Page 58 - The Old Ratcliffian 2013
P. 58
T
The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Obituaries
ultimately become Senior Partner for for his professional skills for a further always respectful of the game and
Birmingham of the firm in its final fifteen years. They also established countryside, and was enthusiastic
guise as Chesterton International. the Craft Centre and have run it company both on and off the peg.
In that time, he was established as successfully for twenty-five years. To those he encountered, Freddie
the man to go to for industrial and Freddie was an accomplished and was warm, generous and engaging.
commercial property in the Midlands.
generous sportsman. For many In short, he was a gentleman and a
He founded and was the First years, he played cricket with the professional. He was incapable of
Chairman of the West Midlands Midland Marauders, a team which guile. He commanded instant and
Branch of the Industrial Agents’ matched his blend of on-field skill lasting trust. He had a strong moral
Society and he became the British with off-field comradeship. He was code, founded on faith. Although he
President of the International a lifelong golfer and was particularly loved to talk, he was really a doer,
Property Federation. On his so-called proud to have been elected Captain relentless until the job was done.
‘retirement’, he and Joy set up their of the Royal Institution of Chartered
own firm, Darlinson Dyer, which was Surveyors’ Golfing Society. Probably Matthew Reeve (81)
a runaway success. This continued his greatest passion, however, was Son
as a means of satisfying the demand his shooting; he was an elegant shot,
Clifford Della Porta
Old Ratcliffian 1941-43
Past President 1978
April 12th 1927-September 12th 2013
In working out how to portray Dad’s he was a man of committed faith and
life, it became very clear that it’s devoted to his family.
impossible to detail its achievements
and fullness in just a few paragraphs. Born in Wandsworth, London, on
Even if it were possible, he definitely April 12th 1927, Dad’s formative
would not have wanted me to, as Dad years were shaped by the Second
never sought the limelight, preferring World War. At an early age, he was
to accept responsibility when it was given the responsibility of looking
asked of him. after his two brothers, Gerald (49)
and Raymond (45), and sister, Gloria,
At eighty-six years, Dad was in full whilst his parents were fighting to run
health and struck down out of the blue the family business (Premier Drum,
on September 12th 2013. This came which Dad’s father, Albert, started in three brothers together, where other
as a huge shock to family and friends. 1922). During the Blitz in 1940, with schools would not. Dad was eternally
bombers overhead, Raymond was grateful; the burden of responsibility
He was ‘Clifford’, ‘Cliff’, ‘Mr C’ in placed on him from such an early age
the old firm, ‘Bill’ with his brothers, missing from the air-raid shelter. was now shared. During his School
and ‘Dad’ or ‘Papa’ to his ten Dad ran back into the house to find life, Dad spent many hours unseen,
grandchildren. What has been him looking up out of the window. quietly in Chapel; it was here that his
striking over the last few weeks is As he pushed him under the table, inner faith was nurtured.
the complete uniformity of messages a bomb exploded in a nearby garden,
coming to the family. They all had shattering the window. As two other For this, he spent his life giving back
the same theme, and that was that families had been lost in the street, to the School. He is a Past President
he was a man of kindness, who never Dad told Raymond never to tell of the Ratcliffian Association. He has,
had a bad word to say about anyone, anyone. for so many years, always been there,
nor did he judge people. When the London factory was gently encouraging and supporting
bombed, my grandfather had two the School and its Old Boys. During
Clifford did not have different sides; weeks to restart somewhere outside the 1980 fire at Ratcliffe, Dad was
he treated everyone equally, with the London. He settled in Wigston, the first to arrive to help and quickly
same warmth, the same smile. Any Leicestershire. Dad and his siblings set up rosters, getting boarders out to
duplicity lay in his many talents: as were evacuated from London, again nearby families and giving the School
an artist, a musician, an engineer. He with Dad given charge to look after time to organise things.
was a doer and driver of change, often them.
visionary, and saw way beyond what However, it was his quiet and
most people did at the time, with an Later, in searching for a Senior School, complete support for the Rosmini
exhausting determination to do the it was Fr Claude Leetham (15) here Order which he held close to his
very best job he could. But above all, at Ratcliffe who offered to take the heart. Dad committed himself to
understanding Rosmini’s articles
58
58
The Old Ratclifan 2013 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2013 | Obituaries
ultimately become Senior Partner for for his professional skills for a further always respectful of the game and
Birmingham of the firm in its final fifteen years. They also established countryside, and was enthusiastic
guise as Chesterton International. the Craft Centre and have run it company both on and off the peg.
In that time, he was established as successfully for twenty-five years. To those he encountered, Freddie
the man to go to for industrial and Freddie was an accomplished and was warm, generous and engaging.
commercial property in the Midlands.
generous sportsman. For many In short, he was a gentleman and a
He founded and was the First years, he played cricket with the professional. He was incapable of
Chairman of the West Midlands Midland Marauders, a team which guile. He commanded instant and
Branch of the Industrial Agents’ matched his blend of on-field skill lasting trust. He had a strong moral
Society and he became the British with off-field comradeship. He was code, founded on faith. Although he
President of the International a lifelong golfer and was particularly loved to talk, he was really a doer,
Property Federation. On his so-called proud to have been elected Captain relentless until the job was done.
‘retirement’, he and Joy set up their of the Royal Institution of Chartered
own firm, Darlinson Dyer, which was Surveyors’ Golfing Society. Probably Matthew Reeve (81)
a runaway success. This continued his greatest passion, however, was Son
as a means of satisfying the demand his shooting; he was an elegant shot,
Clifford Della Porta
Old Ratcliffian 1941-43
Past President 1978
April 12th 1927-September 12th 2013
In working out how to portray Dad’s he was a man of committed faith and
life, it became very clear that it’s devoted to his family.
impossible to detail its achievements
and fullness in just a few paragraphs. Born in Wandsworth, London, on
Even if it were possible, he definitely April 12th 1927, Dad’s formative
would not have wanted me to, as Dad years were shaped by the Second
never sought the limelight, preferring World War. At an early age, he was
to accept responsibility when it was given the responsibility of looking
asked of him. after his two brothers, Gerald (49)
and Raymond (45), and sister, Gloria,
At eighty-six years, Dad was in full whilst his parents were fighting to run
health and struck down out of the blue the family business (Premier Drum,
on September 12th 2013. This came which Dad’s father, Albert, started in three brothers together, where other
as a huge shock to family and friends. 1922). During the Blitz in 1940, with schools would not. Dad was eternally
bombers overhead, Raymond was grateful; the burden of responsibility
He was ‘Clifford’, ‘Cliff’, ‘Mr C’ in placed on him from such an early age
the old firm, ‘Bill’ with his brothers, missing from the air-raid shelter. was now shared. During his School
and ‘Dad’ or ‘Papa’ to his ten Dad ran back into the house to find life, Dad spent many hours unseen,
grandchildren. What has been him looking up out of the window. quietly in Chapel; it was here that his
striking over the last few weeks is As he pushed him under the table, inner faith was nurtured.
the complete uniformity of messages a bomb exploded in a nearby garden,
coming to the family. They all had shattering the window. As two other For this, he spent his life giving back
the same theme, and that was that families had been lost in the street, to the School. He is a Past President
he was a man of kindness, who never Dad told Raymond never to tell of the Ratcliffian Association. He has,
had a bad word to say about anyone, anyone. for so many years, always been there,
nor did he judge people. When the London factory was gently encouraging and supporting
bombed, my grandfather had two the School and its Old Boys. During
Clifford did not have different sides; weeks to restart somewhere outside the 1980 fire at Ratcliffe, Dad was
he treated everyone equally, with the London. He settled in Wigston, the first to arrive to help and quickly
same warmth, the same smile. Any Leicestershire. Dad and his siblings set up rosters, getting boarders out to
duplicity lay in his many talents: as were evacuated from London, again nearby families and giving the School
an artist, a musician, an engineer. He with Dad given charge to look after time to organise things.
was a doer and driver of change, often them.
visionary, and saw way beyond what However, it was his quiet and
most people did at the time, with an Later, in searching for a Senior School, complete support for the Rosmini
exhausting determination to do the it was Fr Claude Leetham (15) here Order which he held close to his
very best job he could. But above all, at Ratcliffe who offered to take the heart. Dad committed himself to
understanding Rosmini’s articles
58
58
