Page 39 - The Old Ratcliffian 2011

The Old Ratcliffan 2011 | Obituaries OBITuaRIes Bro Anthony Leo Primavesi Old Ratcliffian 1927-36 Anthony Primavesi came to Ratcliffe Being allowed to share the laboratory in the year 1927 at the early age of for Mathematics lessons sometimes 10. His older brother, Guilio, had led to exciting distractions as one or previously joined the school in 1926. other of the Biology Department rabbits The Primavesis were a most lively escaped from its hutch and decided to and intelligent family and their life at explore! (This would be one of the poor home had always been a very happy creatures awaiting the ultimate dispatch and adventurous one. Although young, to become a ‘specimen’ for dissection.) Anthony settled quickly at school and Anthony loved animals and the fate of made several deep friendships which these rabbits must have been a torment lasted throughout his life. He often for him, though he made sure that they produced diversions which enlivened passed away peacefully. the rather boring pattern of school life. Typical was the forming of a Cinema Thanks to the generosity of Mr Primavesi, a building was erected Club. Every Saturday evening the and fully equipped as an engineering members gathered in the old ‘Band workshop which became the home for Room’ and, on payment of sixpence into an old school cap, were ushered into their the Metalwork department run, initially, seats to watch the film on an ancient by ‘Brother Prim’. He proved to be an excellent engineer – one of his pieces 16mm projector. hearing and sight led to an increasing of equipment was a precision tool, a isolation, aggravated by the steady On leaving Ratcliffe in 1936, he joined microtome for producing microscopically diminution of the Rosminian community the Rosminian order at Wadhurst near thin sections of plants with which at Ratcliffe. But in his retirement he Tunbridge Wells. After completing his he produced first class microscopic became a very familiar figure in his novitiate, he went on to the Rosminian botanical slides which have been daily walks, accompanied by his faithful House of Studies in St Marie’s, Rugby, constantly in demand from educational dog. However his mental powers, keen where he studied Chemistry to degree firms. He also built a clock system interest in the wonders of the universe level. He continued to show a lively which was connected to all the school and his sense of humour seemed as interest in the natural world, from clocks and sounded the beginning and strong as ever. He will be remembered the microscopic to the astronomical, end of various activities of each hour for his extraordinary gifts, exercised with supported by his wide reading and and day of the week. In addition he unconscious humility and in the service inventive flair. During these years, he built and installed a filter system for of others. Ratcliffe, in particular, owes somehow acquired a working knowledge the old open air swimming pool. And much to him. of Greek, German and Esperanto, a with his great interest in astronomy, he modern language that intrigued him. He ground a 16 inch concave mirror and In 2004 he moved to the Rosminian is remembered for his many activities built a Newtonian reflecting telescope. house of St Marie’s, Rugby, to join the during his period of studies – especially Another weekly service to the school and small community there. Three years for his annual pantomimes, written by community was Anthony’s vote as the later it became clear that he was in himself in appalling doggerel verse, projectionist for the weekly film, which need of more physical care than his punctuated by old music hall ditties with involved a couple of hours on Friday brethren could give and so he moved to words by A. L. Primavesi and by scenes preparing the film, and then a similar a care home where he received sensitive which challenged his inventive genius. stretch of time every Saturday evening. help from a kindly staff. Almost to (One memorable scene occurred in his He did this faithfully for several years. the end of his life, he could entertain ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ in which the old Alongside all of this, and increasingly visitors with his lively reminiscences Widow Twankie had to descend gracefully and with his favourite jokes, which from the high branches of the beanstalk as his teaching years drew to an end, were many, punctuated by outbursts of supported by a parachute in the form of Anthony gave much of his time and uncontrollable laughter which almost research to his main interest - botany. an umbrella. Unfortunately, on the night, He became a renowned expert on prevented him from sharing and enjoying the nerve of the good widow – none other British wild roses and meticulously his favourite, often repeated, stories. than the producer himself – failed her Brother Primavesi had a very deep faith and, amid loud stage whispers, a stage plotted the location and types of wild in God and His Divine Providence. His hand had to produce a ladder to help the roses in Leicestershire, which led to piety was undemonstrative but in his last his production of an authoritative old lady down!) years, became increasingly obvious. His book on this subject. He assisted in On leaving Rugby, Anthony joined many counties’ field studies as well. In devotions were traditional and his Rosary the community and teaching staff recognition of his research in this area and, above all, his Holy Communion, at Ratcliffe, where initially, he taught he was made an honorary member of which he was able to receive almost daily, English, French and Chemistry and then the Royal Botanical Society, an award he were dear to him until the hour of his introduced Biology which, due to his greatly treasured. quiet passing to God. initiative, soon became a department in In the last decade of his life, his frailty May he rest in peace. its own right. His ‘laboratory’ was the and the gradual impairment of his first room on the first floor of the North Fr Anthony Baxter (38) corridor (now overlooking the church). Register online at www.ratcliffanassociation.co.uk 39