenTs Introduction P2 News from the College P5 Valete P6 Ratcliffian Association Council P7 Ratcliffian Association Events P9 The Ratcliffian Association Sports Events P13 Old Ratcliffians’ News P17 Births P25 Marriages P26 Obituaries P28 Nostalgia P38 Diary Dates for 2011 Back Cover a letter from your President Dear fellow Old Ratcliffian, It is my great pleasure to greet you all as your President in this year, 2010-11. It is an added pleasure as this year marks my 50th year since leaving Ratcliffe and 50 years as a member of the Institute of Charity or the Rosminian Order. The Papal visit has taken place and Pope Benedict has confounded all his critics and everyone agreed that it was an outstanding success. 2010 will be remembered for his visit. I was happy, as your President, to be present at Crofton Park, Birmingham, for the Beatification Mass, where I helped to concelebrate with over 1000 other priests. I now find myself back at Ratcliffe as a member of our small community based up at the Rosmini Centre, which many of you will remember as the aerodrome or the farm that it became after the Second World War. At the College, my work is with the Chaplaincy Team. This means that I am not on the teaching staff – much to the relief of the Health and Safety Department which seems to have heard of my reputation from Grace Dieu days! I get to know the students outside class time in the Chaplaincy Room (the top of the old church) and around the school. I am a keen watcher of sports so can support the various home games for both boys and girls. Now that I am at the College during the day I am available to meet past students when they visit the college with family and friends. This can be any time when you are passing – just call in at Reception and ask for Fr Simon or Jackie Bennett, the Association Secretary. Has Ratcliffe changed? This is a question I am often asked and usually answer by saying ‘Come and see for yourself!’ Of course there are building changes with the presence of the new Rosmini Sixth Form Centre but there is an indefinable something that stays the same even though we have students from ages 3 to 18, boys and girls, day and boarding students, with a current total of 680. Your support for the Association is a support for the College and I would encourage all Old Ratcliffians to get in touch and renew their membership. It would be good to have a year representative from each year group who could actively keep in touch with his/her year. If you feel you would like to do this, please let us know. Greetings to you all and I hope to see you at Ratcliffe before long. Fr Simon Giles (60) President 2