Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
Pictured below: The class of 1976 for their 40-year reunion! L to R: Damien Walmsley, Martin Fanning, Nick Hall, Kevin
Kavanagh, Frank Tierney, Paul Moore, Martin Wilson, Mark Buxton, George Prove, John Law, Stephen Walsh, and Ian Law
ASSOCIATION WORKING
CLOSELY WITH YEAR 13
One of the aims of the Association is to promote the
Association to Ratcliffe’s current students, so that when they
leave Ratcliffe, they are aware of the benefits which their
lifelong membership can bring to them after school. This is
a facet of the Association’s work to which both the President
and the Headmaster are passionately committed.
We held three events this academic year, the first of which was
the Sixth Form Social on the 2 nd March. This event is crucial,
since we are keen that our Sixth Formers get the chance to
meet Old Ratcliffians and socialise with them in an informal
and familiar setting. We therefore invite Old Ratcliffians to
come back to School and meet the current Sixth Formers for
an informal drink in the Ratcliffian Association Bar.
For those of a more
sporting nature, there
was also the opportunity
for girls and boys to play
5-a-side football; for
those who preferred to
just come for a drink and
a chat, the Old Rats bar
was open from 8.00pm.
A thoroughly enjoyable
pub quiz was won by
the Sixth Formers before
a Chinese feast was
delivered to satisfy our
hungry participants.
Ed Gamble (‘95)
RATCLIFFIAN ASSOCIATION
THE REUNION WEEKEND 8 th -10 th JULY
The Reunion Weekend ‘kicked off’, or should we say
‘Teed off’, with the Reynard Golf Trophy (see page 117).
ORs and Sixth Form footballers
Every year we always try to get an OR to come back and
talk to the Year 13 students about their time at Ratcliffe. This
year, Ed Gamble (’95), Director of CBRE, came in on 25 th
April, and shared his views on the importance of staying
in touch with Ratcliffe and the Association after they leave
School in July. Ed said, “Ratcliffe has made me who I am
today and has given me key disciplines that helped me
progress in my career.” He gave the students a light-hearted
but perceptive insight into his time at Ratcliffe and, more
importantly, stressed the opportunities that have developed
through the Association since leaving, not least in terms of
the contacts which he has been able to establish to benefit
his career aspirations.
The following evening was The
Ratcliffe Grand Summer Ball (see
page 121), the first event of its
kind for many years, where the
Association and the School worked
closely together to promote the
‘Ratcliffe 2020’ Appeal while also
using the event for Old Ratcliffians
to meet and socialise.
The next day was a wonderful
occasion with Mass for the deceased ORs, Cricket, Lunch
and Afternoon Tea! From 12 noon, members attended
the Ratcliffian Association AGM after which ORs headed
across the Fountain Lawn towards the marquee for a light
buffet lunch served alongside a delicious BBQ. Guests
enjoyed the warm breeze, while the cricketers prepared
for the match. As it was a fine summer’s day, the sides
of the marquee were removed to reveal
a wonderful viewing platform from
which to watch the Richard Hughes T20
cricket match. Children enthusiastically
welcomed the arrival of a bouncy castle
and were also treated to hand and face
painting. There was also a tour of the
School, where Old Ratcliffians could relive
their school days.
During the cricket
tea break, afternoon
tea was served in
the marquee; the
cricketers cooled
down (momentarily)
and guests mingled in the shade from the
warm sunshine, exchanging stories of their
days at Ratcliffe. The
cricket was won by the
Old Ratcliffian Older
Boys’ side and the
shield was presented
by newly appointed
Ratcliffian Association
President, Sam Bird (’90)
in the first of many of his
duties as President for
the 2016/17 year.
Finally, the 1976 Year leavers all joined
together this weekend for their 40-
year reunion; many had travelled,
especially from abroad, to join in these
celebrations. Some of them had not
seen each other since the last day
of school.
The final Year 13 event was a Leavers’ Mass and
Presentation of Gifts, where the President of the Association
and the Headmaster formally present Old Ratcliffian ties and
silver charms to the students as a sign of their passing out
from the School and admittance into the Association.
At the end of the day, students were invited to The
Woodman’s Stroke Public House for their first drink on
The Association to welcome them into the OR community.
Mrs A Slack
Executive Manager of the Ratcliffian Association
118
The Lunch
119