Page 48 - The Old Ratcliffian 2012

T The Old Ratclifan 2012 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2012 | Obituaries Cavill (William Francis Cavill) Lowish Old Ratcliffian 1946-52 20th September 1935-14th December 2011 Cavill moved to Ratcliffe from Grace the rest of his life and was later joined Dieu in 1946 and was later joined in the business by his son, Bill (81). by his brothers, John (58) and David He and Ann had five children and (56). Although his sisters Josephine were wonderful parents, creating a and Frances did not go to the School, very happy, lively home. Over the they got to know many Ratcliffians. years he also delighted his children by Cavill enjoyed his time at Ratcliffe, arriving home with the most amazing happily admitting that he enjoyed the things – a donkey, a roadman’s social and sporting aspects more than caravan, goats, a steam roller and, Ann died. Ann’s death was difficult the academic. He was in the rugby incredibly, a hovercraft! for Cavill to come to terms with but, and cricket teams and good at most He was a kind and decent man with despite that and the difficulties of sports, especially tennis and boxing. a mischievous sense of humour and progressive Parkinson’s disease, he He was also an excellent horse rider. a twinkle in his eye. He never had a always retained his sense of humour. After Ratcliffe, he spent two years bad word to say about anyone, treated He died peacefully in hospital on 14th doing his National Service, spending everyone equally and loved to make December 2011 and his funeral was time in Germany. He then went to people happy. He was a generous, held in the parish church that he and work in British Columbia, Canada, and sociable and contented man who Ann had attended for over forty years. while there he married Ann, whom loved to be with friends and family. In The large number of people, of all he had originally met in Lincoln. In addition to their five children, Cavill ages, inside and outside the church 1960, they returned to England for and Ann had fourteen grandchildren at his funeral was a testimony to his Cavill to run the family farm in North and two great grandchildren. popularity and his gift of friendship. Lincolnshire. He continued to farm for In 2004, Cavill was diagnosed with Kate Jordan Parkinson’s disease and, in 2009, Daughter James Sheppard Old Ratcliffian 1978-81 James Sheppard tragically died in Moscow after a short illness on 27th January 2012, aged forty-seven. The funeral took place on Friday 10th February at St Barnabas Cathedral in Nottingham and Fr David Tobin (59) conducted the service. Other Old Ratcliffians who attended were Andrew Yell (82), Frank Radcliffe (83) and Greg O’Connor (83). Alix Sheppard, James’ sister, said of him: “He was by no means a model student. In fact, far from it – James could usually be found in the thick of any trouble and practised a rigorous academic avoidance strategy. He did, however, finish his O Levels, and went on to gain a degree from Nottingham Trent University, going on to work in the field of Commercial Property Management. He became a specialist in the field by becoming one of the first British property managers to establish themselves in Moscow, Russia (which, in the early 1990s, was still a dubious place to be a Western businessman). However, he thrived; his direct approach and confidence (gained in part from his Ratcliffe friends, James was ‘always in a hurry’. He had his time at Ratcliffe) won him respect and he was sought to be the first at absolutely everything, and the best. He is out by global corporations to manage their interests in missed greatly by his friends and family - he was a great Moscow.” person with a great character, a tough guy to do business “He met and married Inna and they have two beautiful with, but a gentle heart.” children, Daniel and Emily (now nine and seven) who Jackie Bennett greatly miss his influence and love. In the words of one of Editor 48 48