Page 62 - Hi Res - OR-2016

62 RATCLIFFE’S PAST

RATCLIFFE’S PAST

MOTHER TERESA’S VISIT TO RATCLIFFE IN 1970

Mother Teresa, who has recently
been declared a saint, visited
Ratcliffe on November 7th 1970.
With the help of Br Nigel Cave
(72), we were able to find out
more about this very special event.
This photograph (right) was taken
from the Ratcliffian magazine in
February 1971.

All of the students named in this
photo worked on the Roman
Shanty Project in 1970, which
included doubling the size of the
modest convent in the shanty
town, as well as constructing
several playgrounds in a three-
week period in the summer
holidays. All of the Ratcliffe
boys were at the end of their
Lower Sixth year when they were
engaged on the project.

Old Ratcliffian John Heaps (71), Front Row: John Heaps, Mother Teresa, her companion & Jerry Casson
said: “I can still remember a little Middle Row: Mick Fernandes, John Hains, Steve Fraser & David Brown
Back Row: Fr President, Fr John Morris; Ian Holmes; Andrew Pepper; the future Fr Jonathan Cotton (Notts.
of Mother Teresa’s visit; even Diocese); Fr Michael Waters, Head of Sixth Form & National Youth Chaplain
by then, she had acquired an
extraordinary global reputation for her work, so meeting her was John Hains (71) added: “Seeing the recent photo of Mother
quite an event. Fr Michael Waters (53), who was her Chaplain Teresa’s visit obviously brought back a number of memories
in the UK, had arranged both a trip to Rome and her visit to about her visit to Ratcliffe and my trips to Rome, but I must admit
Ratcliffe, and made sure that we were well briefed.” that I had forgotten about the taking of the photo, and, with
apologies, some of the others in the photograph! At least all are
“I remember rather better our trip to Rome - the appalling now identified!”
two-day train journey in an overheated and cramped carriage,
accommodation comprising of a sleeping bag on a concrete floor “As far as I remember, back in 1970, Mother Teresa was
in a school gym, the shock of seeing the deprivation of the shanty undertaking a national tour promoting a book about her and
town and its people, and the excitement of trips into Rome and her charity work, written by Malcolm Muggeridge and called
seeing another world close up. I recall with particular pleasure my Something Beautiful for God. Ratcliffe was not actually part of
first taste of pizza (as ‘foreign food’ in England in 1971 had little the tour itinerary, but Mother Teresa simply decided that she
more to offer than Vesta curry), sitting in the evening on the wanted to visit, so that she could personally thank those that
Spanish Steps watching the world go by, and less happily, the had worked with her nuns in Rome. Anyone who had the pleasure
barking orders of the Italian foreman on the building site. ‘Basta! of meeting her would know that this would not have been open
Basta!’ he shouted - and all we were trying to do was help!” to any discussion. She just arrived, and a few of us joined her for
some afternoon tea in the President’s Office. This was a friendly
“All in all, the trip was a real eye-opener, and it hopefully made and informal affair until her colleagues started making noises
a small, but significant, difference to a few lives. I have no doubt about her leaving, in order to get back on schedule. She simply,
that the shanty town, the convent and the playgrounds have and quietly, asked them whether Leicester Station had a waiting
long since been demolished, buried under a motorway or a new room! You just knew she meant that she would be happy to stay
shopping centre. While there is no lasting memorial, we all have there if she needed to.”
the knowledge of having made a contribution to Mother Teresa’s
work and having stood for a few short moments in the company “In terms of my first visit to Rome, it was a wonderful experience,
of a saint.” and a real eye-opener. The original plan had been to build an

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk