Page 20 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

COLLEGE NEWS NEWS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

BACKGROUND
RATCLIFFE 2020 APPEAL
The Ratcliffe College Foundation is a registered charity
The Ratcliffe 2020 Appeal began in 2016, and throughout the
fi rst phase of the appeal, we concentrated on raising support
(No. 1144450) run by the Development Offi ce. We work alongside
the College and the Ratcliffi an Association to maintain strong
links with Old Ratcliffi ans, parents and friends of the School.
The Sports Appeal made a signifi cant contribution towards the
Our mission is to provide fundraising to assist the growth and for Sport and Fitness at Ratcliffe.
building of the now completed Fitness Suite and Studio. Donors
development of Ratcliffe College, keeping it at the forefront of and those who generously assisted with the appeal video were
independent Catholic education in the UK.
invited to the opening event of this superb new fi tness complex
Ratcliffe is committed to continually investing in its facilities and on Thursday 27th June 2019, which was opened by Olympic
resources, in order to enrich and enhance its exceptional teaching triathlete and current Ratcliffe parent Tim Don, and blessed by
and deliver an outstanding 21st-century education. Furthermore, Fr Philip Sainter (69).
central to the ethos of the School is the belief that deserving We continue to receive support for the Sports Appeal through
pupils should have access to a Ratcliffe education, regardless of ongoing, regular donations, such as monthly standing orders,
their social background or their families’ fi nancial circumstances. and through our annual Golf Days (see page 43 for more
To preserve this proud tradition, Ratcliffe will continue to provide details). Sport and Fitness will be an ongoing area for support,
means-tested bursary places, both now and well into the future.
as we endeavour to build upon our sporting facilities and
Fee income provides for the day-to-day running of the School. nurture our home-grown, talented sporting students.
Beyond this, the College continues to benefi t from the generosity
of a committed network of alumni, current and former parents and
friends of Ratcliffe.

A DONATION WITH A DIFFERENCE

Old Ratcliffi an Tim Livesey (81) visited Ratcliffe recently, with a view to fi nding a suitable way to remember his late uncle, Joe Massarella
(54), who played a big role in Tim’s life. Joe also played a signifi cant role at Ratcliffe, being part of the 1st XV Rugby Team whilst at the
School. In the late ‘70s and ‘80s, he also refereed many 1st XV matches at the College, always retaining his neutrality (if sometimes with
a wry smile!). Later, he served as President of the Ratcliffi an Association, from 1982 to 1983.
After some consideration, Tim chose to have an original Robert ‘Mouseman’ Thompson chair made and inscribed with Joe’s name and
the dates he was at Ratcliffe. Most importantly, he wanted to donate the chair as a lasting legacy to the rugby captain each year. The new
chair was received by the College in the Autumn term, and it was then announced to the whole school in the Headmaster’s Assembly, in
the presence of the current rugby captain, Alex Bown (Year 13).
The chair will have its place in the Refectory amongst the original ‘Mouseman’ chairs and tables. These were purchased back in 1936,
thanks to an appeal to Old Ratcliffi ans by Fr Emery (04), who was Father President at the time. Donors were given the opportunity
to have their initials and dates inscribed into the chair backs, and the appeal raised £600 – the equivalent of nearly £39,000
in today’s money.

Tim was delighted with the end product, and he hopes that he can start a trend for other Old Ratcliffi ans with sporting captaincy history
to do the same for their chosen sports. He said: “I am very grateful to the School for allowing me to donate this chair in memory
of Joe. He was very, very fond of Ratcliffe, and I know that he would be honoured to be
of Joe. He was very, very fond of Ratcliffe, and I know that he would be honoured to be
associated with the captain of rugby in the way that he is now. Thank you.”
If you would like more information on this, or any other ways to donate, please
contact Andrew Yell, at ayell@ratcliffecollege.com.

20 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019