Page 23 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION EVENTS 23
Mike Meredith (89), as he was unable to attend. Philip also invited Gareth thanked the Archbishop and welcomed the Old
the Archbishop’s Private Secretary, Fr Dominic Cosslett, and his
parish priest, Fr Brian McGinley, as his personal guests. Now
that he is resident in the UK, the Very Rev Fr Anthony Meredith
(57) was also able to attend, along with his fellow Rosminians,
Fr David Tobin (59) and Fr Simon Giles (60).
Philip Jones spoke about the 150th Anniversary of the
Association and reminisced about the Centenary, which he had
attended in 1965, and the 150th Anniversary of the College in
1997. He then introduced the Archbishop to speak on behalf of
the guests. Having been a student for the priesthood in Wonersh,
the Archbishop remembered Fr Anthony, who was then the
Director of the Rosminian seminary at Derryswood. Later on, as
a parish priest in Epsom, he referred to the Giles family, whom
he knew very well, as they were in his diocese. As a music scholar, and everyone agreed that the Association should return there
he also had much in common with Gareth Lloyd. He said that
the Bishop Elect of the Nottingham Diocese, Monsignor Patrick
McKinney, had come from the Archdiocese of Birmingham, and
that he was sure that Ratcliffe and the Old Ratcliffians would get
on very well with him. The Archbishop was wearing the Pectoral
Cross, which was worn by one of his predecessors, Archbishop
Maurice Couve de Murville, at the Birmingham Dinner for the
150th Anniversary of the College in 1997. He paid tribute to the
Rosminian order and congratulated the Ratcliffian Association
on its 150th Anniversary.
Vikki Heath, Katharine Lloyd Patrick Clarke (69), Richard Gamble (64) David Simmons (74), Archbishop Bernard
& Michael Heath (56) & Michael Clarke (67)
THE RATCLIFFIAN
ASSOCIATION LEAVERS’
SOCIAL
WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH 2015
Introducing the current Sixth Form to Old Ratcliffians as part
of their social induction into the Ratcliffian Association is an
important part of the programme of events for the Association
during the school year. As part of this, Graham Sharpe and Jackie
Bennett organised an informal evening of football, followed by a
Chinese takeaway in the comfort of the newly-refurbished Old
Ratcliffian Bar, to which the current Sixth Form were invited,
along with some local ORs. This proved very popular with the
students and ORs alike, especially as all the liquid refreshments
were on the house!
Ratcliffians to the dinner, saying that, whenever he met ORs
across the world, they all seemed to have the same DNA and
values of respect. He said that the School motto, ‘Legis Plenitudo
Charitas’, underpins everything at Ratcliffe. Gareth went on
to say that it had been a fantastic year for the College, from
the opening of the new Preparatory School by HRH The Duke
of Gloucester in March, to the recent ISI schools inspection, in
which Ratcliffe gained an ‘Excellent’ rating in every category.
This is extremely rare, and he praised his teaching staff. Gareth
also gave special thanks to Richard Gamble (64), Chairman of
Governors, for his outstanding contribution and support.
The food was excellent, as was the wine, which Philip Jones
kindly sponsored. The Opus Restaurant was an excellent venue,
for their next dinner in 2017.
Those in attendance were: Archbishop Bernard Longley, Gareth
Lloyd, Katharine Lloyd, Fr Anthony Meredith (57), Philip Jones
(59), Vikki and Michael Heath (56), Nicholas Tomlinson (56),
Patricia and Peter Deeley (59), Fr David Tobin (59), Fr Simon
Giles (60), Fr Dominic Cosslett, Fr Brian McGinley, Stephen
Moorhouse (68), Teresa and Richard Gamble (64), Maggie and
Jeremy Knight-Adams (65), Michael Clarke (67), Patrick Clarke
(69), David Simmons (74), Jackie Bennett and Alexandra Slack
(née Gamble) (03).
Longley & Fr Anthony Meredith (57)
L to R: Andrew Espinasse (98), Sam Clemons (98), Sam Bird (98) & Rob
Hull (97) with Graham Sharpe
Enjoying a game of ten-a-side football
Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk