Page 45 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine

OLD RATCLIFFIAN NEWS 45

In 1950, the year after leaving school, Laura Warren (née Middleton) (03): Archbishop, John Dew, to be run by
Martin Middlebrook (49) fell in love with “Lots of exciting things have happened the Holy Spirit Fathers (SVD). The SVD
Anne, a young girl of seventeen from in the last two years. I got married last is a missionary order originally formed
Boston in Lincolnshire. He had intended to summer down in Dartmoor, Devon, to my in Germany, but many of their priests
marry her, but was called away on National husband, Damian. We met in a climbing now come from the various countries of
Service. Whilst he was away, someone and mountaineering club whilst studying Southeast Asia. Those in our parish are
else had stolen her affection, and he at Nottingham University, and we have Vietnamese and Korean. I still drive my
came back to find that she was engaged. now been together for nine years. Damian own car and I am a volunteer driver for
Martin went on to marry another lady is an officer in the Royal Engineers and, the ‘Meals on Wheels’ scheme, delivering
from Boston, Anne married her fiancé, therefore, since finishing university, we hot meals from the hospital kitchens to
and both had families. Martin’s wife died have lived in multiple locations in the UK people in one of the other suburbs of
in May 2014 and Anne’s husband died five and have spent quite a lot of time apart. Lower Hutt. I do this every Tuesday. For
weeks later. An intermediary put them in We are currently living near Sevenoaks in a time, I was driving meals to a different
touch with each other, and they are now Kent while Damian is working in London. I suburb on Mondays as well, but I found
both living happily together in Cavendish work as a Languages teacher at a Catholic two days a week was a bit too much for
in Suffolk. Martin is a close friend of Mike girls’ boarding school in Surrey; however, me. Currently, I am following the progress
Harden (50) who lives in Boston. Mike I am currently on maternity leave, having of the Ratcliffe Spitfire project with
lost his leg in Korea and is still suffering just given birth to our beautiful baby girl, interest, as aviation has been a keen
from this. Martin and Mike both travelled Juliet Alba, in October.” interest for all of my life; I was at Ratcliffe
on the same train when they were when the ATA were using the Aerodrome
called up for National Service in 1950. Laura Warren (née Middleton) (03) & her next door in their work of moving military
Martin would have gone to Korea with husband, Damian aircraft around Britain for the RAF. Both I
Mike, who became a second lieutenant, and other boys who were interested used
but for Martin’s colour blindness. He Jan Chudzynski (62): “After leaving to spend some of our spare time lined
was transferred from the Infantry and Ratcliffe, I went to the CEM in London up along the boundary fence looking at
finished up as a second lieutenant in and qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. aircraft parked on the other side, and
the Royal Army Corps, serving with ‘No Having worked predominately in the watching the movements of aircraft in
Distinction at All’ in the Suez Canal Zone, London residential market, but with a and out. This included one instance of
at Aqaba, Jordan’s only port on the Red knowledge of Polish, I went to Poland a twin-engine aircraft - I think it was
Sea. Martin became a military historian in 1991 to open Pizza Huts and KFCs, an American-made ‘Maryland’ - which
and has written sixteen books, from the petrol stations and supermarkets, and attempted takeoff, but the starboard
First World War to the Second World War, joined JLW as a partner. In the early undercarriage leg collapsed before flying
meeting many interesting people and 2000s, I joined a UK developer and built speed was achieved; the plane swerved
visiting many interesting places. out warehouses. I am still involved in a across the field in front of us, to the
semi-retirement role. I have met with sound of crumpling aluminium, before
David Tarimo (81): “Recently, I caught up a number of Old Ratcliffians, including disappearing down the slight slope (away
with Julian Coker (81) in Dar es Salaam. Chris Smith (63), David Phelan (62), from the Fosse Way) to end up on its
It was Julian’s first night in Tanzania, and Pat Morrissey (62), James Fletcher (62), nose, poking through the fence on that
he was passing through on his way to Ian (65) and Peter Wagstaffe (64). I am side of the Aerodrome.”
work on an exploration rig off the shore now living in Wimbledon with my wife,
of Tanzania, which has recently seen very having five children between us and eight Tony Ryan (41)
significant gas discoveries. By way of a grandchildren.”
career update, I have been appointed Paddy Scannell (62): “I am returning
Country Senior Partner of PwC Tanzania Tony Ryan (41): “I am, I believe, one of home to the UK in June 2016 after
with effect from July 2014. I also see other the oldest ORs. My 93rd birthday was in spending ten years working in the
Old Ratcliffians based in Dar es Salaam, October, and I am still ‘in good working Department of Communication at the
including Mark Stanley, Alex Hughes (née order’. I live alone and fend for myself; University of Michigan. It has been a
Jansen) (82), Christel d’Mello (83) and my wife died nearly five years ago, after wonderful experience working in a great
Wilfred Nyakyi (89).” sixty years of marriage. My local parish, American university, and I have enjoyed
earlier this year, was amalgamated with every minute of it. I am particularly glad
Julian Coker (81) & David Tarimo (81) at the three other parishes at the southern to have lived in America during the era
Dar es Salaam Yacht Club, just about to have end of Lower Hutt city, and these three of Barack Obama’s presidency. He will
a ‘sundowner’! have been assigned by our Cardinal

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