Page 70 - Old Ratcliffian Magazine 2019

RATCLIFFE’S PAST

40 YEARS SINCE THE SOUTH WING FIRE

It
It is an incredible 40 years since a devastating fi re broke out, on 14th May 1979, in the South is an incredible 40 years since a devastating fi re broke out, on 14th May 1979, in the South
Wing of the College, with lessons just fi nished for the day, but all boarders still present on nished for the day, but all boarders still present on
Wing of the College, with lessons just fi
site. With this year’s Reunion Luncheon being made up of many of those who were present, ear’s Reunion Luncheon being made up of many of those who were present,
site. With this y
conversations were had about this dreadful day and how those residing at the College at the y and how those residing at the College at the
conversations were had about this dreadful da
time dealt with the situation.
(Father President at that time)
In October 1979’s Ratcliffi an magazine, Fr Baxter (38) (Father President at that time)
wrote that the blaze was fi rst seen a few minutes after 5pm. He recalls how successful the
wrote that the blaze was fi rst seen a few minutes after 5pm. He recalls how successful the
evacuation was, with the staff able to say that everyone was accounted for by 5.10pm. He
evacuation was, with the staff able to say that everyone was accounted for by 5.10pm. He
recalled how Br Belt’s Fire Team valiantly operated their pumps, although the hoses were not
recalled how Br Belt’s Fire Team valiantly operated their pumps, although the hoses were not
strong enough to reach the heights required. He wrote: “It was an anguishing time, because
5.15pm was the most diffi cult moment for the fi re engines to reach us through the rush hour
traffi c, and we could only stand and watch the fi re grow in size.” He added: “By 7pm, news
of the fi re had spread through local radio, and many members of the domestic, catering
and linen room staff came in from Sileby and other places to help until late into the night.
We were inundated with offers of help from friends, parents, Old Ratcliffi ans and senior
citizens living nearby; indeed, the amount of goodness and helpfulness shown by so many
people was one of the outstanding and moving features of the fi re period.”
Eric Ciambra (79) recalled: “We were all very fortunate that the fi re took place during the
day. If it had been at night, it could have easily resulted in fatalities or injuries. From my
memory, the fi re spread very quickly. The fi re trucks could not get up the driveway, as the
cement bollards on there were too narrow for them to get through. The fi remen had to
destroy them before addressing the fi re. I remember going back inside, up to the dorms,
to make sure that no students were asleep or unconscious. Smoke was already very
present, and you could hear the fi re. It was a long time ago, but I do remember a student
being up there, unaware of the danger that he was in.”
Nick Wright (79) recalls the fi re taking place whilst he and a group of his classmates
stood on the cricket pitch (over where the scoreboard is now), watching the fl ames. He
said: “We were teenage boys – we watched, but I don’t think we realised the dangers that
were present.”
Steve Clark (79) had a more amusing story to tell. He said: “I probably have one of the
most embarrassing stories, because I was actually in the shower block down by the Music
Hall entrance to the main school. When the fi re alarm sounded, it meant that I was forced
outside by the cricket pavilion with the rest of the school, wearing only my dressing gown
and a towel! As the fi re raged in front of us, I heard that my room had also been burnt out.
Due to my attire, or lack of it, a local reporter from the Leicester Mercury was drawn to
me like the proverbial moth to a fl ame, whereupon I bemoaned my lot at having only the
possessions that I stood up in! I have been ribbed about this ever since by my classmates!”
Teresa Flower (79) said: “We were all present during the fi re. A group of us stood on the
lawn and watched it. I think it may have been Jonny Anwyl (79) and a couple of others
who alerted the boys in that wing and told them to get out, as they hadn’t seen the
fi re. The story at the time was that the area was being redecorated – someone had left a blowtorch on a
window frame, and the wood had smouldered, catching fi re. We watched the fi re even before the trucks arrived. We all went home for
about three weeks. My A Level results weren’t good, but I had my books to revise with, so I can’t really blame the fi re specifi cally!”
By 9pm, the fi re was largely under control, but St Joseph’s, St Michael’s, and half of Our Lady’s dormitories had been gutted by the blaze.
St Anthony’s dormitory, the art rooms, all of the rooms on the priests’ corridor facing the cricket fi eld, and the Fourth and Fifth Form
recreation areas were quite unusable for a long time, as the water had caused havoc there. The following morning, Fr Baxter announced
that half-term would begin immediately, with all pupils being sent home, or to stay with friends or relatives, until the previously stated
half-term period came to an end.
Architecturally, the 1979 fi re was undoubtedly the most devastating event in Ratcliffe’s history, due to the extent of the damage, both
physically and in the disruption it caused to the College and its residents. Still to this day, it is a regular topic of discussion for those
visiting Ratcliffe, particularly when touring the Lockhart Garden, where the effects of the rebuild are clear to see.

70 The Old Ratcliffi an 2019