Page 34 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

THE REUNION LUNCHEON

SUNDAY 30TH JUNE 2019

EVENTS With almost 120 Old Ratcliffi ans being eager to return to the School with their families and friends, tickets ans being eager to return to the School with their families and friends, tickets
With almost 120 Old Ratcliffi
for this y
for this year’s Reunion event sold out completely! After Mass in the College Chapel and the Ratcliffi an ear’s Reunion event sold out completely! After Mass in the College Chapel and the Ratcliffi an
Association Council’s A
Association Council’s AGM, OR leavers from 1954 to 2009 attended a barbecue and buffet luncheon, GM, OR leavers from 1954 to 2009 attended a barbecue and buffet luncheon,
held in a marquee on the Front Lawn at Ratcliffe.
, having taken over the
Hosting the event was newly ‘chained’ Association President Ben Jackson (88), having taken over the
at the AGM earlier that day. Ben welcomed the guests and thanked
presidency from Emma Wright (94) at the AGM earlier that day. Ben welcomed the guests and thanked
Fr Philip
the Association team for their hard work in putting the event together. He then handed over to Fr Philip
Sainter (69), who said grace, before everyone was invited up to the barbecue and buffet to choose their
meals. During the luncheon, guests were treated to performances by some of the College’s talented
musicians, with pupils from Years 9 to 11 ably demonstrating their skills.
The annual Grand Match, which saw the OR cricket team take on the College’s 1st XI, was played on
the cricket pitch, with guests invited to spectate in between courses and, afterwards, from the newly
refurbished Ratcliffi an Association Bar and balcony of the state-of-the-art Fitness Suite.
With the Reunion marking the Class of 1979’s 40th anniversary, a large contingent attended,
organised by Steve Clark (79). They not only wished to mark this signifi cant anniversary of leaving the School, but also
to remember their classmate Mark Bunce (79), who was killed in a motorbike accident whilst studying for his
A Levels at the College 40 years ago. Gathering together on the night before the
Reunion for a curry in Leamington Spa, the group were in good spirits. Wearing their
Mark Bunce pin badges (designed by Tim Wilson (79), who also features on page 44 of
this magazine) and donning brown curly wigs in remembrance of Mark’s mop of curly
brown hair, the group gathered around the piano, played by Brian Deady (79), for a
singalong to ‘Rocket Man’ and other favourites. Steve Clark said: “Thank you to the
Association for organising such a wonderful event, which I know all of the 1979 gang
really enjoyed. It really was 40 years since some of us had seen each other, and it was a
memorable occasion indeed.”

34 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019