Page 21 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION EVENTS 21

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
EVENTS

THE LONDON CHRISTMAS
CAROL SERVICE
& DRINKS PARTY

THURSDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2014

The inaugural London Carol Service was held in the Church of The Old Ratcliffian Choir in full voice
Our Lady of the Rosary, Marylebone, by kind permission
of Fr Michael Johnston, the Parish Priest. As promised, The choir sang ‘Silent Night’ in four parts, which was no mean
Gareth Lloyd conducted a small but select gathering of Old feat, given that this was the first time they had met. Katharine
Ratcliffians, students and staff in the Old Ratcliffian Choir. The Lloyd sang ‘O Holy Night’, which left hardly a dry eye in the
accompaniment on the organ was by Ratcliffe’s Director of Music, house. This was a truly special service, and there have been
Edward McCall, who had also taken time out of his extremely several requests for a repeat performance next December.
busy schedule at the end of term for this very special event.
Gerard McCloskey (64), one of the small group of choristers, also Following the service, everyone retreated to the Larrik Inn next
gave a reading which he had selected, entitled ‘Christmas in the door, where glasses of mulled wine and canapés were served to
Trenches 1914’, which was a poignant reminder of the Centenary everyone, courtesy of the London Ratcliffian Club.
of the First World War.

THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY LONDON DINNER

FRIDAY 6TH FEBRUARY 2015

This year was another full house for the 150th Anniversary
London Dinner, which, for the twentieth year running, was held
in the beautiful and historical Crypt of the Rosminian-owned
Church of St Etheldreda’s in Ely Place, London.

After a few last-minute cancellations due to illness, 116 Old
Ratcliffians and their guests assembled in the Crypt. Gareth
and Katharine Lloyd represented the College, along with
Fr Ted Mullen (60) (Father President), Jon Reddin (Senior
Deputy Head), Henry Mellors (15) (Head Boy), Sally Croysdale
(15) (Head Girl), and the Ratcliffian Association Prefects, Phoebe
Allen (15) and Angharad Lloyd (15).

There was Mass beforehand in the Chapel, led by Fr Ted Mullen
and assisted by Fr Simon Giles (60). Other diners were to be
found beforehand in the extremely crowded Mitre pub next
door, as is the custom for this event, or in the Melton Mowbray
pub across the road. By 7.30pm, all the guests had assembled in
the Crypt to be welcomed by their President, Mike Meredith (89),
resplendent in his Chain of Office and Old Ratcliffian bow tie.

Peter Casartelli (56) proposed a toast to Ratcliffe and its President, Mike Meredith (89), celebrating the 150th Anniversary
Headmaster, to which Gareth Lloyd responded with his incredible
enthusiasm, outlining recent developments in the College.
Fr Anthony Meredith (57) proposed a toast to his cousin, Mike,

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk