Page 46 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

Nick Jelley (01): “It’s been a good year,
both personally and professionally. We’ve
celebrated the arrival of Harper, our first
baby girl, and my gym in East Goscote has
OR NEWS high-intensity class facilities.”
been extended, with the addition of new

that we would all be able to share stories, Matt, myself, and Jac Hicks (guest). There
photos and anecdotes when we were was a 36-hole competition on Saturday,
literally spread across the globe?! This played as foursomes (Stableford scoring),
September, 20 of us gathered in London with match play on Sunday to decide the
for a long-overdue catch-up (above), final placings. Saturday’s scores led to
and the excellent turnout reflected the a third-place playoff between Ratcliffe Paul Sander (72): “In August 2012, I moved
strength of the bond and the spirit born and Ampleforth, and I am pleased to to Mexico, but this year, I moved back to
at Ratcliffe all those years ago. Those report that the OR’s pairings prevailed in the UK to take up a lecturing position
that attended were: Sam Spillane (née both matches, securing a creditable third at Teesside University. Shortly before
Murphy), Louise Marsden (née Bullen), place in our first year in the competition. leaving, Alexandra Mondragón Bravo and
Sebako Siame, Natasha Bilinski, Louise Framlingham were the overall winners, I were married (see page 57 for more
Jackson, Jo Linnett (née O’Connor), beating Eton with the final putt of the details). I met her in August 2014, quite
Natasha Faulknall (née Worth), Melanie day.” by chance, as she was visiting a neighbour
Abeysundera, Genevieve Clegg (née of mine in the small condominium of eight
Furey), Dan Bunnag, Terence Chan, Teddy houses where I lived. An instant friendship
Markham, Paul Ferguson, Alex Astwood, around British, classic, female writers
Paul Whitmore, Samuel Jesné, Christos was formed – a friendship that came to
Michaloudis, Simon Attewell, Ken Wong marriage via Chile and Germany, but that
and Sam Salia-Bao. Thanks go to Dan is another story. There were many reasons
Bunnag and Louise Marsden for making for us deciding to return to the UK, but
it happen (ably assisted by SJ Events!). perhaps the most acute was opportunity.
Given that 2021 marks our 30-year To contrast the cultures of Mexico and the
anniversary, our mission is to gather again UK would be an interesting, but lengthy,
to celebrate our milestone – although it is exercise, suffice it to say that, here in the
fair to say that, with the rekindling that has UK, we will have a freedom from fear. Don’t
taken place, there will be other gatherings Victoria Jordan (07): “It’s been a very be misled, though – there is a Mexico that
prior to that!” hectic few months for me. I got engaged is wonderful, fascinating, and culturally
on July 24th this year, and I’ve ended up and historically very rich. We are excited
moving away from Birmingham, where I’ve to be starting this new phase in our lives,
been living since I left Ratcliffe in 2007. I’m and our first impressions of Teesside are
now living with my fiancé in our new house very good.”
in Cosby, Leicestershire, and we’re hoping
to get married next year.”

Dominic Russell (79): “In October, Matt
Lomas (79), who is an Aldeburgh Golf Club
member, was invited to enter a team for a
public schools’ golf competition at the
club. The Dick Watson Trophy was played
for over two days and included the likes of
Eton, Oundle, Uppingham, Framlingham,
Gresham’s, Wellington and Ampleforth,
with a total of 15 schools represented. The
Ratcliffian team consisted of Jim West (77),

46 The Old Ratcliffian 2019