Page 3 - The Old Ratcliffian 2010

The Old Ratcliffan 2010 | Introduction A Letter from the Headmaster Dear Old Ratcliffians, public examination results this summer testify. They play hard in It has been a great pleasure to meet sport, music, drama, art, the Duke many former students of Ratcliffe of Edinburgh Award scheme, the College over the past year at various Combined Cadet Force, the Young functions. Whether such students Enterprise organisation, academically have been recent leavers or those with a great deal more experience (and related clubs and societies – the list is almost endless, but confirms wisdom, no doubt!), your company our commitment to developing the has been hugely enjoyable, your whole person, in skills of teamwork, reminiscences entertaining and your leadership and charitable fundraising, continued support of the College greatly appreciated. If we have not yet always inculcating a desire to achieve Mr Gareth P Lloyd one’s best. met each other, then I hope and pray that we may do so in the And they most certainly look after excellent support of my colleagues, near future. each other, in a truly Catholic and and in particular my senior staff, altruistic sense, welcoming all with a Much of my first year as Headmaster universality of warmth and respect, Governors, Trustees and of course, my has been consolidating the successes whether in the Boarding House or as wife Katharine. May this love – God’s of the past while looking forward Day Students. love, by Christ’s example – sustain confidently to the future. Through each and every one of us, through this, we have maintained and The new academic year has started challenges and prosperity, during the developed yet further the unique very well, with a record high of forthcoming year. sense of community which clearly 683 students on roll, including I do hope that I shall have the defines Ratcliffe College. Blessed the healthiest number of boarding pleasure of welcoming you and your Antonio Rosmini’s vision of educating students (103) for a decade. At the families to Ratcliffe College at any children through intellectual, spiritual centre of all that we do remains love, time, and to meeting you at Ratcliffian and charitable pursuits continues for, as I quoted Blessed Rosmini in Association events. to underpin all that our twenty-first this same introduction last year, century community aspires to achieve. God bless “Love is the Fulfilment of the Law”. My personal call to arms to our Love for our Church, love for each With warmest wishes students – work hard, play hard and other, love for our work, love for our Mr Gareth P Lloyd look after each other – complements immediate community and beyond Headmaster. this aspiration. Our students do work – love provides the cornerstone for all very hard indeed, as our excellent that I aim to achieve with the 40 Years On... Memories of our Father President to be greeted with such courtesy is, I am sure, the greatest and warmth was a most pleasant contribution to the better balance surprise. There was a tangible sense of life at Ratcliffe. of family and friendliness seen and felt in all relationships of the College The other huge change is the shift from all boarding to a largely day life. Whatever was Rosminian in the school. One aspect of this is a greater past was still there and in some ways even more so. ‘You must notice contact and relationship between the many changes’ has been repeated families and the school. many times as I have begun to meet Meeting Ratcliffians of my time in the different members of the wider 1950s and before, and of the many College community. Yes, this is true. years since, has been another great There have been great changes in delight. Soon I will have a study in the physical layout and expansion of the area near the Chapel. If you are the buildings and facilities. They are passing and, more particularly, if Rev Fr David Tobin (59), Father all fine and wonderful. The grounds, you are passing through the United President of Ratcliffe College so well kept by Mick O’Hara and Kingdom after being away, do pop in his team, show off Ratcliffe in a and come and show to your children In September 2009 I celebrated magnificent way. Graham Studd and the place that was significant in your my return to Ratcliffe after leaving his chefs provide a feast of varied earlier years. If you have been away a in 1969. I did spend two terms on meals which was unimaginable in long time you may, as I was, be very the staff from September 1974 the 1950s and ‘60s. And the long pleasantly surprised. before going to Grace Dieu in April corridors bedecked with flowers soften I look forward to welcoming you. 1975, but that was a temporary the institutional stamp of my earlier May our loving Lord bless you and appointment. This return was with years at Ratcliffe. The other massive your families. a greater sense of permanence and change is the feminine presence among the staff and students which Rev Fr David Tobin (59), Fr President Register online www.ratcliffanassociation.co.uk