Page 38 - The Old Ratcliffian 2010

The Old Ratcliffan 2010 | nostalgia Peter Gould Old Ratcliffian 1928-36 10th Nov 1917 - 18th Nov 2009 Peter Gould passed away following a period of slowly deteriorating health on 18th November 2009. He was predeceased by his wife, Kay, after nearly 64 years of marriage, in July 2006. Peter remained a stalwart and devoted husband throughout Kay’s final years and dealt with her increasing dementia with patience and stoicism. He stayed by her side until the very end, relinquishing their marital home to be with her. Peter was a successful Chartered Accountant who was a (Sheffield) partner of Grant Thornton and non-Executive Director of the Murphy Chemical Company from 4th April 1963, where he also served as Chairman (1972-87), until his eventual retirement from the board in July 2001. Peter and Kay raised three children; Josephine (1943); John (1949) and Philip (1953). Both boys attended Ratcliffe: John from 1962 – 1967 and Philip from 1967 – 1972. Peter started at Ratcliffe in 1928 and, notwithstanding the physical impairment of a mildly deformed chest that was later to preclude him from military service in World War II, he rose to become a formidable opponent in the boxing ring and an energetic participant on the rugby field. He was Head Boy and Captain of Rugby in his final year at Ratcliffe (1935/6) and nominated by Claude Leetham (rugby coach 1933-43) as a member of his ‘dream team’ that was documented prior to Claude handing over coaching responsibilities to Philip Catcheside in 1943. In later life, whilst living in Bakewell, Peter served as Treasurer to the local parish church in Hassop, Derbyshire and both Kay and Peter’s remains are laid to rest in the All Saints Church cemetery. Peter will be remembered by all who knew him as the consummate gentleman whose diplomacy and quietness disguised a steely determination. He was generous, always fair, yet never foolish. His family is immensely proud of his achievements and mourns his passing. May he rest in peace. Philip Gould (72) nOsTalgIa After Sales Service I was at Ratcliffe from 1939 until the established himself and became a very end of the 1944 Summer term. It was popular personality with all ranks. The perhaps most unfortunate to be at airmen on the station would do anything Ratcliffe during the war years simply for him. As though Wymeswold was not because we were all affected by air raids, enough for him, Claude also became the shortages of food, clothing, coke for the Army RC Chaplain at the big Army Depot central heating, petrol rationing, travel at Old Dalby near Melton Mowberry. restrictions and shortages of staff as a Finally, he looked after the small numbers result of people being called up. Dr W. of Catholics based at Ratcliffe airfield Ullmann was interned as an alien - in (No. 6 Ferry Pool of Air Transport view of his resistance to Hitler- this was Auxiliary (ATA)). Occasionally, some of very unjust. I don’t suppose we boys even the ATA pilots came and joined us in the gave a thought to such problems, but gym for our Saturday evening film shows. rather took it all for granted. Fr Leetham’s appointment to Wymeswold In addition to running the Upper had great benefits for me personally. School, Fr Leetham became the RC First, he arranged for occasional visits by Chaplain to RAF Station Wymeswold groups from the Ratcliffe Spotter’s Club near Loughborough, a busy Bomber to the Air Gunners aircraft recognition Command Operational Training Unit simulator where we held aircraft A Young Basil d’Oliveira (No. 28 OTU) flying clapped out early recognition competitions with the trainee production Wellingtons that had seen air gunners. Ratcliffe always did very A real plus was the RAF always laid on an better days. In those years there were well in these competitions. The RAF were abundance of good food which was quite plenty of accidents, so a Padre was often surprised by the knowledge and something in the days of tight kept quite busy. Fr Leetham quickly flexibility displayed by our group. food rationing.