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adventure playground for the local children, but we ended up We then spent an hour or so sitting on a wall, simply chatting
helping to build an extension for the nuns to live in, as they and singing.”
had to leave their lodgings outside the shanty. Despite some
language difficulties, we soon learnt to understand when the “I have obviously followed her life with much interest, and can
builder was happy and when he wasn’t! It was not all work, and fully understand her transition from Mother to Saint Teresa.”
we did get time to enjoy some of the many wonders of Rome.”
Another Old Ratcliffian, Eric Ciambra (79) added: “My mother
“I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to return a visited Mother Teresa in Calcutta about forty years ago. She did
few years later, and was really pleased to see that the work had not have an appointment, but as soon as she mentioned that her
not only been largely completed, but also extended to working boys attended Ratcliffe College, Mother Teresa appeared, and
directly with families living in the shanty. It was also good to see my mother spent an afternoon with her while attending to the
Fr Waters again, as well as some of the local youth who were still needs of the sick. They talked all afternoon. My mother said to
involved. However, by far my most vivid memory was hearing me a few years ago that she had never met somebody so humble,
the screaming of some very, very excited nuns running through so generous, and so courageous.”
the shanty, shouting, ‘Mother is coming! Mother is coming!’

REMEMBERING FAMOUS OLD RATCLIFFIAN

ACTOR PATRICK MCGOOHAN (44)

On September 5th 2016, the BBC
remembered the cult 1960s TV show The
Prisoner, starring Old Ratcliffian Patrick
McGoohan (44). It was fifty years ago, on
September 5th 1966, that the cameras
rolled for the first time in the pretty
Welsh village of Portmeirion, as filming
got underway for the 1960s adventure
TV show.

Patrick played the lead role of Number
Six, who is held captive in a mysterious
village where the residents are known
only by a number. Each week, he would
attempt to escape, only to find himself
unable to break free from those who held
him. But who were they? Why was he
imprisoned? Which side were his captors
on? And who was Number One?

Many of you may have noticed the jacket
with contrast edging that he wore in
many scenes (as seen in the picture,
right) – it was, in fact, his old Ratcliffe
Colours blazer!

Mike Sykes (46) recently wrote to the
Association in response to this feature
and said: “Well, doesn’t time fly! I used
to sit near Patrick in the Refectory, and
he was a great storyteller as far as I
remember, as was Ian Bannen (46) (star
of Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy and others).
Wasn’t I lucky!”
Patrick McGoohan (44) during filming, wearing his Ratcliffe blazer!

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk