News

'A' Level Results Day

Thursday, 19 August 2010

Ratcliffe College is very pleased with its A Level results, with a record number of students achieving a 100% pass rate.  Several students were delighted to be awarded straight A*/A grades, while 54% of the Year group achieved all A*/A and B grades in their three or four subjects.  Many students also obtained additional AS qualifications. 

1. Ratcliffe College
2. Number of students entered for A2 in 2010: 82
3. Number of A Level subjects offered in 2010: 23
4. Percentage of A2 courses passed: 100%
5. Percentage of A2 courses passed with EITHER an A*/A or B grade: 54%
6. Percentage of A2 courses passed with an A*/A grade: 34%

Headmaster, Gareth Lloyd, commented:

“I am delighted that, in my first year as Headmaster at Ratcliffe, Year 13 students achieved such a strong overall set of A Level results.  It has been a memorable year for this particular group in terms of their achievements in extra-curricular activities, especially sport, music and drama, and I am pleased that it has now been complemented by academic success.  We are especially pleased for all of our students who have obtained places at their chosen university.  Congratulations to students and staff!”

Gareth Lloyd,
Headmaster.

Old Ratcliffians' Announcements

Monday, 16 August 2010

Old Ratcliffians' Births, Marriages, and Deaths

One of the main functions of this website is to provide a source of information for the community of Old Ratcliffians. Please send in your announcements and they can then be put on the site.

If you have recently got married, please send some photos of the wedding and the names of any Old Ratcliffians in attendance.

If you have had a new addition to the family,please send in details and a photo.

If you know of any Old Ratcliffian who has passed away either a member of your family or a friend, please let us know. The resident Rosminian priest here at Ratcliffe nearly always offer Mass for the families of deceased Old Ratcliffians and,whereverpossible, we publish an Obituary in the annual edition of the Old Ratcliffian.

This is your website, please help populate it!

John Satterthwaite RIP

Monday, 14 June 2010

John Satterthwaite, who taught at Ratcliffe and Grace Dieu from 1963-1998, died on Saturday, 12th June. He will be particularly remembered as a charismatic, respected and loyal member of the College's teaching staff. All his working life was spent teaching at Grace Dieu and Ratcliffe. He instigated the teaching of History of Art and many Ratcliffians will have enjoyed happy trips to Italy and elsewhere in pursuit of Europe's fine works of art. He was Head of Art which then became Art and Design.

John died after a short illness. His two children, Ben and Rachel, and Father David Tobin, one of his close friends, were at his bedside.

 The funeral took place on Saturday, 26th June at Ratcliffe College.  The service was concelebrated by Father David Tobin, and Father Philip Sainter.  There were over 100 mourners including several teachers both past and present from Grace Dieu and Ratcliffe.  Also present were  3 past headmasters of Ratcliffe: Fr Austin Baxter, Mr Tim Kilbride and Mr Peter Farrar and representing Grace Dieu, Mr Charles Foulds, the current headmaster.

 John was buried in the Ratcliffe Cemetary with his late wife, Diana.

Party for the Princesses

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

Thanks to the generous offer of the huge marquee, erected on site at Ratcliffe for the Picnic Concert, the Pulford family were able to use it the next day to host a lunch in aid of the Tilinanu Orphanage in Malawi which Alice Pulford, (07), founded last year.

Over 600 guests were treated to a variety of entertainment from a Malawan band with dancers, to an Abba Tribute Band. A delicious lunch was served after which there was an auction at which Alistair Benton, chief auctioneer from Bentons Estate Agents, raised over £3000.

The event raised just under £16,000. With this money, Alice, with some of her helpers, (Hollie Stone (07) being one) is building a wall around the orphanage, thus giving more security for the 35 girls living there. She is also planning to expand the original building that she built last summer to create a new dormitory for the girls. The existing building will be extended to create a clinic and a classroom/workshop which will greatly benefit other orphans living in the village and the local community.

For more information and a gallery of images from the event, please visit the Tilinanu Orphanage website.

Patch Match 2010

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the death of Old Ratcliffian, Patrick Gamble (97) on 20th April 2000, a special golf day was organised at Rothley Park Golf Club on Friday 16th April..

Several Old Ratcliffians attended including Rob & Charlotte Hull, Sam & Guiliana Bird, Emma Mathias (nee Trusler) Andrew Espinasse, Jordan Price and several members of the Gamble family, far too many to list here.

It was a happy day, very well organised by Patch's sister, Events Manager, Alex Gamble. There were about 60 golfers and a dinner and dance for about 100 guests in the evening. It was rounded off by a special film of Patch's short life, after which there was not a dry eye in the house.

A memorial Mass was subsequently celebrated on Tuesday, 20th April, at Ratcliffe College. The Mass was concelebrated by Fathers Philip Sainter, Simon Giles and David Tobin.

Old Ratcliffian Reunion Weekend

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

Saturday and Sunday 26th & 27th June at Ratcliffe

This year's Reunion Dinner was attended by over 90 Old Ratcliffians with the classes of 2000, 71, 60 and 72 being particularly well represented.  The champagne reception was held on the front lawn in front of the beautiful Pugin building  with a piano accompaniment by two of Ratcliffe's talented pianists.

Father Michael Hill was over from New Zealand and joined the dinner.  There were guests from Ireland, Germany and Austria as well as many who had travelled from all over the UK.

 Gareth Lloyd and Paul Carter sang the Old Ratcliffians' song, accompanied by Katharine Lloyd on the piano.  The speeches were lively and interesting, and much appreciated by the guests.

The class of 2000 were shown their Leavers Video immediately after the dinner before leaving in the School Minibus to party the night away in Loughborough's best night club.  Thanks go to Shaun Walker for acting as taxi driver! The rest adjourned to the Old Ratcliffians Bar to enjoy more lively conversation.  The Bar was promptly closed at 1 pm.

On Sunday, after the Mass for Deceased Old Ratcliffians, the Council met for their meeting followed by the Annual General Meeting which was attended by new members Antonia Flockton and Abe Mee.  It was announced tha Bishop John Arnold, Auxilliary Bishop of Westminister, had agreed to take on the Vice Presidency of the Council this year and would be President in 2011 in line with the 40th anniversary of his departure from Ratcliffe.

It was a lovely sunny day and the Grand Match was uninterupted by the weather for the second year running.  Thanks again to Martin Foulds for organsing the Old Ratcliffians' team, which he has been doing for the past 40 years!  Unfortunately the College X1 hung onto the Trophy again this year as the match was declared a draw for the second year in succession.(Full report in the Old Ratcliffian.)

 A hog roast was laid on for those wishing to partake and many others enjoyed picnics around the cricket pitch enjoying the sunny weather.  Bro Nigel Cave did a tour of the College for those interested ( his knowlege of the history of the College and its buildings is unsurpassed) and at 3 pm the England v Germany football match was played on the big screen.  The result was not disappointing for all those watching - Bob Forstner (72) and his wife, Gerhild, who had travelled over from Stuttgart, were delighted with the result. 

Fr Eugene Monaghan

Monday, 07 June 2010

Fr Eugene Monaghan IC is seriously ill.  Father Eugene is an Old Ratcliffian, a Rosminian Priest, head of Music, and choir master.  He made a recording for Her Majesty's Jubilee in 1977 with a combined choir from Ratcliffe, Grace Dieu and Our Lady's Convent.  He is also author of "With Heart and Voice".

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Bernard Heffernan (74) RIP 1955-2010

Monday, 26 April 2010

Bernard died in New Zealand at 6.30 pm UK time on 20th April. (In NZ time 7.30 am 21st April). He bravely fought a five year battle with cancer.

He had emigrated to NewZealand some 23 years ago and he leaves behind him a daughter Briar (20 )and a son Joseph (13) and his caring partner Sharon.
He was at Ratcliffe from 1969 - 1974. His brother, Donal, also attended Ratcliffe and left in 1971.

Old Ratcliffian Makes Huge Donation to the School

Monday, 09 November 2009

The Peter Daley Bursarial Award

Old Ratcliffian, Peter Daley (1950 – 1956) has recently announced that he is to donate $630,000 to Ratcliffe College. This will generate interest to the sum of $21,000 per annum. Thus, when the scheme is in its seventh year, there will be seven students throughout the Senior School, one in each year who will benefit from Peter’s generosity. In the meantime whilst the scheme is being rolled out, the Headmaster will appropriate awards to students as he deems appropriate or support the boarding community in some material way.

Ratcliffe's New Father President

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Father David Tobin has been appointed by the Trustees of Ratcliffe College to become the new Father President. This appointment has been made by the Institute of Charity which owns the College,and specifically by Fr. Provincial, Father David Myers, at the request of the Trustees, and also has the full approval of the Board of Governors and of the newly appointed Headmaster.

In the long history of Ratcliffe College, there was a time when the role of Fr. President was, in effect, the role of the Headmaster of the College. This is not the case with the new appointment. The new role of Fr. President is entirely spiritual, intended to foster the Catholic Rosminian ethos of Ratcliffe in line with the principles that have contributed in the past to create the spirit of family and friendship, which is such a prominent and admired feature of life at Ratcliffe College. It is not, therefore, an executive role, but an advisory one, and one that is concerned with spiritual matters, not academic ones. His spiritual guidance will extend to the staff, parents, Old Ratcliffians, and Friends of Ratcliffe, so it will be all embracing.

The day to day running of the school as an educational establishment will remain in the capable hands of the Board of Governors, Headmaster and Management Team. They will enjoy the same authority and freedom as they have today.

On a wider note, Fr. President will also be fostering links with other Rosminian Colleges, world-wide, to find ways of promoting and enriching the educational and spiritual experience of students and staff.

Terence Alexander 1923 - 2009

Thursday, 11 June 2009

Terence Alexander (Wikipedia, IMDB) who attended Ratcliffe from 1933 to 1936 died having suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for the past number of years.

He became a household name after appearing in the TV series ‘Bergerac’ as Charlie Hungerford. This was however only a small part of a long and successful career on the stage, in TV and cinema.

The Landsdowne Club welcomes Old Ratcliffians

Monday, 27 April 2009

One of London's exlusive clubs in Mayfair offers reduced membership to all Old Ratcliffians from the ages of 18 to 24. The Landsdowne Club has had a long relationship with the Ratcliffian Association and provides a haven of tranquility beyond the rush of city life in the heart of Mayfair.

Ratcliffe Appoints New Head

Tuesday, 03 March 2009

Following the news that Peter Farrar will be stepping down as Headmaster in August 2009, the Board of Directors have recently appointed a new headmaster, Gareth Lloyd, who will take up office on 1st September 2009.

Mr Lloyd joins Ratcliffe from his current post as Senior Deputy Head at Kingswood School, Bath which, like Ratcliffe, is an HMC 3-18 co-educational boarding and day school, with approximately 1000 students. Prior to his post at Kingswood, Mr Lloyd gained senior management experience at Whitgift School, a strong academic independent day school for boys in London and had been Director of Music and a Housemaster at St Mary’s Ascot, one of the country’s leading independent Catholic schools for girls.

Peter Farrar leaves Ratcliffe after 10 years

Tuesday, 03 March 2009

It was announced at the beginning of the Autumn term that Peter Farrar will be leaving in August 2009 to pursue new challenges. The Governing Body are recruiting a new Head over the course of this term who will take up office at the beginning of the next academic year.

Patrick McGoohan 1928-2009

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

One of Ratcliffe's most famous old boys, Patrick McGoohan, died this week aged 80. He was one of the leading stars of British television in the 50's and 60's. In his career he received 3 Emmy awards and a Bafta award.

It was for his role in the 60's series "Danger Man" and the cult series "Prisoner" that Patrick McGoohan became a household name. He also appeared in the film Braveheart in 1995 in the role of King Edward Longshanks.

John Tierney 1934-2007

Sunday, 25 November 2007

Memories of ‘Daddy Dearest’

My father will hopefully be remembered as a raconteur, ‘bon viveur’, and lovable rogue. He would fondly recall his time at Ratcliffe, with the one exception being a dislike of cold baths. I believe this was a weekly thing, so clearly hygiene at Ratcliffe in the 1930s was somewhat questionable. I used to sit listening in utter disbelief at stories of beds being made and shoes being cleaned. Apparently, this was ‘all part of the service’. (My own boarding school experience at New Hall involved an hour of housework after breakfast every day, and shoe cleaning and bed making were also a major part of the curriculum. I honestly don’t think my father would have lasted a term.)

Rosmini Centre - House of Prayer

Tuesday, 05 June 2007

The Rosminian community at Ratcliffe College officially opened the Rosmini Centre House of Prayer on the aerodrome site adjoining the College in April this year. Father Antonio Belsito has done a fantastic job in creating a wholly spiritual environment within the Centre. This forms an integral part of the College by providing religious support to students and staff and by integrating the Rosminian ethos into the College. 

Patrick Marriott 1924 - 2007

Tuesday, 23 January 2007

It was in 1938 that Patrick wrote to his father who at that time was serving in Brazil, asking him if he could go to boarding school. He was at day school in Aldershot where the family lived. Back came the reply that he could go to any catholic school in the UK where the fees were not more than 36 guineas a term

At that time there was an advert in the Universe for Ratcliffe College with a picture taken from the bottom of the drive. Patrick wrote off himself for a prospectus, was duly interviewed by the then President, Father Cuthbert Emery, and he started as a pupil that September.