Page 50 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

OR NEWS

RATCLIFFE REVISITED

We have been very pleased to welcome when we used to pour water on the hard twice! Andres and his family thoroughly
the following Old Ratcliffi ans back to the ground in the winter and slide on the ice!” enjoyed their visit. He and his partner
School this year: The brothers also met the newly appointed were particularly interested to hear about
bursar, Chris Bellamy. Having held the the College’s development since Andres’
Adam Rudd (88) returned to Ratcliffe position of bursar himself from 1961 to schooldays and the opportunities that
on 12th March 2019, having not been 1964, John was keen to meet Chris, and Ratcliffe offers to its students.
back for 30 years. Association Secretary they discussed how much the role must
Katherine Lang gave him a tour, and he have changed, with there only being
shared some memories of his time spent as 240 boys at Ratcliffe during John’s time.
a boarder, the CCF, and several members John added: “It was fascinating to see the
of staff. Adam’s father, Paul Rudd (60), College after so many years.”
had previously sponsored a chair in the
Refectory, which Adam and Katherine took
the time to fi nd. Adam said: “It was great
to see a little of the School, and I hope to
come back again with my children. I know
that they would love to see all the places Eric Ho (92) visited Ratcliffe with his
that they’ve heard about in my tales of family in August this year, during their trip
schooldays past.” to the UK from Hong Kong. Andrew Yell,
Ratcliffe’s Development Director, took him
on a tour of the School. Eric said: “It felt
so wonderful to be back at Ratcliffe after
almost 30 years, bringing back so many
happy memories from my schooldays. I
Francisco Sardi (66), accompanied by his was very grateful to Andrew for his warm
wife, Victoria, and older brother, Jorge welcome and for showing us around. The
Sardi (59), visited the College on 27th School has expanded a lot, with many new
June, after spending the morning at Grace blocks of buildings, a new indoor swimming
Dieu Manor, where both men were also pool and a gym centre. It’s great to see
students. Development Director Andrew how well Ratcliffe has turned out. I would
Yell (82) gave them a tour of the College, love to see both of my daughters become
and Jorge was thrilled to see the relief map Ratcliffe students in the near future. I will
of Leicestershire which he helped to make defi nitely come back to visit…again, again
when he was at Ratcliffe, which still hangs and again!”
in the Geography Department today. In
October, Francisco and Jorge’s brother,
Two Old Ratcliffi an brothers, Fr John (53)
and Tony Bland (54), returned to Ratcliffe Andres Sardi (65), also visited the College,
to view the newly completed Lockhart with his partner, son and daughter-in-law.
Garden, combining their visit with a spot During his visit, he told countless stories of
of lunch with Fr Ted Mullen (60) and Fr his student days, many of which involved
David Tobin (59). John and Tony took a some mischief on his part, much to
stroll around the garden, and they were everyone’s amusement. He recounted how,
both extremely impressed with the layout on year group photo day, he had taken his
of the space, noting how much it had place on the far right-hand side of the
changed since their time at Ratcliffe. John group, and, whilst the photographer had
said: “I was delighted to hear that the panned his camera along the assembled On 2nd March 2019, Andy Magee (90)
Lockhart name had been restored, and students, Andres had run around the tied in a return visit to Ratcliffe with a trip
I was very impressed by the garden. The back to the far left-hand side of the up to Leicestershire for his son’s rugby
space has been transformed – I remember group, therefore appearing in the photo fi xture. Mike Sleath, a current teacher,
50 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019