Page 64 - The Old Ratcliffian 2015 Magazine

64 RATCLIFFE’S PAST

RATCLIFFE’S PAST

THE 2015 SURVEY OF OLD RATCLIFFIANS

The Old Ratcliffian Survey was sent out by email to 2063 ORs in April of this year. We had a response rate of over 11%, with 239
people completing all or part of the questionnaire. We have collected some remarkably useful information about how people like to be
contacted and how they’d like to receive the magazine; all of this is useful for us as we continue to shape the Ratcliffian Association
events programme and work on how we share and collect information from our alumni. It will not be instantaneous, but we will be
working to deliver information more effectively as we move into 2016. We were astounded by the generous responses from those
who were happy to assist Old Ratcliffians and students with their careers, either by offering to become mentors or providing work
experience. Again, this is all wonderful information which we will be using as we progress next year. Included towards the end of the
questionnaire was a section asking people to share their memorable moments from Ratcliffe, to which some interesting and funny
answers were given. Some ORs remember the fire in 1976, whilst others recall memories of teachers who made an impact on their lives;
some share stories of sporting heroism, and others talk of fun activities and unusual events that you might not expect!

MEMORIES OF RATCLIFFE

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED WAS, “WHAT SIGNIFICANT
MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE OF YOUR TIME AT RATCLIFFE?”
HERE ARE SOME OF YOUR RESPONSES:

John Plumb (53): “Staying in the aircraft hangars on the airfield
during the Reunion Weekend.”

Mike Meredith (89): “I was singing ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ as
a duet with Gerard Ainsworth (89) at the beginning of the annual
Carol Concert. Spotting that we were nervous, Fr Monaghan (53)
took us, beyond usual limits, into the Staff Room and fed us both

a medicinal brandy.”

Brendan O’Reilly (72): “I was fortunate to be part of the Ratcliffe The fire in the South Wing in 1976
team that worked for Mother Teresa in Rome, and I was the lucky
one who met the Pope. I even have the photo to prove it!”

Brendan O’Reilly (72) meeting the Pope Mark Sloan (80): “The day of the big fire in 1976!”

James Della-Porta (82): “So many! Skiving Benediction on John Sweeney (57): “When I arrived at Ratcliffe from Kenya,
Sunday evening and being chased down by the prefects. I turned up with a snake under my arm, which I kept under my
Commander Marron was standing on the roof of his car, trying to bed in Our Lady’s Dormitory. Over the years, I came back from
identify us with a huge pair of naval binoculars, but we were one holidays with my parents in Kenya with many chameleons, which
step ahead, wearing stockings on our heads!” were (mostly) kept in the Biology Lab. I also set up a radio system
in the evening, using very thin motor armature wire, to send
Radio Luxembourg to other friends’ rooms, with the earth path
being provided by the metal radiators. We used World War Two
microphones and headsets to talk to each other at night over this
comprehensive network, before I switched in Radio Luxembourg.
What fun it was! I left Ratcliffe to study Electrical and Electronic
Engineering at Bath University, and I became Engineering
Director at BAE Systems!” (Sadly, John has died since sending
in his survey.)

Alan Oakey (69): “Having the privilege of being taught History by
the two best History teachers I have ever known - the late ‘Doc’
Orton and P Daniels, known as ‘PD’ to his Upper Sixth Class.”

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