Page 36 - The Old Ratcliffian 2012

T The Old Ratclifan 2012 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2012 | Old Ratclifan News music festival, Eisteddfod (in at the currently organising a meeting for Old down. All of the troop managed to deep end, running the onsite display Ratcliffan and Grace Dieu alumni, sprint for the fnish (sorry, chaps, screens by himself!) and then they along with their wives and children, to about the little porky I told about took him on once he’d fnished be held in Colombia in October 2013, the last bus being at 4pm!). Jesse university. He’s really enjoying it; he where, I assure you, your only risk will (of Jesse James’ Bunkhouse) was travels to European countries, has be wanting to stay!” Andres and his in fne fettle and so was his Scotch! met and worked with some ‘stars’ brother, Francisco Sardi (66), visited The food was up to Mark’s usual (including Elton John) and gets Ratcliffe in September when Andres high standard (and quantity)! The involved in different aspects of the was on a sabbatical in Loughborough Saturday evening was fnished off with various projects they undertake. to learn English. A few weeks later, a campfre, toasted marshmallows Andres invited a group of his Old and Simon on the guitar (check out Ratcliffan friends to join him for his video on Flickr). Sunday was dinner in the Quorn Grange Hotel. somewhat wetter and, as a result, we went for a stroll around Betws-y- Mike Reynolds (64): “I have now Coed, where we met up with David been retired for eleven years after Hay (82) for a cuppa and a chat. a full career of thirty-seven years in We came home with sore legs and the Army. I spend a good deal of my happy memories. Photos of our trip time as a volunteer and trustee of L to R: Bernard Murphy (67), a small water charity called ‘Just A are on Flickr (www.fickr.com/photos/ Jeremy Knight-Adams (65), Andres ratcliffescramblers/) - anyone who was Sardi (65), Mark Knight-Adams Drop’, which funds projects to provide at Ratcliffe from 1977 to 1982 can (63) & Chris Scotney (63) clean water, sanitation and health and also add their own School photos to hygiene training to small communities the Flickr account. If you’re interested Andres Sardi (65): “I was born in and schools throughout the world. in joining the Ratcliffe Scramblers on Cali, Colombia in 1948, and went The projects comprise, say, hand dug their walking weekends, just ‘like’ us to England when I was four years wells with hand pumps, rainwater on Facebook -www.facebook.com/ old. I entered Grace Dieu in 1958 harvesting from roofs and pit latrines. RatcliffeScramblers.” and then continued on to Ratcliffe It is really remarkable how lives where, in between larks and mischief, can be changed for so little money Basil D’Oliveira (44): “I am I managed to earn eleven O Levels - sometimes only £1 per head. You now fnishing off writing a semi- including, believe it or not, one in can see more of what the charity does autobiography, which I hope to have Religion. My days at Ratcliffe ended on our website, www.justadrop.org. ready for publication by mid-2013. unanticipatedly when I was expelled I get tremendous satisfaction from My programme for this venture was for a second time while in Sixth doing this voluntary work, probably recently upset because of having a Form, earning the unique distinction more than when I was pursuing mild stroke (on October 12th 2012) of being the only Ratcliffan to have and spending a week in the Acute been expelled twice! I then returned Stroke Unit. Fortunately, no damage to Colombia to study Industrial was sustained, but further cardiac Engineering at Los Andes University in checks will need to be carried out. Bogota, and later took a postgraduate I have been lucky to have enjoyed MSc in Industrial Administration at three separate careers. Firstly, some Carnegie Mellon University in the thirty-four years as a pilot in the Royal States. I worked some ten years on the Air Force. This included some twenty International staff of First National City years as a VIP pilot, during which time Bank of New York (now CITIBANK) Mike Reynolds (64) at the equator in I captained more than six hundred and was kidnapped by the Sandinistas Uganda and ffty VIP fights for many of the while managing their operations in world’s leaders on their global travels. Nicaragua. Soon after, I returned to my career. ‘Just A Drop’ has taken In 1955, I was awarded a Queen’s Colombia and founded Summa, now me to Chile, Bolivia, Niger, Kenya, Commendation for Valuable Service in Summa Bank, which represents many Uganda, Mozambique and Mongolia. the Air, and in 1970, an OBE. European multinational Corporations In between times I try to keep ft and (www.summasa.com). Forty-eight have just done the ‘Coast to Coast’ Secondly, I was seconded from the months ago, I suffered a stroke, but walk.” Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the other than leaving me with a speech Department of Transport (DfT) for two impediment, it did little to affect Colin White (82): “A great time was years as an Aviation Adviser to the me otherwise. I still enjoy riding had by the ‘Ratcliffe Scramblers’ - Secretary of State for Transport. For horses and motorbikes, and dancing Colin White (82), Paul White (81), the frst year, I was also the Head and partying as ever I did. My little Simon Grant (82) and Mark Loynton of UK Aviation Security, but as the group of around thirty friends from (80) - on the 2012 Snowdon trip. We security workload rapidly increased, Ratcliffe and Grace Dieu, including had good weather on the Saturday; it was found necessary to establish Richard Nieuwenhuys (64), David we even had glimpses of sunshine a proper aviation security branch. Gallagher (65) and Bernard Murphy (and visibility on the summit). We This was a high-level appointment, (67), has continued to stay in touch took the Miners’ Track on the way during which time I had direct access now for over thirty years. I am up and the Pyg Track on the way to Ministers whenever required. The 36 36