Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
Joining us:
Our New Alumni Manager
Mrs Alex Slack (‘03)
Alex faces exciting challenges in this
fast moving world of technology and
with the increasing number of Old
Ratcliffians who are in touch with the Association each year.
Alex said: “I am very much looking forward to this new
challenge and to connecting with all Old Ratcliffians this
year and in the future. I hope to grow the Association and
encourage more members to interact with each other and
attend events. I plan to work closely with current students
to educate them in the ethos of the Ratcliffian Association
and the benefits which they can get from it on leaving
school, such as an alumni careers and mentoring network,
something which I aim keen to establish in the next year.”
DINNERS AND REUNIONS
A collection of Past Presidents
150 th Anniversary Past Presidents’ Dinner
The 150 th Anniversary of the Ratcliffian Association
celebrations finished last October with the Past Presidents’
Dinner, held in the School at the start of the half-term break.
Guests were serenaded by Headmaster, Mr Gareth Lloyd,
and his wife, Katharine, who sang an impromptu operatic
duet from Don Giovanni to great acclaim from all present.
The London Carol
Service and Drinks
The 2015 Carol
Service was held in
the Church of Our
Lady of the Rosary in
Marylebone, London.
Headmaster, Gareth
Lloyd, conducted the
Old Ratcliffian Choir,
accompanied on the organ by Ratcliffe’s Director of Music, Mr
Edward McCall. Fr Ted Mullen (’60) led the service with help
from Bridget Lavin (’89) and Head Boy, Declan McAuley and
Head Girl, Ololade Mosaku. Following the service, everyone
retreated to the Larrik Inn next door where drinks and canapés
were served, courtesy of the London Ratcliffian Club.
Joining us:
Our New Vice President
of the Association
Sam Bird (‘98)
Sam Bird left Ratcliffe in 1998 and
married an Old Ratcliffian, Guiliana
De Rienzo (’98), having met at
School as childhood sweethearts.
He has taken over from Mike
Meredith (’89) who has done a
fantastic job in post for two years.
Sam is the youngest ever President
of the Association at the age of 36, but his youth belies his
experience and maturity. Sam has been a regular attendee
at Old Ratcliffian events since leaving School and is a keen
member of the Old Rats’ Rugby Team. Sam is a Chartered
Surveyor working in Leicester.
The London Dinner
Eighty Old Ratcliffians
and friends attended
the annual dinner on
Friday 5 th February, which
took place in the historic Crypt of the Rosminian-owned
St Etheldreda’s Church in Ely Place, London. Guests were
led beneath the church and welcomed into the Crypt for a
drinks reception. For
those that have not
been to The Crypt
before, one guest
this year described
it by saying:
‘The setting was
wonderful, lending
an ambience to the
occasion that really
evoked memories of the cloister and corridors of Ratcliffe
(well, with a bit of imagination helping things along!)’
The Hong Kong Drinks Event
On the 24 th February, a group of Hong Kong-based Old
Ratcliffians met for drinks with Headmaster, Mr Gareth Lloyd,
and Old Ratcliffian and Development Director, Mr Andrew
Yell (‘82). The two school representatives, who were in Hong
Kong as part of a marketing and recruitment trip to the Far
East, gave the ORs an update on what is new at Ratcliffe and
filled them in on the exciting developments which are taking
place at Ratcliffe College. The drinks event was held at the
Renaissance Harbour View Hotel in Wanchai.
Annual Rosminian Retreat
Held in the Rosminian Centre on Friday 1 st April and hosted by
Fr Binu, eleven people attended the Annual Retreat for the full
weekend and six more joined them on Saturday. The retreat
is a chance for Old Ratcliffians and their family and friends to
enjoy the tranquillity of the Rosminian surroundings, meet new
friends and to open their hearts and minds to the Catholic
teachings, and for some, to re-affirm their faith.
SPORTS AND SOCIAL EVENTS
The Ratcliffian Sports Day
Three sports were represented this year at the annual
Ratcliffian Sports Day: Hockey, Netball and we welcomed
back Football.
We had over 80 participants including ORs, Staff, Parents,
guests and students all playing their part, either coaching,
playing or watching. It was a fantastic atmosphere and the
sun shone.
The ‘Sue Roberts Netball’ results were first in and the
students’ fitness, skills and young age gave them a winning
score: Ratcliffe 47, Old Ratcliffians 17.
The ‘Thistlethwaite Mens’ Hockey’ results followed and the
School had another victory, but the Old Boys certainly put
up a fight and it was a very close game: Ratcliffe 2, Old
Ratcliffians 1.
Finally, the ‘Halley Football’ match finished last because they
ended up playing an 8-a-side friendly against the School
and the players were having so much fun that they did not
want to leave the pitch! The Old Boys finally took victory in
this friendly match.
The Taylor Mixed Hockey
This is annual event where a mixed OR team take on
the 1 st XV. ORs were welcomed back to the School
on an Indian Summer’s day. The game was very
close but the School won 4 goals to 3.
Golf
The ORs have had 3 matches this year with a variety
of ORs playing in the different games.
Governor and Golf Social Secretary, Abe Mee (’92) ran all
three matches, the first being the Midlands Public Schools
Old Boys’ Golf Match at Luffenham Heath Golf Club. The
competition was a real challenge, with 36 holes Betterball
Stableford played off the White Tees on a course being
prepared for Open Qualifying.
The Old Stamfordians were the winners on the day but
there was not much between them and the rest of the field
consisting of the respective Old Oundelians, Loughburians,
Wellingburians and Ratcliffians.
Pictured with ruddy, weather-beaten faces are Michael
Meredith (’89), Donal Heffernan (’75) and Abe Mee (’92).
The next match on the 19 th May was The Ratcliffian
Golf Shield where ORs play Staff and Students. The Old
Ratcliffians won this year against the School. However, the
best pair, Declan McAuley and Jack Hancock (both students),
were an impressive 6-under
handicap over the 11 holes
and were only in Year 13!
Finally came The Reynard
Golf Trophy on Friday 8 th
July and the twenty Old Rats
were treated to a glorious,
sunny afternoon at Rothley
Park to contest the 40 th Reynard
Trophy. Abe Mee came third
with 33 points, while Declan McAuley and Jack Hancock,
now recent leavers (’16) both scored 34 points. Declan had
scored one more point on the back 9 so triumphed in his
first appearance. Declan was presented with the Trophy and
a fabulous school shield to commemorate the victory.
ORs v Staff & Students
Cricket - The Grand Match
On Sunday 3 rd July, the College took on the Old Ratcliffians
in the Grand Match, basking in glorious sunshine, in stark
contrast to the majority of the weather during the term.
As usual, the Old Boys
batted first but were soon
in trouble with big guns
Freddie Bainbridge and Ben
Shaw dismissed cheaply.
Wickets continued to fall
regularly until the innings
closed on 100, with Toby
Smith taking 5-42. The
1 st XI never looked in any
trouble, chasing down the
total for the loss of only two
wickets and plenty of time
to spare, reclaiming the trophy they relinquished
a number of years ago. Well done to the School!
RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
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