Page 51 - The Old Ratcliffian 2011

The Old Ratcliffan 2011 | Obituaries All For The Love Of Henry ‘Opera by Candlelight’ Mary Goldstraw sadly lost organised as part of the and tickets which are the her son, Old Ratcliffian 150th Anniversary Appeal Henry Goldstraw (89) in a had been such a resounding car accident on 26th April success that this could 1996. become an annual event. Henry was the son of Mary After many conversations and Colin Goldstraw; Mary and much guidance from is a governor at Ratcliffe and Fr Philip Sainter (69), this is the story of how she we created a scholarship became so involved in the entitled ‘The Henry College and why she has Goldstraw and Gerald Yell given so much of her time to Scholarship Fund’. the School. Within a few years, we “On 26th April 1996, my had raised enough money family’s life was devastated for two scholarships. This by the tragic loss of our annual event has raised dear son, Henry. The news many thousands of pounds, of his death is something and it is performed on or The Refectory by Candlelight which every parent dreads. near Henry and Gerry’s Whilst at Mass that evening, anniversaries. This year was best you will ever see. Henry’s year have also in the midst of my despair, our fourteenth year and we We have had four donated to this trust in headmasters since starting memory of their friend. Many thanks to all of them.” the Opera and they have all been very supportive. Mary Goldstraw However this year, we had a wonderful surprise when our Governor headmaster, Gareth Lloyd If you would like to attend and his wife, Katharine, sang next year’s event on March with their gifted friends. We 31st 2012, please contact raised over £4000. the Ratcliffian Association Office. This year, one of my wishes was fulfilled when Old Ratcliffian James Wilson (90), a close friend of Henry’s, donated a Friendship Cup and set up a trust fund in Henry’s name Marlene Yell & Mary Goldstraw to benefit other students. Other Old Ratcliffians in I felt that I had to do have booked March 31st for something to ensure that my next year’s event. son’s name would carry on Over the last fourteen years, in our beloved Ratcliffe. twenty-six students have benefited from the One of our dearest friends, Gerry Yell, grandfather of Scholarship fund. several Old Ratcliffians although not an Old I am very grateful to all those wonderful friends Ratcliffian himself, had also tragically lost his life in a who have contributed to car accident around the make this into such a great success. I am also grateful same date, but some ten years earlier. I asked his for all the help and support from the Ratcliffe staff and widow, Marlene, if she would like to join forces with us caterers. Thanks must also and do something in their go to Gay Pepper, mother of joint names. The more I Jenny Pepper (06) for her thought about it, the more help with all the decorations, I realised that the ‘Opera and to Mrs Warwick for by Candlelight’, which I had creating the programmes Performing in the Old Library Register online at www.ratcliffanassociation.co.uk 51