Page 42 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine

42 OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS
bespoke personalised gifts, ranging from
chopping boards, swings and welly boot
racks to iPad stands and coin stash trays!
We thoroughly enjoy working together
in our workshop and office, designing
our products, and the children love to
get involved, too. The work-life balance
is good; wine, the odd game of rugby,
family holidays and time with friends and
family keep me sane!”
Sophie Riley (15)
Sophie Riley (15): “In early August, I
began my ascent up Kilimanjaro, the
highest free-standing mountain in the
world, and the highest point in Africa. I
had decided to undertake this challenge
in aid of Love Support Unite (LSU), a
charity that not only founded the Tilinanu
orphanage, but which now facilitates
even greater, long-term, sustainable
changes throughout the local community
in Malawi. The reason I chose this charity
was because I had visited Tilinanu as a
volunteer in the previous year, and knew
that it was an organisation that really
focused on putting the money where it
was needed most. The trek was a total
of seven days’ hiking; it involved five
days’ ascending (which allowed you
to acclimatise) and then two days of
descent. Although I started the trek with
another group member, unfortunately, he
had to descend after two days, owing to
altitude sickness. So, after the third day,
I found myself walking alone with just a
guide. This certainly put me outside my
comfort zone, but I soon became adjusted
to mountain life and managed to get
into a routine, even if it meant waking
up at 6.30am every day. It was certainly
a different feeling being at such a high
altitude for that length of time, because
you could never move faster than a slow
walking pace. However, the most surreal
day, without a doubt, would have to be
the summit night. This involved waking up
at 11.00pm to have breakfast and then,
from midnight, walking for seven hours
in the pitch black, with only a small head
torch to see the way. Reaching the summit
is definitely one of the hardest, but most
Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk
rewarding, things I have ever done. I
would just like to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who has sponsored me so
far to complete the climb, as well as for
all the support I have received from the
staff, students and parents at Ratcliffe.
To date, I have raised an amazing total
of £1,360, and I hope to visit Malawi
next summer so that I can work directly
with Love Support Unite and have an
input into where the money is spent.
Complementing my own endeavours
to support LSU was Mr Lloyd’s 100
kilometre ultra-marathon at the start of
the summer holidays, so between us, we
have covered a fair amount of land!”
David Thistlethwaite (50): “The Arctic
Convoy Medal has been awarded,
posthumously, to Rex James Rothwell
(40). His daughter, Lucy, was presented
with it at an award ceremony in London.
Lucy and her two brothers were unaware,
until recently, that their father was
at Ratcliffe; the subject came up in
her conversation with Anne, David
Thistlethwaite’s daughter and Mark’s
(78) sister, who informed her of the
connection and said that ‘Dad could
sort out information’ for her. Dad duly
has, in conjunction with the fair Lucy,
and this demonstrates the value of
having the Ratcliffian magazines on the
internet. Well done to Ratcliffe and the
Association.”
Sir Anthony Holland (56): “I am now in
my second year at Heythrop College and,
thankfully, I finish next summer with a trip
to Rome. Canon Law has been a real eye-
opener, however, as to some processes in
the Church, and I recommend the course
to anyone who wants to add an MA to
their CV! I had a really great evening
at Ratcliffe recently for the 150th Past
Presidents’ Dinner. The highlight for me
was Gareth and Katharine’s duet from
Mozart’s Don Giovanni.”
Sir Anthony Holland (56) & Michael Coker (56)
Georgia Thorne (11): “I graduated from
Ratcliffe in 2011 and I now work as an
Account Manager at BMS Sales Specialists.
BMS is a sales recruitment expert with
a wide range of blue-chip clients and
national coverage. Established in 1990,
we operate in six specialist divisions,
offering a transparent, reliable and
dynamic service to both salespeople and
companies looking for them. At BMS, as
well as placing professional salespeople,
the BMS Graduate wing assesses and aids
the placement of graduates into sales
jobs. We work alongside big companies
such as Lindt, Red Bull, Ferrero, Avon
and Bidvest Foodservice. BMS Graduates
can help you to showcase your potential
- something that can be difficult to do
from just a CV. If this is of any interest
to Old Ratcliffians who are looking for an
exciting career in sales, please contact me
via the Ratcliffian Association.”
John Jolliffe (48) & Archbishop Peter Smith
Patrick Jolliffe (53): “John Jolliffe (48)
was presented with the Benemerenti
Medal by the Archbishop of Southwark,
Peter Smith, in November 2014. The
presentation took place at a special
celebratory Mass to mark the Diamond
Jubilee of the opening of the Church of
St Ambrose in Wye, Kent. The medal is an
honour awarded by the Pope to members
of the clergy and the laity for long and
exceptional service to the Catholic
Church. John moved to Wye in April 1966,
while working for Unilever, and involved
himself with the fledgling St Ambrose
Church, which is served from St Teresa
of Avila in Ashford. On retirement from
Unilever, he was appointed as Bursar at
Ratcliffe (from 1989 to 1991), during a
period of great change, leaving his wife,
Mary, sister of Adrian Balmforth (46),
to look after a now large family in Wye.
On his return to Wye, both he and Mary
continued to work tirelessly on behalf of
the church to ensure its successful and
continued existence.”