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The Old Ratclifan 2014 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2014 | Obituaries The Old Ratclifan 2014 | IntroductionThe Old Ratclifan 2014 | Obituaries T Mark Francis Gould Peter Casson Old Ratcliffian 1958 - 1963 Old Ratcliffian 1957 - 1963 February 18th 1945 - January 16th 2014 October 1st 1945 - February 6th 2014 Mark Francis Gould was born on February 18th 1945 After Ratcliffe, Peter went to Imperial College in London, at the Claremont Nursing Home, Sheffield. He was the taking an Engineering degree, and then onto a series of second son of Mr and Mrs Thomas William (Bill) Gould Management Consultancy firms, ending with McKinseys (33). He was educated at Westbourne Preparatory School, in New York. From there, he became a Board Member of St Wilfred’s Primary School, De La Salle Grammar School, US Steel, before starting his own company in California, Ratcliffe College and Sheffield University (School of commuting from Chicago. This company made advanced Dentistry), where he graduated in 1968. circuit boards for esoteric uses, including down-hole drilling in the oil industry, surgery and, less palatably, use in Mark worked as a Junior Houseman and then as a Dental missiles. Associate before joining the practice in Sleaford, where he worked from 1973 until he retired on health grounds After decades of glittering business success, Peter had in 2004. He built up a fine reputation as a meticulous, some tough financial times in 2008 and lost control of his caring and professional Dental Surgeon, also working one company. Friends sought to help fund his fight through the day each week as an Assistant Orthodontist at the Boston courts, but he was up against some very well-organised Pilgrim Hospital. predators and was eventually overwhelmed, losing everything. Mark and Pat were married in 1974, moved to The Cottage in Leasingham and there raised their four children, Clare, It was a tragic end to a great career and a great guy. Paul, Alice and Henry, who are now grown up and have ‘Music Lover’ - Trips to Cathedrals for organ recitals, to His first family (his wife, Wendy, his son, Peter, and their own children (Mark’s grandchildren). Tewkesbury Abbey, a love of singing along to Tom Lehrer his daughters, Emma and Sarah) remember him fondly, and, in his youth, Irish folk music. At one time, he was also writing in a Chicago magazine of ‘a loving father, avid Mark was, in many ways, a ‘model citizen’, being involved sportsman, and driven businessman who, over the course with, and active in, the local school’s Parents’ Association, a real Tina Turner fan. of innumerable life lessons and experiences, taught his helping with Duke of Edinburgh groups, the local Cycle ‘Bon Viveur’ - Having shot the pheasants and partridges, children to always put their best foot forward, to try their Club, Rotarians, and he also shot with a local syndicate. they would be eaten, with fine wine and family and guests hardest in every endeavour, to have a good sense of to accompany them (and, if you were honoured, a glass Having been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, he or two of his finest Armagnac to finish you off!) Then, Peter Casson died at his home in Chicago on February 6th humour, and to love one another always’. retired, and many things in their lives changed. However, suitably ‘oiled’, the book The Lure of the Limerick by WS this year. He was one of Ratcliffe’s stars, playing in the 1st Among other ways of demonstrating his support, Peter he and Pat managed to travel extensively, from Antarctica Baring-Gould (no relation) would be brought out. His other XV, the captain of the Boxing Team, a keen cricketer and a would always turn up at their soccer games, incongruously to Iceland and many points in between. However, as favourite gatherings were the ‘family and friends’ barbecues student of great academic success. He starred in numerous wearing his Ratcliffe rugby jersey, complete with colours. the illness progressed, the travelling gradually reduced at The Cottage. With plates piled high with varieties of school plays, including Ratcliffe’s then regular, if eccentric, until, like many things in the last eighteen months, that cooked meats, salads of different sorts and lots to drink, a performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Previously, Peter is also survived by his second wife, Anne, and their too became impossible. He died at Gosberton House on good time would be had by all. he was at Grace Dieu for three years, and was followed at daughter, Fiona. January 16th with Pat and the family beside him, fortified Ratcliffe by his brother, Jeremy (71). Gerard McCloskey (64) by the prayers of the Church. ‘Compassionate’ - Whilst on a Baltic cruise, a passenger became seriously ill and needed a blood transfusion. Theirs What of Mark the man? was a rare blood group, so a call was put out on the ship’s Conservative, Catholic, Capitalist, traditional, cerebral, tannoy. Fortunately, there was one person on board who David Moore and sometimes a little Victorian in his attitudes - when not only had the same blood group, but who, even though left alone, he would put the phone in a drawer, so as ill himself, was also willing to donate – Mark. Donate he Old Ratcliffian 1968 - 1973 not to be disturbed! He was a stickler for table manners did and the other passenger survived. and grammar, and the daily completion of the Telegraph However, in case you get the idea that Mark was a saint, It was with great sadness that I heard of David’s sudden Although David was underage, being only 15, it was a crossword. death recently. shock for all the coaches there to see him fight his way it is also true that we ‘made’ gunpowder in the kitchen of All of the above would describe aspects of Mark, but he Meadowbank Avenue and nearly set the place on fire. He David, along with several of his brothers, was a student through to almost qualifying to be in the selected team. was also brave, generous, compassionate, competitive, also shot me in the arm with an air rifle, and before he of mine in the early 1960s at Grace Dieu, and later at He won his first two fights easily. His third fight was and had a keen sense of humour. He was a family man, a boxed for Ratcliffe, he practised on his younger brother! Ratcliffe College. He was an exceptional Judo player. against a recognised international player, and he threw sportsman, a bon-viveur, a speed-freak, and a music lover. Indeed, I’d go so far as to say he was one of the best young him for a full point, and then only lost out to another Below are some examples: I will remember Mark for his love (and admiration) for Pat talents that I have ever had the privilege to teach, and had international after holding him down for twenty seconds, and their family, which was manifest up to the end. I will he not sought a career in Medicine, he would undoubtedly but was then overturned and himself held down. It was a ‘Speed Freak’ – Experiences included ‘totalling’ his also remember his bravery. When given the prognosis of have made it all the way to the top in Judo as a world-class great day for David, and an even greater day for me. mother’s Austin A35, the Mini Cooper with a roll cage his illness, did Mark ever show any selfishness, anger or and Olympic star. I understand that David had a long and successful career which he rallied in Derbyshire, and the Reliant Scimitar aggression? No, he was resolute to the end, and that is as a Doctor in Braunton, Devon, and was loved by all. which he drove 9½ miles down the back roads of how I think he should be remembered. David attended many tournaments with me in the 1960s and Northamptonshire in ten minutes flat! However, it was not “Perhaps those, who, trembling most, maintain a dignity 1970s, up to around 15 or 16 years of age. He won a gold It is with great sadness that I find myself having to write just about cars - the need for speed was also translated in their fate, are the bravest; resolution on reflection is real medal every year at the country’s private schools tournaments, this tribute so early in his comparatively young life. God into his skiing (was he brave or foolhardy?) and, of course, courage.” - Horace Walpole and I shall never forget the day I entered him into the bless David, and my love and condolences go to all the it found its true outlet in cycling. Be it time trials or hill International Trials of The British Judo Association. He family. climbs, the need to go faster was ever thus. Did he really Bill Gould (66) shouldn’t have been entered, as he was underage - to qualify, Dr Colin Draycott need to go 200 miles on a charity cycle ride? Brother you had to be a ‘first kyu’, or ‘first dan’, which means you had Ex-Staff Member to be at least a brown belt or first black belt standard. 52 Register o 53 53 Register online at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uknline at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uk 52