Page 4 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine
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4 INTRODUCTION
THE EDITOR’S COLUMN
It is with great sadness that I write my last Editor’s Column for the ALEXANDRA SLACK, THE NEW EXECUTIVE
Old Ratcliffian magazine. I started this column in 2007, having MANAGER OF THE RATCLIFFIAN
taken over from my predecessor, Sian Truszkowska. It was meant ASSOCIATION
to be a temporary job, but somehow, I am still here in 2015!
Ratcliffe has been such a large part of my life; my three children Alex joined Ratcliffe in the
and my brother were all educated here, and I was part of the
fundraising team for the 150th Anniversary of the College in Sixth Form and has a deep
1997. Even before that, I was part of a small committee of four,
comprising of Richard Gamble (64), the late Joe Massarella (54) sense of belonging to the
and Angela Murphy, wife of Bernard Murphy (67), which was
responsible for organising a biennial themed Summer Ball at school that her grandfather,
Ratcliffe, which became a regular fixture in the ‘80s and early
‘90s. father, brothers and uncles
However, I am sure that I will not be allowed to retire completely, attended. After Ratcliffe, Alex
as my daughter, Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03) has been
appointed by the Association to take over my post, and she will went to Leeds Metropolitan
start here in January at the end of her maternity leave.
University, where she gained
a First Class Degree in
Events Management. She
has subsequently worked in
the events industry, both in
London and the Midlands,
finishing up as the Corporate
Fundraiser for LOROS,
Leicester’s hospice. She is
really looking forward to
Alex Slack (née Gamble) (03) the new challenge and, in
particular, helping to engage
younger Old Ratcliffians. She is full of new ideas and will, no
doubt, give the Association a real shake up. Watch this space!
OUR PRESIDENT
Mike Meredith (89) has agreed to undertake two years as
President; his cousin, Fr Anthony Meredith (57) and Anthony
Jewell (54) are the only two other Presidents who have been
in office for two years. Mike has been a great asset for the
Association, benefiting from the wealth of his experience in
strategic business development. He has been the driving force
behind the survey sent to all Old Ratcliffians earlier this year to
gain more information about their views on the Association and
how it could be improved. Mike’s aim is to develop participation
in the Association across all age ranges, but in particular, the
under 40s. He has attended all the informal gatherings (known
as ‘Thirsty Thursdays’) in the Larrik Inn in London, enjoying a few
drinks with Old Ratcliffians. He is also a keen hockey player, with
a Double Blue from Oxford and Cambridge, and enjoyed playing
for the Old Ratcliffian side in the Thistlethwaite Cup in March. He
is not a bad golfer either, having won the Reynard Golf Trophy in
June. He has also helped me with the organisation of the London
and Yorkshire events, and the 150th Anniversary celebrations in
June. I would, therefore, like to pay tribute to him, thank him,
and wish him good luck with the rest of his time in office.
Jackie Bennett at the Past Presidents’ Dinner in October His successor, Sam Bird (98), will take over from Mike in July
with their gift to her next year. I know Sam very well, as he was in the same year group
as my son, Patrick (96), and was a regular visitor to our home.
He married an Old Ratcliffian, Giuliana Bird (née De Rienzo)
(98), having met at Ratcliffe as childhood sweethearts. Sam
Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk
