stonyhurst association N e w s l e t t e r

Newsletter 300 AMDG ma r c h 2 0 1 0

1 stonyhurst association francis xavier scholarships N e w s l e t t e r

The St Francis Xavier Award is a new scholarship being awarded for entry to Newsletter 300 AMDG M A rch 2010 Stonyhurst. These awards are available at 11+ and 13+ for up to 10 students who, in the opinion of the selection panel, are most likely to benefit from, and contribute to, life as full boarders in a Catholic boarding school. Assessments for the awards comprise written examinations and one or more interviews. contents in this issue Applicants for the award are expected to be bright pupils who will fully participate in all aspects of boarding school life here at Stonyhurst. St Francis Xavier Award holders will automatically benefit from a fee remission of 20% and Diary of Events 4 thereafter may also apply for a means-tested bursary, worth up to a further 50% From the Chairman 5 off the full boarding fees. Page 13: 2010 marks the 400th anniversary The award is intended to foster the virtues of belief, ambition and hard work Congratulations 6 of the death of the College founder, Robert which Francis Xavier exemplified in pushing out the boundaries of the Christian Parsons SJ, which will be celebrated on faith. We believe that a Stonyhurst education can give young people a chance to Correspondence April 29th (see p. 12). Joe Egerton calls for a reassessment of his life and work. emulate St Francis and become tenacious pioneers for the modern world. & Miscellany 7 If you have a child or know of a child who would be a potential St Francis Xavier candidate in 2011 then please do get in touch with our admissions department on Reunions & Convivia 11 01254 827073/93 or email them at [email protected]. Fifty Years ago 12 Page 15: The Special Relationship Charities News 26 David Mercer investigates the close links Zimbabwe 28 between Stonyhurst and the original In addition to providing a full record of all the activities and achievements of the latest school year, each issue of The Stonyhurst Magazine contains the obituaries thirteen American states. of around twenty OS as well as a number of fully illustrated articles on a wide Pilgrimages 28 range of topics, each with a Stonyhurst connection. In the 2009 edition, these include: Lourdes 29 • The amazing story of how a small fragment of tartan in the museum has been adopted as the uniform for girls at SMH and in Lower Line (see cover picture). Annual Dinner 30 Page 21: Mysteries of Light • The two-hundred year history of the building known as Shirk and its recent complete refurbishment. Books & Classifieds 31 Anthony Eyre describes the stained glass windows of the Lady Chapel in St Patrick’s • The events leading up to Thomas Weld’s generous gift of buildings and land Cathedral, the masterpiece of Paul in 1809. Published by the Woodroffe OS • Part 1 of a two-part article on the cigarette cards that have featured either the Stonyhurst Association College or its former pupils. Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe Lancashire bb7 9pz If you are not already a subscriber you can purchase a copy by sending a cheque Tel: 01254 827043 for £10.00 (payable to ‘Stonyhurst Magazine’) to: The Editor, The Stonyhurst Email: [email protected]. Magazine, Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9PZ. www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Page 25: Seeing is Believing Editor: David Mercer ([email protected]) Hilary Moriarty, wife and mother of OS, writes about the unique resources offered by Cover: Signing the Declaration of Independence, 4th July 1776, (oil on canvas) painted c. 1817 by John Trumbull (1756-1843). © Stonyhurst Association Charles Carroll is on the back cover, seated and turning around. the Stonyhurst collections Photo © Boltin Picture Library / The Bridgeman Art Library diary of events chairman’s report Details will be published on the web site (www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/association.shtml); email [email protected] with any queries christopher page

March 11th April 29th June 26th hope, like me, you look forward to ing light, notwithstanding the changing circumstances; the arrival of the Newsletter. It is always an there is much in a modern Stonyhurst education which Dublin Dinner Parsons Anniversary Lourdes Training Day in London extraordinarily fragrant pot pourri of articles, and this we would all find familiar, and which bears fruit in ways President Barry O’Driscoll will attend Mass and Social in Brixton. See page 12. isI no exception. which would not surprise us. It is heartening to have just an Association Dinner in Dublin on The Catholic Association is organising been to the 35th Poetry Banquet, which means that the Thursday 11th March in the Kildare St May 1st-2nd a Preparation Day for both experienced As always, it reflects our history. This time we go right children’s holiday must be at least that old. Through the and University Club at 7.30pm. Tickets and new helpers, on Saturday 26th June back to our origins, with the 400th anniversary of the 1985 Reunion, Stonyhurst College website one can keep tabs on the all the different are priced at €50. Please inform of any in the Parish Hall of the English Martyrs death of our founder, Fr Robert Parsons S.J., a shadowy special diet at the time of booking. Please A reunion for those who left in Church, 142 Rodney Road, Walworth, activities that are going on in the College; through this figure about whom I hope we will learn more as the year contact John Green, 00353 87 2592538, 1985. To book email the Association London SW17 1RA. The morning Newsletter we can see what members of the Association progresses, and whose life and death we and the College [email protected], Amber Hill, Office or contact Victor Fauvelle at session from 11.00am – 1.00pm will be are up to in their adult lives. Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow, if interested. [email protected] for experienced helpers to review the will be celebrating in a number of ways. We have a Spouses and guests are most welcome. previous year and collect ideas for this provoking dissertation regarding the American Carrolls, A request: this is intended as a Newsletter, and for that May 9th year. All new volunteers as helpers, in what we might call our “middle ages”. That leads to to work, we do also need your news and your letters. March 12th are strongly encouraged to attend Association AGM and Anthony Eyre’s fascinating and beautifully illustrated Our Editor, David Mercer, does a wonderful job collating the afternoon session from 2.00pm – Jesuit Schools Concert, Committee Meeting 5.30pm, which will provide information article about Paul Woodroffe, literally illuminating information about us all, but that is often done third St Ignatius, London At the College on Sunday 9th May at about the work involved in looking Stonyhurst’s links with New York through stained glass hand. We are puzzled that we do not hear more from you Massed choir of 300 voices, orchestra of 11.30am. Please note that the AGM after assisted sick pilgrims. There will windows which have inspired our Pope amongst many directly, so the Committee is looking at ways of improving pupils and teachers. 7.00pm at St Ignatius Agenda and the Report and Accounts be an opportunity to complete all the Church, Stamford Hill, London n15 6nd. others. As to our modern history, although I am not sure information flow through the use of the website, Facebook, will now only be published on the necessary CRB forms at this time. Tickets £10 (concessions £5) on the door. that two past Presidents and current President would year group representatives and regional contacts. Please website in accordance with the rules. like to be thought of as historic, it is good to see them contact the Association Office yourselves, send us your July 3rd April 22nd represented in the team photographs of 50 Years Ago! news, your thoughts and indeed any articles that you may May 16th 1984 Reunion Lunch, Westminster Cathedral think are of general interest. Stonyhurst But the Newsletter also celebrates a living community. Choir at Stonyhurst Stonyhurst Pilgrimage Births, deaths and marriages, snippets about peoples’ careers However, I must emphasise again that the Association Trust, Trustees Meeting Lunch in the Cricket Pavilion, followed Westminster Cathedral Choir will once and Lourdes Reunion, by a game of cricket, hopefully in the and interests, all illustrate a thriving community, revolving does not set out to be nostalgic, introverted or self- again perform a concert on Thursday at Stonyhurst sunshine! If you would like to take part around, derived from, or in some way associated with serving; we know that if it is to have any purpose, it must 22nd April at 7.30pm in St Peter’s Church. please contact Edward Macey-Dare at: the College. It is interesting to have the comments of Mrs go beyond the bounds of a domestic, school relationship; Entry will be by complimentary tickets May 28th [email protected] which can be obtained from Katherine Moriarty, the wife and mother of OS, giving her up to date we know that if we only love those that are close to us, we Walker on 01254 827093 or email at Great Academies views and impressions of the College. have not really begun. Our Church and July 31st [email protected]. Champagne Reception She mentions the fact that there are girls our education demand that we look Feast of St Ignatius as well as boys. For any of you who have beyond those close relationships, that Jesuit Alumni/ae Masses will be held at th th not visited the College in the last decade, we transform our whole awareness April 24 – 25 : see details on page 31 Farm Street and at St Wilfred’s, Preston. you will find other massive changes. The into an understanding of the truth of Check the website for times. pupil body is made up of a greater mix community and communion which Sporting Weekend at the College August 20th – 27th than has probably ever previously been Comment on is the heartbeat of our faith and of The annual Sporting Weekend will take place at the College, and there will be the case; day children and boarders, girls this Association, treating all people, Lourdes Pilgrimage contemporary issues rugby, soccer, cricket, golf, hockey and netball played. If any OS would like to play and boys, UK and non UK, Catholics and particularly the less privileged, as if in a team, then please contact the Wanderers’ representatives whose details are Reports from around th th non Catholics, those staying for five or they were within our family, speaking below. On Saturday evening there will be a buffet supper in the Top Refectory, October 9 /10 ten years and others only coming for a the world up for them, working for them, and all those who have played will be welcome to attend, along with the pupils 1994 Reunion, and staff who have been involved. year or two. It poses current challenges Insights and inspiration on wherever and whenever we can. Stonyhurst for the College about which I hope theology and scripture, faith So I commend to you the various Rugby: Marco Vaghetti [email protected] A reunion for 1994 OS. Please email the over the next year we will hear more Soccer: Rob Eatough [email protected] Association Office, or contact David and life articles within this Newsletter which with their development plans. It also Cricket: Richard Drinkwater [email protected] Scott at [email protected] show what our members have done in poses challenges for the Association in Golf: Paul Harben [email protected] t h i n k i n g fa i t h the past, and are doing in the present, Hockey & December 15th the future, which your Committee is but I also challenge you to consider Netball: Rachel Ward [email protected] grappling with. The online journal of the North West Convivium British Jesuits what we should be doing in the future. There will be a Carol Service in the Richard Drinkwater will be co-ordinating the event and can be contacted at Through all of these aspects there College Chapel at 6.30pm followed by [email protected] [email protected]. www.thinkingfaith.org light refreshments in the Top Refectory. remains a golden thread, an unchang- 4 5 lives in Dubai. He is married to Amy and congratulations they have a daughter, Laila born in 2009. correspondence & The Editor welcomes your news and contributions, which should be sent to him at Rory 92-2000 also won a scholarship, [email protected] lives in London and has his own IT miscellany Right: Liam Aye Maung OS 87-01 company. births was married to Helen Ferguson at St have a stormy reception: it is a comic/sa- Caroline attended St Mary’s, Ascot. Duarte Saldanha OS 97-2000 and his Michael’s Church in Heighington, tiric take on a group of bumbling English wife, Diana had a son, Lourenco Maria, County Durham. Jona­than Bletcher The grandchildren performed a short jihadists, who in their ludicrous attempts on September 16th, 2008. OS 96-01, Matthew Fegan OS 96-01, concert of hymns and songs for her in to build bombs reveal all too clearly their Khalil Kseib OS 96-01, James Maitland the Boys’ Chapel where Fr Wareing gave simple human frailties. (http://warp. Sally and Jeremy Noseda OS 77-82 had OS 96-01, Robert Eatough OS 96-01, a blessing. net/films/four-lions). twins, James Henry and Richard Charles, Nicholas Moore OS 96-01 and Rory on 14th April, 2009. Their baptism took “The arrival of the latest Stonyhurst Ma­ Bolderson draws attention to Morris’s Malone OS 96-01 were present. place on 13th February 2010 at the church bene merenti ga­zine,” writes Anthony Fry OS 68-73, Stonyhurst upbringing, and interestingly of Our Lady and St Philip Neri, Kirtling, Liam is currently studying at Liverpool “with a cover of pupils in a far greater asks if the school was something against conducted by former College Chaplain, School of Tropical Medicine and will John and Rosalind Hartley (OS 47-53) state of cheery good humour than I which he simply rebelled, or whether, Fr James Campbell SJ. then move to Sydney, Australia to work have been awarded the Bene Merenti ever remember as the winter months more subtly, it provided “an environment m a lone 100th birthday in Emergency Medicine with a view to medal by the Pope in recognition of their set in over Pendle [see inside front cover], in which an innately contrary sense of Christopher Franke OS 88-93 and his doing humanitarian and disaster relief The Malone family held a 100th birthday life-long service to the Catholic Church. prompts me to report what well may be a humour could thrive”. Simon Armour wife, Claire had a son, Oscar John, on 3rd work. celebration for Mrs Edna Malone at the They were presented with the medal at a unique double – in becoming a member OS 72-80 contributed to the programme, December 2009, brother to Sophia. College recently (below). She used to visit special Mass in their local parish church of the BBC Trust late in 2008, Stonyhurst recalling the scrapes Chris would get On the 6th June last year Timothy the College regularly for Mass and later of St Werburgh in Staffordshire. alumni now hold positions both as Direc- into with the many pranks he played, m a r r i ages Drake OS 68-76 was married to Emma when her grandchildren, Alexander, tor General, Mark Thompson OS 70-75, including one against the playroom bully Bleasdale at Farm Street Church by Fr Marcus Stemmer-Baldwin OS 85-90 Christopher and Rory attended SMH and on the governing body of the UK’s (who he?). Simon also recalled Chris Michael Bossy SJ. Tim’s twin brother married Jennifer Workman on 10th and the College, rarely missed a concert, in memoriam premier broadcaster and media corpora- joining him as bass guitarist and random Kieron, also OS 68-76, was best man, October 2009 at the Church of the prize giving or parents’ meeting. Her tion. With an apparently endless stream vocalist in his group “The Exploding and guests included Paul Hellegers OS Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, son Professor Andrew Malone and News of the deaths of the following OS of controversies the benefits of a rigorous Hamsters”. 71-76. Mayfair. Fr Michael O’Halloran SJ his wife Kath have been Stonyhurst has been received since the last issue Jesuit education can be seen in many of conducted the ceremony. Luke Rawson Simon Fell OS 92-99 married Pippa representatives in Hong Kong for many of the Newsletter. the BBC debates!” OS 85-90 was best man and Rupert Grey (below and left) at Rayner’s Farm, years. Antoine Michon OS 76-77 wrote to Peter Burton Associate When not at the BBC Anthony is far Rawson OS 84-89 was in attendance. Whittlesford, Cambridge on 19th tell us that he graduated at EM Lyon from idle, being a senior partner in a US September 2009. Giving a blessing at John Jeffrey Walker OS 42-48 business school in 1987 where he also After being called to the Bar in 1994, investment bank, Evercore, chairman the ceremony was Fr Geoff Wheaton John Stuart Macpherson OS 57-63 met his wife, Sophie. After Libreville Marcus practised in London as a barrister of Dairy Crest, non-executive positions SJ. Best Man was Richard Birkhead OS in Gabon, they settled in Paris but then until 2006 when he emigrated to the Charles Edward Gee Associate on boards including English National 94-99 and ushers included: Toby Lees moved to Lille in 1994. They have a son, Cayman Islands where he continues to Opera and The Sixteen, “undoubtedly OS 94-99, David Doran OS 82-87, Chris Michael James Peter Berkley OS 40-46 Victor (1988) and four daughters, Juliette practise as an attorney at law. the world’s leading choir performing the Ralling OS 91-99, Winton de St John- Thomas Lubienski OS 41-42 (1991), Lucille (1993), Leopoldine (1997), greatest works of early English choral Gemma Lenton-Smith OS 97-99 married Pryce OS 94-99, Greg Taylor OS 94-99 and Raphaelle (2000). Kenneth Alan McCluskey OS 37-41 music – it’s definitely time the choir Paul Williams on 12th September, 2009, and Kevin Leong OS 96-99. All looked performed at Stonyhurst!” – perhaps he He now works in Lille for the French at Fawley Court, Henley on Thames. splendid wearing their Lancashire red Cyril Francis Irwin OS 36-41 could introduce them to the music of bank Caisse d’Epargne. He would like roses. John Earley OS 47-56 Antoine Selosse SJ, Director of Music at very much to have news from: Thomas Geoffrey Holt SJ OS 22-30 St Omers (see last Newsletter)? Christopher Atkin Alexander OS 82-90 won academic and Peter Dawson OS 30-34 He remains a keen cricketer and in John Law music scholarships to the College in John Francis Desmond Aherne OS 34-37 2008, his club, the Armadillos, reopened Tony Lee 1985 and is now an orthopaedic surgeon Dr Peter Jackson Associate Sheffield Park Cricket Ground in Sussex, in Christchurch, New Zealand. He is a historic ground he recommends for a married to Charlotte and they have two Anthony Sacarello OS 58-64 future Wanderers fixture. Two OS passed out at the Sovereign’s children – Oscar born in 2008 and Chloe Michael Guerdon Kennedy OS 68-70 Parade at Sandhurst in December: born in 2009. Timothy James Patrick O’Callaghan Tim Fitzgerald OS 04 is taking up Also in the media, Chris Morris OS 72-80 a commission in the Royal Logistics Christopher 83-91 also won a scholarship OS 48-56 was recently profiled by Claire Bolder- Corps, while George Tyldesley OS 03 is and is now a Middle East partner in Charles James Bewlay OS 32-40 son on Radio Four: in the last Newsletter going to the Mercian Regiment. Monitor, an American Consultancy and we had news of his brother Tom, but in may they rest in peace the near future Chris is the one who will Right: be occupying the headlines. Four Lions, Congratulations to Andrew Higham Friends or relatives, who wish to write an his first feature film premiered recently OS 69-76 who has now spent over 27 Duarte Saldanha OS 97-2000 was married to Diana Ruas in September 2007 obituary for the Stonyhurst Magazine, are at the Sundance Film Festival, is to be years working for the Foreign and in Sintra, Portugal. invited to contact David Knight at the College released later this year, while April sees Commonwealth Office, serving overseas ([email protected]). Andrew Brinkley OS 92-00, Ambrose Chiu OS 96-00, Luis Valls OS 97-98, the publication of his biography: Disgust- in Singapore, Hong Kong, Cairo and Timothy Armitage OS 95-00, Christian Cordsmeyer OS 98-00, James ing Bliss: The Brass Eye of Chris Morris, by more recently in Baghdad where he was Thompson OS 95-00, David Lindsay OS 95-00 and Marco Petrucci OS 95-00 Lucian Randall (Simon & Schuster, isbn awarded, by HM The Queen, the Iraq were in attendance. 978-1847371386). Four Lions is likely to Reconstruction Service Medal. 6 7 rrespo p s e r or c Left: Saracens scrum half Kevin Barrett Eyston Vintage Car Weekend OS 93-98 described himself as “very 10th–12th September privileged” as well as “really excited” to be appointed captain of England’s Rugby George Eyston (below, in an MG Magic Sevens team for the Emirates Airline IRB Midget, 1932) came to Hodder in 1907 and D N e

Sevens series. These began in December was there for one year. But this was the n with the first two of eight tournaments only school he ever attended (it’s the only & e c in Dubai and South Africa; in Dubai one he lists in his autobiography) and he

England won their pool, beating Kenya, was otherwise home educated. m Russia and the USA. They then beat l l e c s i In 1937 he broke Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Argentina in the Cup quarter-final, before Land Speed Record with ‘Thunderbolt’

losing the semi-final 19-28 to Samoa. N A at a speed of 312 mph. In 1938, he raised

it to 357 mph, but lost the record to his y In South Africa, England won their pool, rival John Cobb in 1939 (369 mph). He but lost 19-22 to New Zealand; they then had plans to return to Utah the following beat Australia and won the Plate beating year but war intervened. DavidRogers/Getty Images South Africa 21-7. He was holder of over two hundred world and international records and is the most Sean Kennedy OS 99-03, now working “Sadly, this peace was not to last as prolific record breaker of all time. David as a Parliamentary Assistant to Lord in late 2008, the Dassenech killed three Knight, Stonyhurst Magazine Editor, Alton, has written of his experiences as Turkana fishermen after a dispute. This has amassed a large collection of Eyston a volunteer working in the new parish triggered punitive killings and cold-blooded memorabilia which is now in the College of Todonyang on Lake Turkana, on the ambushes… So far more than sixty people archives. Northern Kenyan border with Ethiopia. have lost their lives in this continuing crisis Roddy has just sunk into a chair and now his host is waving Chateau Palmer in front of him. To celebrate his achievements we would The great challenge facing the people – which threatens the stability of the region Well I say! Not every day one is offered such a tiptop treat, I mean surely a chap can make an like to hold a touring weekend based at of Todonyang comes from a history of and could imperil the many gains which exception? But Avril is hissing over his shoulder that Lent means Lent, and there’s only a week Stonyhurst on 10th/12th September, for violent relations with the neighbouring have been made in recent years…” to go and he’s been a jolly good boy, so no falling at the final fence. all old car or motor racing enthusiasts. Ethiopian tribe, the Dassenech: The much reduced local population – We have some expressions of interest Roddy has bitterly regretted giving up the booze ever since noon on Ash Wednesday, normally “The Turkana and the Dassenech have 1,000 from 5,000 – has taken refuge in already:- the time for a cracking G&T and a session with the Racing Post. He said to Avril, who’s been fighting forever… the root cause is the the mission compound, a desperate Congratulations to Simon Head OS also forsworn naughty beverages in solidarity, that surely it would be alright just to give up David Knight 1937 Morris 8 two seater lack of necessities for life. Sheep-rustling, measure as Fr Steven points out: “a fence 89-94 (above, with his wife Sarah and wine, not jolly old spirits? That would be just the one nourishing gin and a little whisky in tourer; Ron Strasser OS 55 1959 XK150 fighting over grazing pastures, fishing can give a false sense of security. It would their first child Sam), who in September the evening? DHC; Peter Horgan OS 62 1956 Bentley grounds and nets etc has led to out-and-out not be difficult for a determined group of will take up the headship of Moreton MK6; Christopher Page OS 76 1954 Riley vengeance expeditions.” insurgents to penetrate and perpetrate a Hall Preparatory School. After reading Avril was adamant: all or nothing. She has hidden the bottles Away from Temptation. Roddy 1.5 litre; Michael Joseph OS 59 1933 Alvis massacre.” classics at Cambridge and a short service said that he distinctly remembered from school that one got a bit of a breather on Sundays, that Fr Steven Ochieng, the parish priest, Speed 20. Julian Hindle, 1930 Lagonda commission in the Green Jackets he went Sundays were neutral territory, and one couldn’t be expected to have the roast beef of Old Eng- worked hard to establish a peaceful And this quite apart from the appalling 3 litre Tourer, a member of VSCC and into education, taking up his first post at land without dignifying it with a claret. Avril opined that she doubted Stonyhurst, a byword environment in which infrastructure, health hazards caused by overcrowding. the Preston and Vintage Car Club, has Dulwich College Preparatory School; for Catholic brutalism, was so morally lax as to allow the boys to sin by default on Sundays. health, education and workplace Sean Kennedy can be contacted by offered his help. currently he is Deputy Head at St John’s projects began to thrive, and he could telephone, +44 (0) 7919 334 952, or email: Then there was the matter of Biffy Plumptre’s 70th birthday party. ‘Avril, surely we have to Beaumont. For information please contact Michael extend the area of his pastoral work. [email protected]. be a bit celebratory? Oldest friend, our best man, not going to be 70 again, always has damn Joseph: [email protected] Simon joins at least two other OS who good wine – it’s our duty to imbibe his hospitality.’ Avril was thin lipped on this one. ‘Well,’ are currently preparatory school heads: she said with a disapproving sniff, ‘it’ll be the slippery slope. Next you’ll be gulping bordeaux Rowan Somerville OS 80-86 has Larry Crouch OS 69-74, at SMH, and on Wednesdays because you’ve got halfway through the week, and savaging the sancerre on mixed memories of his Stonyhurst Mark O’Donnell OS 72-73, at Alleyn’s Fridays because it’s the weekend. Where will it all end?’ years: “The best day of my life (at that Junior School, Dulwich. Roddy is hopeful Lent will end very soon; he’s sick of ginger beer, waving the Chateau Palmer time) was when I left… Nevertheless, away in favour of Chateau Tap is going to break his heart, and other people’s winey breath I was fortunate to encounter some Meanwhile Hamish Reid OS 04 has been smells ghastly when one’s not drinking. ‘Avril, why don’t you go and police your mother for a y amazing teachers.” His book The End undertaking the Teach First programme, few days?’

an of Sleep (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, isbn which he describes as “very challenging 9780297853688) was described as a “high- but rewarding”; set up in 2002 Teach First The Lenten Sacrifice,by Victoria Mather octane, clamorous first novel” by Patrick seeks to help “top graduates become Drawing by Sue Macartney-Snape i s c e l l McCabe. It recounts the picaresque and excellent teachers in challenged schools” m comic adventures of an Irishman in (www.teachfirst.org.uk). We hope to This item from the Daily Telegraph on the mortification of flesh during Lent, raised Cairo, a delightful mix of cultures. Beth bring more news of this in the next

c e & the question of when is Lent not Lent. A birthday during this period surely carries a Jones wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: Newsletter: Hamish is keen to promote n

e dispensation, otherwise it can never be celebrated? Sundays too must be considered “Everything about Somerville’s debut the programme to OS. to be exempt because otherwise Lent adds up to more than forty days? I have tried to nd made me hungry… above all hungry for find out the established custom at Stonyhurst without success although Christopher whatever this author chooses to serve Hamish is not alone in his year to have Page is fairly certain that Sundays were not counted as Lent at Hodder c. 1967. up next”. She has not long to wait: his gone into teaching: Edmund Page and second novel, The Shape of Her, is due out Lucy Williams are both currently in Does anyone know what has been ancient custom and practice at Stonyhurst? Email

c or r e s p o this summer. teacher training. the Editor on [email protected]. MotoringPicture Library 8 9 A n Act of R emembr ance reunions and convivia

The article by Matt Betts on the Catholic Association (CA) w ine ta sting & auction in the last Newsletter prompted John Green OS 68-76 to research the history of the Dublin Cemeteries Committee, On 9th July Westminster Cathedral Hall became the setting for a fund- of which he is currently Chair. raising event for the diocesan pilgrimage This will be published in the next Stonyhurst Magazine, and to Lourdes as over a hundred people here John writes to introduce the background: gathered for a wine-tasting. It was surely no coincidence then that, where wine and good causes met, plenty of OS were present. The evening was hosted “The Committee, which emerged directly from the CA, by Father Michael Dunne (former LG runs Glasnevin Cemetery, which was purchased by the CA playroom master and English teacher) in 1832, shortly after Catholic Emancipation. My research led with the very generous co-operation me to discover that Stonyhurst had a far greater role in the CA of Giles Burke-Gaffney (OS89-94) of campaign than I had realised: the three leading founders of the Justerini and Brooks, the Mayfair wine CA, Daniel O’Connell, Richard Lalor Shiel and Thomas Wyse, merchants. all attended the College in Liege; the latter two finished their Giles was the wine tutor for the schooling at Stonyhurst. evening and took us diligently through On November 11th last in Glasnevin Cemetery, in an historic the tasting of ten varieties of wine from event which was well covered in the Irish Press, I , as Chairman, all across the globe. His picturesque thanked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for descriptions of the locale, soil quality erecting their headstones on four hitherto un­marked graves of and climate which produced the grapes Irishmen who had died in the World Wars whilst serving in the used in each sample stimulated our taste Above, left to right: Winton de St John-Pryce OS 94-99, Richard Birkheard OS 94-99, Fr Michael Dunne, British Army (the Magazine article will explain in greater detail buds before a drop of the liquid had even Simon Fell OS 94-99, David Doran OS 94-99, Toby Lees OS 94-99, Michael Dennison OS 95-00, Gudmund why the issue of those Irish men and women who served in the crossed our lips. Bernitz OS 97-99, Charles D’Arcy-Irvine, Nick Bousfield OS 95-00 and Chris Ralling OS 94-99. two World Wars has been unresolved). The joint work of the Once the tasting was over we all Above: John Green looks on as Alan Meale MP and CWGC unveils two organisations, non judgemental, non political as they both had the opportunity to drink in-situ, John Paul II. An OS conglomerate, with bidders sadly acknowledged their lack of the first headstone are, and the events of that day, had particular resonance for treated to a splendid buffet supper with one random non-OS guest (who is to be a home of sufficient grandeur to display Stonyhurst, reflected in the story of my two OS soldier Uncles, plenty of wine available for consumption thanked, but may have felt rather duped 10 sketches at one time) it was decided Joe Jackman VC and Kensey Green. That the former is buried …and finally: therewith. After dessert an auction when he learned of the intention for the that the College would be a fitting home in the CWGC cemetery in Tobruk, and the latter now rests in commenced with the star lot being a set final home of the prints), was hastily for them, and they have been passed on Whilst the fact that Oscar Wilde’s son Vyvyan Holland was Glasnevin, provided a perfect symmetry for the day. of sketches by the Polish artist Feliks formed to bid for this lot and triumphed. to Jan Graffius, the College curator, to educated at Stony­hurst is well known, the College’s connection Topolski, each sketch depicting a scene Rather than have a division of spoils and display as seen fit. In the article I postulate further about Stonyhurst, its origins with the family of “Bosie”, Lord Alfred Douglas, is not: his from the enthronement, in 1979, of Pope separating the sketches (as each of the [email protected] and its old boys. I conclude that a brief look at our famous old great-nephew Lord Gawain Douglas OS was at the College boys proves that both Stonyhurst and OS are not easily branded from 1957-61. or stereotyped. Whether it is at the time of the Jesuit Martyrs, After Stonyhurst Gawain studied piano at the Royal Academy london con v i v ium the American War of Independence or the First World War, of Music, where he met his future wife, Nicolette; they married you find OS running counter to the mainstream expectation. in 1971 and raised a family of six in Kent. The London Convivium took place on 14 October 2009 at Once whistles had been wetted sufficiently in the church the Church of the Immaculate Conception Mayfair. There was hall, the Headmaster gave news of the College, and thanked So the purpose of this prologue to the full article is : an excellent turn-out and we were also pleased to welcome the Association for its support. Toby Lees OS 94-99 said a several alumni of St George’s College, Harare and one of St few words on behalf of the Association and gave an unusual 1: To encourage your readers to reconsider the purpose Ignatius, Riverview. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Billy suggestion for where people might like to head once landlords behind Stony­hurst’s foundation (in St Omer); Hewitt SJ OS 41-50, and Fr Matthew Power SJ OS 69-79. The had ushered them out into the night: Westminster Cathedral, 2: To reflect as to why they or their relations were sent to Headmaster, Andrew Johnson, gave the reading. It was a votive where the relics of St Therese of Lisieux were on display in

y Stonyhurst; mass of the Holy Trinity, with a remembrance of those Jesuit an all-night vigil being organised by a former teacher of the

an OS who had offered up their lives in the service of Christ, but College, now turned diocesan priest, Fr Michael Dunne. And 3: To encourage debate in this Newsletter on Stonyhurst’s were not as well remembered as they had not been martyred. indeed at midnight, outside the Cathedral, a Jesuit alumni was role today “Lest we forget”; and finally In particular we learnt much about Fr Robert Parsons, the spotted eating curried chips; fortunately there were other OS i s c e l l 4: To encourage any OS who find themselves in Dublin after founder of the College. 2010 sees the 400th anniversary of his to be found on the inside. The final speech by Anthony Eyre OS m March 31st 2010 to visit the new Glasnevin Museum, which death; he was one of the most important organisers of the 70-74 gave news of the suffering and floods in Pannur, India; a will tell the story of why the Cemetery was founded, how it Mission to England from the Continent by the Jesuits and the collection was taken to go towards the Jesuits’ work in helping c e & works, and the story of the people buried there. It will be a Superior of St Edmund Campion, for whom the College has those affected so badly. n e state of the art, interactive, interpretative centre, which will we He has been energetic in restoring the reputation of his great- a special devotion. [See Joe Egerton’s article in this Newsletter]. Thanks are due to Beverley Sillitoe for organising the nd hope ensure a sustainable future for the Cemetery for the next uncle as a poet, acting his part in the documentary biopic Two We also remembered Frs Geoffrey Holt SJ OS 22-30 and John catering, Joe Egerton for serving at Mass and organising the 100 years, and which encapsulates a part of Stonyhurst’s own Lives (2002) opposite Vyvyan’s son Merlin Holland, playing the Grummitt SJ OS 44-47 recently passed away. Fittingly Joe music and choir, the choir of Corpus Christi, Brixton, for its special heritage.” part of his grandfather. A collection of Gawain’s poetry, Fortuna, Egerton OS 65-69 organised music and hymns known to have splendid singing, and to Frs Billy and Matthew for celebrating has recently been published by Alma Books under their Herla been used by Fr Parsons, which were sung with traditional vim the Mass. Finally our thanks to Fr William Pearsall SJ, parish

c or r e s p o [email protected] imprint (isbn: 9781846880889). and vigour, right down to the final verse ofSit Laus Altissimo. priest of Farm Street, for use of the parish church and hall. 10 11 400 year s ago a perfect reformation

April 29th joe egerton A Celebration of the College Founder, Robert Parsons tonyhurst does not have a Founder’s Day To mark the 400th anniversary of the death of Robert Those who have been to recent London events, for which – our equivalent is Campion’s day, when we celebrate the Parsons, there will be a celebration of his life and work, Brixton has provided a choir, will know what a high martyrdom of Edmund Campion on 1 December 1581. SAlthough the school at St Omers was founded a decade later by including a Votive Mass of the St Omers Martyrs at standard of music we can expect. Fr John Twist SJ, the Corpus Christi Church, Brixton Hill (11 Trent Road, College Chaplain, will be among those participating. So his superior on the Jesuit Mission, Robert Parsons, generations London sw2 5bj: ten minutes walk, two minutes bus from we urge all OS in the area to make an effort to attend and of boys and girls have passed through Stonyhurst knowing nothing about their founder. Why this reticence? Brixton Underground (Victoria Line); free car parking) to bring friends. Please contact Joe Egerton for further Parsons has traditionally been regarded as something of on Thursday 29th April, starting at 18.40. There will be a details at: an embarrassment by the Catholic Church and even his own social afterwards. [email protected]. confreres in the Society of Jesus. Evelyn Waugh, in his great biography of Campion, described Parsons as the exemplar of the sinister Jesuit of popular imagination. In his day, he was the most hated man in England. In 1690, eighty years after his 50 year s ago death, an Anglican clergyman called Gee obtained one of very few copies of a manuscript he had left at his death and published it under the title ‘The Jesuit’s Memorial for the Intended Reformation of England under their first Popish Prince’. Gee declared that in publishing it ‘I am doing a greater service to the Protestant interest against Popery than anything I was able to do [in the reign of James II]’. Imagine if Lord Mandelson were to publish a speech of Neville Chamberlain to convince the voters of the wickedness of David Cameron! That the regime should have seen publishing Parsons as effective propaganda demonstrates the extent to which he was the embodiment of the Catholic challenge. A long overdue re-appraisal of Parsons is under way. We will see more of this in the coming year, with articles in Thinking Faith (www.thinkingfaith.org) and a celebration in London at Corpus Christi, Brixton on 29th April, to which all OS are warmly invited as well as other events. [See page 5] Above: The First Eleven The redoubtable Fr Francis Vavasour leaves Stonyhurst. He Parsons was a remarkable political philosopher – perhaps C Moran N Drake-Lee JW Hicks N Hollis J Giles E Gonsalves M Hruska B O’Driscoll W Cash C Corbett R Kirby made many improvements to the estate and put the financial one should say political theologian. Although what in the affairs of the College in good order. Amongst other things, he seventeenth and eighteenth century became the most anti- Above right: The Tennis Team was responsible for the iron gates in the gatehouse, the elegant papist country in Europe would never acknowledge its M Belderbos B O’Driscoll bus shelter at Stonyhurst Road end and moving the almshouses indebtedness to a Jesuit, it was ultimately his ideas, not those F Isola G Restano M Cassar-Torregiani (absent P Rigby) This year sees the commemoration of the from Kemple End to Hurst Green and was widely regarded as of his opponents, that triumphed and created the vigorous, Below: Air Chief Marshal Sir Hubert Patch, kcb, cbe, OS 1919, at the General Inspection an astute man of business. 400th anniversary of the death of the Founder prosperous self confident Parliamentary democracy of the mid twentieth century. He is an example of what Keynes wrote: A new activity is introduced to the College – fell walking, of the College, Robert Parsons SJ which means ‘having walked up a mountain, one is too modest The ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when to say that one climbed it’. The Magazine describes a visit to (24 June 1546, Nether Stowey, Somerset — they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than the Achille Ratti Hut in Langdale (www.achille-ratti-climbing- is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. 15 April 1610, Rome: see left top). club.co.uk) and an impressive collection of ‘conquests’. The Conference on the Next Succession, which Parsons The papers show pictures of Vernon Walters OS with his boss maintained was a collaborative effort, developed a theory of President Eisenhower enjoying a joke with the Pope. (see page Joe Egerton, OS 65-69, constitutional government that challenged Tudor absolutism. 19) Unlike his contemporary Suarez, Parsons argued that not only argues the case for a reassessment of this was temporal power bestowed by the people on the king, but P I Bell OS 08, J D Cronin OS 30 and C Curran OS 18 are elected that the people could take that power back if the safety of the or re-elected to the House of Commons. sometimes controversial figure people depended on it or if the king broke the coronation oath. The great example of this was the deposition of Richard II in Hodder is paid a surprise visit by an Old Boy – Vice-Admiral 1399. This was anathema to Elizabeth– when Essex (to whom Thebaud of the United States Navy. The Conference was dedicated) was on trial for treason after his rebellion, he ran the defence ‘we’re all at it’, and specifically Horse-power finally vanishes from the Stonyhurst estate. The accused Robert Cecil, the chief minister, of having read The last three horses are disposed of, having spent the last three Conference. Today we would be outraged were we to be denied months grazing peacefully in Paradise. general elections. 12 13 The Memorial for the Perfect Reformation according to Hobbes, the authority to of England set out Parsons’ ideas for interpret even the word of God, although the special relationship the political and social reform of the he could delegate that power to anyone English nation. Parsons proposed that (including the Pope). We owe to Parsons there should be a grammar – that is the structure of Leviathan. We may also dav id mercer secondary – school in every town. Free owe to him Leviathan’s literary brilliance secondary education was not achieved – animosity towards the Jesuit may well until the Butler Education Act of 1944. have driven Hobbes to excel himself. He proposed a fifty percent increase in Leviathan is not the only major work oliticians are quick to point out the supposed identity of university places – not achieved until of literature shaped by Parsons. In interest and common purpose shared by Britain and America. the nineteenth century. He proposed Coningsby, Disraeli appears as Sidonia, a It was not always so but it is now nearly two centuries since laws to protect married women’s philosopher-banker really an amalgam Pthey last came to blows. United (or divided) by a common language property – something not achieved until of Disraeli and the Rothschilds. Sidonia and heritage, if not culture, and, having been military allies for almost the nineteenth century. He proposed tells of his education – from a Jesuit a century, it would be strange if they did not have much in common. overhauling the criminal justice system called Rebello. Coningsby, Sybil and to give defendants effective rights. He Tancred follow Parsons in numerous Within this tradition however, Stonyhurst has one of its own. proposed the abolition of the Rotten respects, especially in the treatment of Boroughs – accepted in principle in the monasteries but more generally in There was a time when the sons of Catholic gentlemen were sent 1832. He proposed the establishment of the historical account of the evolution to the English College at St Omers, (later, Bruges and Liege) for an a loyal opposition in the Commons and of the English Parliament. We even education denied them at home by the anti-Catholic penal laws. the creation of a Business Committee find Parsons’ attack on the English legal Many of those who happened to be resident in the New World also to control the allocation of time in system reproduced. Benjamin Disraeli’s went to the College and for the same reasons. To reach Europe in their the Commons, something still fought father, Isaac D’Israeli, owned one of case entailed not a little danger, considerable inconvenience and over today. To finance his reforms he the greatest private libraries in Europe even more expense. It is ironic that the ban on Catholic education in proposed to tax those who had taken containing the more important works America actually provided for a better one on the Continent of Europe. possession of the abbey lands after the on religion under the Stuarts; there is a The old boys of the English College were regarded as highly educated dissolution of the monasteries – the reference to what must be The Conference by their Protestant contemporaries who held them in some esteem. Cavendishes (later Dukes of Devonshire), in Isaac’s short book on religion under With public office closed to them, many entered the priesthood; of the Russells (Dukes of Bedford) and the James I. Rebello was Parsons – not in the hundred and thirty boys from Maryland, there were forty-three Thynnes (Marquises of Bath), a policy the flesh or a ghost, but in books in a Jesuit and three secular vocations and they laid the foundations for eventually pushed through Parliament library. The idea of England divided the Catholic Church in America. It is worth mentioning that many in 1910 by Lloyd George and Asquith. into two nations is pure Parsons – so it is of their sisters made the same difficult voyages to Europe for their This was indeed a radical agenda – one plausible that the founder of Stonyhurst education and in the eighteenth century thirty-three women entered that inevitably provoked the opposition was ultimately responsible the most European orders, another fifteen did the same in America. of every powerful vested interest in famous phrase in English politics: ONE Most of the ‘Americans’ at the English College came from the colony England. Little wonder they hated its NATION. of Maryland, founded in 1632 by the Catholic peer, George Calvert, author. The task in celebrating Parsons is not 1st Lord Baltimore, as a refuge from religious persecution for all Parsons is remarkably easy to read – one of looking to the past – it is to look at denominations. Unfortunately this desirable arrangement did not when asked to suggest a recusant author, what we today should try to do to carry continue. Politics and toleration in Maryland, tended to follow the the great Tudor historian A L Rowse said forward the projects that he saw and we position in the mother country, England, and Catholic education was ‘try Parsons’. The Conference has a good still see as essential to the well being of effectively banned for most of the colony’s existence. claim to be the best book on political England – and perhaps few are more However the New World inevitably gave new opportunities philosophy in English between More’s pressing than restoring the standing of and greater freedoms, soon to be boosted by the Revolution and Utopia and Hobbes’ Leviathan. Leviathan Parliament by making it work not as a independence; ironically what was founded as the English College is not just a great philosophical work – it is rubber stamp for the executive but an went on to produce some outstanding Americans. a great example of the English language, effective check. communicating the passion of its author. americans at the english college MarylandState Archives Modern commentators concentrate on [email protected] the political and philosophical content, The Calvert family were alumni of the English College at St in which Hobbes crosses swords with Omers and so was the first chaplain to the colony, Fr Andrew Parsons’ doctrines on civil society, White SJ and so a connection between America and the St Omers played largely dismissing the theological content English College was established from the start. This persisted that is a large part of the original. It is even after the War of Independence until changes of attitude a significant part in the fortunes of the these sections that respond to Parsons’ on both sides of the Atlantic made it no longer necessary. The young Catholic church in America arguments in The Conference and The time when the relaxation of the penal laws enabled the English Memorial on the relationship between College to come home and settle at Stonyhurst, also saw and the Thirteen States, religion and politics – while Parsons emancipation in the new United States and the establishment maintained that religion was crucial, of the college at Georgetown by Bishop John Carroll SJ. Both supplying one signatory of the and that the Papacy owed its authority British and Americans could now enjoy (albeit with discretion) directly to God because it was instituted a Jesuit education on their native soil. Declaration of Independence and the by Christ himself, Hobbes argued that all Above right: A Brief Discours, contayning certayne reasons why Catholiques refuse to goe to Church. One first American Catholic Bishop power, including spiritual power, rested of Parsons’ many works, written anonymously and Above right: Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), with the sovereign. The sovereign had, published in Douai in 1580. (Stonyhurst Collections) by Thomas Sully (1783-1872), 1834. 14 15 Besides the Calverts who sent eight same time and was closely associated Left: Washington wintering at Valley Forge, 1777-8 boys, other Maryland families sending with the University. sons to the English College included Charles Carroll of Carrollton left the Boarmans (six), Brents (two), Digges St Omers in 1754 and spent a year with cause? There were fifty-five others (nine), Semmes (four), Neales (eleven), French Jesuits at Rheims before going besides him and all the names were kept Sewalls (five), Brookes (thirteen) and to the College Louis-le-Grand in Paris secret for six months to guard against Carrolls (ten). Not all were wealthy, at and then studying law at Bourges and British reprisals. least in the early days and the Boarmans London. He returned finally to Maryland started as trappers and pioneers but as the in 1764 and was given the manor of colony prospered, so did they, moving up Carrollton by his father. the social scale. The Carrolls however He came back to America very much arrived in good circumstances and with a continental gentleman: his prejudices Carroll’s importance goes beyond the the right connections. They soon became patrickneil and tastes were those of French and Declaration of Independence. George the richest people in America. John Carroll: statue outside Georgetown University English high society and he found Washington claimed that he virtually The Brent family of two brothers and the more egalitarian overtones back financed the revolution personally and two sisters arrived in 1638. The elder and 1st Archbishop of Baltimore, was the home offensive and threatening. He he certainly supported Washington brother became a famous frontiersman cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrollton was disdainful of democracy, despising recognising the General’s qualities of and American Indian fighter although with whom he went to St Omers. They colonial politics, although he identified tenacity and courage. As a member this did not stop him marrying a were to be taught by their uncle and John in principle with the growing opposition of the war committee, Carroll spent Piscataway princess in the hope of returned from studying and teaching to Great Britain. Washington. He would always demand fine horseman into his eighties, died at three months at Valley Forge and saw inheriting Indian lands. in Europe in 1774 as the movement for Anti-Catholic prejudice was on the collateral for loans and despite his the age of ninety-five, held in universal Washington turn a demoralised and ill- The first Brooke was a former independence was growing. Before wane and although no Catholics had patriotism, when the British burnt the esteem and twelve states named equipped rabble into a disciplined army Anglican parson and came to the colony and after the Revolution, the Church any political experience and had never White House during the War of 1812, he counties after him. He was buried at capable of defeating the enemy. It was with a wife and ten grown-up children, was in disarray with only twenty four held public office, this was a time of actually owned stock in the Royal Navy. Doughoregan Manor, Ellicott City. The mainly Carroll who persuaded Congress twenty-eight servants and a pack of priests, no churches or schools and opportunity and they were caught up When he finally arranged power of manor was his home for most of his life to keep General Washington on when foxhounds. supposedly administered from London. in the tide of events. The quarrel with attorney at the age of 91, he insisted on an and his descendants are still there - ‘Only they wanted to sack him. The first Neale was a bold sea-captain Complaining to the Pope about this, Britain was mainly about taxation but escape clause in case he wasn’t satisfied. God, the Indians and the Carrolls have Washington believed that he only and confidential agent of Charles I. Four Carroll found himself in charge of the Britain intended to extend the boundary Despite having a rebel for a grand- owned this land’. had to survive with his army intact until generations later, Leonard Neale was Church in America. In 1789, he was of Canada at the expense of the colonies father, Carroll’s granddaughters mar- He is remembered mainly for the other side gave up. He was right. He to become the second Archbishop of consecrated bishop at Thomas Weld’s and ironically grant civil and religious ried rather well. They went to England being a ‘signer’ of the Declaration of didn’t win a major battle but, (with a little Baltimore. chapel in Lulworth whilst on a visit to toleration to Catholics. Carroll’s part where they became known as the ‘Amer- Independence (see cover) and the only help from the French), he did win the William Digges lived just across the England. He had nurtured an ambition, at first was unofficial but his influence ican Graces’ because of their charm and Catholic to do so. The declaration war, which eventually fizzled out and the Potomac from George Washington and which he soon realised, of founding an was growing and in 1776 he was asked beauty and married into the English itself raised the standard of rebellion, British went home. But without Charles would carry him across in an ornate academy in Georgetown near the new to accompany Benjamin Franklin and peerage. One became the wife of the informing the world what they were Carroll, would this have happened? barge rowed by oarsmen arranged in a capital on the Potomac. It was open to his cousin, the future Archbishop of Marquess Wellesley, brother of the Duke about and is rightly regarded as the icon Further, the wealth and political uniform of check shirts and black velvet all denominations and embraced (for Baltimore, to Canada seeking support of Wellington, and the Vicereine of Ire- of the American Revolution. Signing it ‘clout’ of the Carrolls and other Catholic caps, according to the writer W. Irving. those days), a very wide curriculum. for revolution. Although this attempt land, the country from which her great- was an immense personal commitment families derived very much from the Digges’ son, Thomas, was a double This was to become eventually the was not successful, it increased his great-grandfather had fled as a pauper. but an act of treason to the British superior education they received in agent in the War of Independence, famous Georgetown University and prestige and after reporting to Congress She was also a favourite of the Duke Crown. As the richest man in America, Europe and which was widely recognised ‘rooted in depravity’ according to John the first student arrived in 1791 before and meeting General Washington, who was then Prime Minister. This turn Charles Carroll had the most to lose by the other supporters of American Carroll SJ, and found it expedient to live the building was finished. The nearby Carroll and his colleague Samuel Chase of events emboldened her grandfather but as a Catholic, he had much to gain. Independence. The English College was abroad. He wrote a tearful romance, Trinity Church was started about the persuaded the Maryland Convention to to complain about Great Britain’s treat- Emancipation was still far off under King at least in part, responsible for Charles ‘The Adventures of Alonzo’, reputed to change their minds and support the move ment of Catholics and might just have George but in the newly ‘independent’ Carroll being what he was, so could it be be the first American novel. for independence, which the Convention influenced the course of the Catholic colonies, it was an accomplished fact. the English College we should thank for The Catholics were only few in had already rejected, fearful of the civil Emancipation Act of 1829. Curiously the But, was his signature so vital to the the United States of America? number even in Maryland but because unrest caused by it. Charles Carroll was sister-in-law of Charles Carroll’s other their official and social isolation had then elected as a representative to the daughter was married for a time to Na- left them with few distractions they Continental Congress who appointed poleon’s brother so that he contrived to devoted more time and attention to him to the Board of War. On 2nd connect by marriage, both the victor and their affairs. They intermarried, taking August, 1776, he and others signed the the vanquished of Waterloo. pains to keep their wealth intact, but Declaration of Independence. In later life Carroll was a president they made conversions in the same Charles Carroll was elected to the of the American Colonisation Society way. When the American Revolution first United Sates Senate before serving whose purpose was to free slaves and broke out - sweeping away the penal on the Maryland Senate until 1800. resettle them back in Africa. He and laws and offering tolerance - they were Among his achievements are starting others who framed the Constitution willing and eager to play their part in a the first American banks. Coming out recognised the anomaly of their ‘peculiar public life previously denied to them. of retirement, he helped create the first institution’. ‘Why keep alive the question Their standing in the community and American carrier railroad, the Baltimore of slavery’ he said ‘it is admitted by all to their wealth ensured a welcome in the and Ohio, in 1827. Like his father, he be a great evil’ and tried without success corridors of power and they were able was hard nosed and even once refused to get slavery abolished in Maryland. to make a significant contribution to the to lend money to his friend President Charles Carroll of Carrolton, still a birth of their new nation. Left: graffiti on a St Omers’ textbook by John and John Carroll SJ, 1st American Bishop Charles Carroll Right: Doughoregan Manor, home of Charles Carroll Universidadd’Alcala 16 17 the end of the english college His descendants include two US Wales but the family soon moved to presidents, George H W Bush and India during the heyday of the Raj and When the French Revolution broke out George W Bush. The ‘W’ in both names after World War I returned to England to in 1789, the English College was situated stands for ‘Walker’. settle in Shropshire. Henry was sent to in Liège in the Austrian Netherlands George H W Bush, the senior, was Hodder and then the College becoming enjoying the protection of the Prince- invited by Giles Mercer to become a a contemporary of Fr Freddie Turner. He Bishop. During the wars against the member of the Stonyhurst Golf Club in did no science but plenty of Mathematics Revolution, the city changed hands recognition of his grandfather and said: and he excelled at rugby and boxing and several times between the Imperial ‘I would be proud to be listed as an finished as RSM in the OTC. Intending Austrian armies and the French honorary member of Stonyhurst Park Golf a career in the Indian Civil Service, he revolutionary forces so life was difficult Club in consideration of my grandfather’s went up to Oxford but soon realised that and dangerous especially for some of the contribution to golf… it would be my pleasure his prospects in India were diminishing students. Those who were French were to get to Stonyhurst someday. We are a very and he left for America, working with ordered home under pain of being treated close family and my Grandfather Walker investment firms in the difficult climate as aliens and forfeiting their property but was wonderful to me and my brothers and of the 1930s. There he helped found the since they tended to be of the nobility, sister. We take great pride in the fact that Boston Rugby Club, enjoyed sailing, there were other risks. One Old Boy he was the donor of the Walker Cup… studied astro-navigation and learnt to fly. turned up as an ardent revolutionary and patrickneil Incidentally, General Vernon Walters, a In 1939 he was drafted into the British ADC to General Dumouriez when the most distinguished American, is a good Above: Lt-Gen Vernon ‘Dick’ Walters OS 28-31 with Consulate but then volunteered to ferry French took the city in 1792. But when he here from 1896-97 into Philosophers, to Ireland he soon became involved in friend of mine.’ Headmaster Dr Giles Mercer at Stonyhurst, 1994 aircraft across to Europe, in those days a was sent back to Paris with dispatches, after attending Georgetown College. Irish politics with the Young Irelanders. Another grandson, William H T Bush fairly dangerous business and he served he was guillotined as an aristocrat and The last Carroll came in the 1930s. After an abortive rebellion, he and still lives in St Louis and was Chairman of into Paris 15 times for secret negotiations until 1945. In the process he pioneered in place of his commander who was Apart from these old English College others were found guilty of treason the Jesuit St Louis University there. His with the North Vietnamese and he is long distance routes, requiring precise (rightly), suspected of being about to families, about sixty new names and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and daughter was educated at Georgetown. reputed to have prowled the back streets navigation and laid the foundations for change sides. During this occupation, appeared over the next fifty years. Some quartered but this was commuted to He recently wrote saying: of the city in a beret and shabby raincoat post-war long distance air line travel. the invaders behaved correctly according achieved fame and possibly fortune and transportation to Tasmania from where ‘My grandfather, Bert Walker, had for a first hand look at student rioters. By the war’s end, Henry was one of to Charles Carroll’s son who was there, that they were proud of their alma mater he escaped to the US. There he was a great competitive drive in sports and He was a man of his age and the Cold Ferry Command’s longest serving but there was no guarantee and when is evident because a century ago they lionised as an Irish patriot, practised law business which he taught to his sons and War. Little happened in those years on members, had flown over most of the Britain and France went to war, making founded the Stonyhurst Association of and married well. When the Civil War daughters. They in turn passed this training the international stage, of which he was world’s oceans and all the continents many of the students enemy aliens, it America with the following members, broke out, he raised a brigade of Irish on on to their kids. I think his time at Stonyhurst not a part and he knew all the characters except Antarctica and was one of only was obviously time to go. mainly from the original thirteen states. the Union side and fought with distinction complimented his parental training, and in the play. ‘Anyone who says flattery a handful to do this. His autobiography, Some went home, some went to Melchior Beltzhoover, Philip S Birch, in the early stages. Afterwards he was probably refined it as well. doesn’t work, has never had any’ he once Rich Mixture, Fine Pitch isbn 0963895729 Maastricht, en route for Stonyhurst but Geo. Benziger, Xavier Benziger, W. E. appointed acting governor of Montana The Walker Cup Competition embodies said and he claimed that you could get describes his experiences. it seems the Americans did not have the Byles, Philip Carroll, Daniel Devlin, J. Territory presiding over a controversial his philosophy better than any other legacy anything done in Washington if you let He returned to the investment same need to rush and probably could F. Devlin, Philip Devlin, Rev. Fr. Wm. regime and making as many enemies of his. Great competition between friendly someone else take the credit. He was sent business after 1945 and eventually not leave at very short notice. William Devlin, Sidney Finlay, Cecil Finlay, as friends. One night in July 1867, on a people on an international scale. on his last job, ambassador to Germany became a gentleman farmer and Matthews did not go back until 1800 Peter Fogarty, Herbert Harrison, Dr. E. visit to Fort Benton on the Missouri, he ‘Great Stuff’as he used to say…may 2010 then on the point of reunification, by racehorse owner. Always a generous and then became the first priest to be L. Keyes, Jas P Lee, Thos S. Lee, Louis disappeared from a riverboat and was be Stonyhurst’s best year ever’. President George Bush. benefactor of the College, he supported ordained in America Montant, C.R. Stapleton, Alan Sterne, never seen again – a mysterious end to *Lt-Gen Vernon ‘Dick’ Walters OS In 1991, he was invited to the White his two grandsons, Seamus and Henry, Tooke Straker, Jos. Thompson, Francis a most colourful character, Irish patriot 28-31, warrior, linguist, intelligence House to receive the Presidential Medal who were brilliant musicians, at SMH. americans at stonyhurst Woodlock and C. P. Montagu. and legend of the American West. officer, ambassador extraordinary and of Freedom and took his sister along. Christopher Newton-Carter OS Relatively few Americans now feel A recent book, Redemption Falls, isbn fixer par excellence, was a man usually The Secret Service would not let them 65-68 died in the World Trade Center The foundation of Georgetown College the need to cross the Atlantic for their 9780436205699, by Joseph O’Connor gives of the shadows and the dark side. When in because they had no knowledge of tragedy in 2001. He was described as a (above right) and the migration to Stony­ education. In fact the traffic is mainly a fictionalised and rather lurid account of asked about his calling he said ‘The her despite the fact that he had been the ‘wonderfully warm and friendly man, hurst did not completely sever the the other way and many non-American his doings under the name of O’Keefe, average American thinks it (intelligence) Deputy Director of the CIA. always ready to help in any way he could.’ transatlantic connection. One of the OS are resident in the US. We are always the nom de plume used by Meagher when is not very clean, not very American Walters came to the College because His teacher, Peter Hardwick said he was priests who accompanied the migration happy to see both kinds at reunions and writing for Harpers Magazine. and the Founding Fathers wouldn’t like his grandmother was related to the ‘uncommonly lively, quick and happy’ from Liège to Stonyhurst, Fr Joseph other events and they always seem to George Herbert Walker OS 1890-92 it’ and then went on to describe how Rector, Father O’Connor and he found Before going to America, he was a Semmes was an American and another, be especially pleased to come back to came into Philosophers to complete Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster for that he loved Stonyhurst. He last visited regular brancardier with the Lourdes Fr Nicholas Sewall was rector twice in Stonyhurst. his education, from St Louis, Missouri, North America would open British Mail the College for the centenary celebrations Pilgrimage and on his last one, he was the early nineteenth century, before along with his cousin Philip Scanlon. His whilst probably not knowing that his in 1994, and then hosted a Centenaries accompanied by Susan whom he married becoming English Provincial. In the some other american os father had built up a hugely successful own valet and secretary, were agents for Appeal Reception at the Officers’ Club in in 1992. nineteenth century some of those who dry goods business in St Louis but the the British. Washington. Peter Adams, his nephew In his eulogy at the memorial service, came from America to Stonyhurst Thomas Francis Meagher OS 1839 -43 was family originally hailed from Maryland. He enlisted in the army in 1941, who lived with him after retirement and it was said ‘Chris possessed tremendous were continuing their family tradition, not strictly speaking an American. He After two years at Stonyhurst where he was soon commissioned and rapidly who accompanied him on many of his love for his family and friends. By attending the English College at St was an Irish rebel and only a reluctant followed the usual gentlemanly courses promoted as his talents were recognised. forays told me that he also loved cats, his nature, he was gentle, caring and Omers or Bruges or Liège and now OS. His refusal to play his trumpet and pursuits, he returned to America, He met almost every world leader and de was a Catenian and Knight of Malta and sensitive and he regularly combined this Stonyhurst. The Carrolls maintained and celebrate an English victory at the taking up polo and then entering the Gaulle and Eisenhower were both present collected subway maps of which he had with his calmness and sense of humour this practice with Charles Carroll Waterloo Day ceremony caused it to be golfing world, where he was instrumental at his promotion ceremony to Colonel. probably the world’s largest collection. to help family and friends with their McTavish, Charles Carroll’s great great- cancelled. His father was a Westminster in founding the competition which bears He served every president after World He wrote Silent Missions isbn 978 0385 issues and troubles… grandson (sponsored by his aunt, Lady MP and probably sent him to Stonyhurst his name. He left the family firm to War II except Carter and was President 135009 and The Mighty and the Meek isbn Chris had two other great loves, for Wellesley) arriving in 1869 and Philip to quell his nationalism although it had found G H Walker Investment Corp. and Reagan’s most trusted envoy. As military 1903608031. the United States and for his mother Carroll, another descendant, coming the opposite effect and when he returned became a world class financier. attaché in France, he smuggled Kissinger Henry Flory OS 19-28 was born in country, England. He retained the proper 18 19 behaviour of an English gentleman. He where he became an enthusiastic soccer Matthew Hanley OS 83-88 currently loved to travel back to England to visit coach. has the Chair of Emergency Medicine in mysteries of light people and to just do some sightseeing. A chance invitation to lecture on the Lynchburg, Virginia and his department But his home, his heart and his soul-mate complications of diabetes in Vietnam treats 100,000 patients annually. He is were here now and he enjoyed being an led to him organising a multi specialty also a founding partner in a consulting anthon y e y r e American….’ team of volunteers to go and teach local firm focusing on improving quality physicians there on a regular basis and so outcomes and revenue management in some present-day os in was appointed Visiting Professor of the Emergency Departments and describes he greatest single – and of direction, and in February 1893 he However Woodroffe is pre-eminent the thirteen states University of Ho Chi Minh City. himself as Board certified Emergency most striking – monument enrolled at the Slade in London. in having left his mark at Stonyhurst, Music and singing became interests Medicine Physician. that links Stonyhurst with the From this point Woodroffe’s career as literally: in the Sodality Chapel, amongst Adrian Roche OS 69-74 graduated more recently, sometimes involving He is an American by birth but Tthirteen states can be found in New an artist was fixed, travelling down two his windows there, you can see his in Business Studies from Bristol tours abroad. Their children have now was raised in Saudi Arabia and after York, in the Lady Chapel of St Patrick’s paths: he worked as a book illustrator, his self-portrait in the guise of St Edmund Polytechnic and went as a marketing left the nest and he says that life is now Stonyhurst went back to the US for Cathedral. Entering the Cathedral your first two books being collections of nurs- Campion. His window of The Adoration trainee to Cadbury Schweppes. He much easier although he starts his day University and Medical School. Except eye will travel down the length of the ery rhymes set to music by Joseph Moorat, of the Shepherds in the chapel was recently spent the last 20 years in the toy business at 7am! He enjoys his clinics more than for a sister in London, all his family are great building, beyond the high altar a Downside boy who married his sister used by the College as a Christmas card. beginning with Fisher Price and then ever and has no plans at the moment for in America. meeting “a mysterious maze of arches Lillian. He also embarked on a career as a The character of the heart of the College, with The First Years, a Boston based retirement. He is married to Aline, whom he and columns and vaults, continuing the stained glass artist, training under Chris- the main staircase and the Top Refectory, infant products company. His wife and describes as a social worker by trade, but perspective beyond until it is lost in the topher Whall, and in 1900 completed his is largely created by Woodroffe: it is three daughters moved to Cohasset, Chris Grech OS 71-76 came from now a homemaker and a hero, and they dimness of the interior, through which at first commission for St John’s Catholic bathed in the rich light of his armorial Masssachusetts, in 1994. The two eldest Malta and graduated at Liverpool have four children: Ella (7), Gillian (5), the end of the vista glow the mysteries Church in Alton, Staffordshire. He set windows, escutcheons boldly executed daughters went to Jesuit universities: University in Architecture. He went to Carter (3) and Sylvia (1½). He said it was of faith in flaming jewels of light”1: the up his stained glass studio in Chipping in deep colours, fixed forever in the Anna graduated from Georgetown and America in 1994 to teach at the University absolutely crazy but tremendous fun. nine massive stained glass windows Campden, drawn to the Arts and Crafts subconscious memory of many OS. Katie graduated from the College of the of Michigan and then returned to the Most of his time is spent on the of the Lady Chapel, with a further six community there, and in 1907 married Holy Cross. His youngest daughter is at UK to work with a leading engineering children but occasionally he manages in the side chapels of St Michael and St Dorothy Lynch-Staunton, daughter of a university in Ohio and his wife Sarah consultancy. to participate in some triathlons and Louis on one side, and St Elizabeth to the prominent local Catholic family. is a Botanical illustrator and teaches at Seeking the intellectual independence cycling. As a 40th birthday celebration, other, portraying the Mysteries of the Woodroffe belonged to a small circle Wellesley College in Boston. of an academic position, he returned to the he planned to go to Europe to watch the Rosary. This huge cycle, “probably the of OS who followed similar careers Most of the last ten years, they have US and the University of North Carolina. Tour de France and cycle in the Alps and largest commission for stained glass ever in the wider world of Arts and Crafts: taken a group of teenage children to the Later he transferred to Washington as Pyrenees. given to an English artist by an overseas Bernard Newdigate OS 1889, scholar Appalachian region of the USA to rebuild Associate Professor and director of the church”2, is the work of Paul Woodroffe, and typographer; Joseph Thorp OS 1891, St Patrick’s Cathedral was built by homes. He says this is a desperately poor, newly established Master of Science Conor Hill OS 94-99 was born in OS 1892. whose varied career started in the Jesuit Archbishop John Hughes of New York, forgotten part of the US and the first in Sustainable Design Program at the Arizona but his family came to Ascot Woodroffe (1875-1954) was born in novitiate before going through phases who laid the cornerstone in a ceremony time they went there they were shocked School of Architecture and Planning in 1991 where he and his three brothers India, where his father was a judge in as printer, advertiser, playwright, art held on the Feast of the Assumption in and couldn’t believe that this was a part at the Catholic University of America. were enrolled at St John’s, Beaumont the Madras Civil Service. At Stonyhurst critic, social reformer and finally theatre 1858, in front of a crowd estimated to of the richest country in the world! His aspirations are to encourage future because his father was educated by Jesuits he showed himself to be academically reviewer for Punch. The youngest was number 100,000; thus, even as an idea They live just south of Boston ‘on generations of American architects to in Canada and then at Georgetown able and artistically talented, winning also the first to die: Raymund Binns OS rather than as a reality, St Patrick’s the ocean’ in a place famous in Jesuit design buildings which consume less University. After Beaumont, Conor and prizes for drawing. He planned a 1901, killed on the Western Front in July established itself as a focal point for the circles because of the Society’s beautiful energy and non-renewable resources. his three brothers came to Stonyhurst: military career, but a shortage of places 1916. Whilst not coming from the same New York community, Catholic and vacation house right on the water. His extracurricular interests focus James OS 1997, Joseph (SJ) OS 2000 and at Woolwich caused an abrupt change Playroom year their careers constantly beyond, a role emphasised in recent years on Maltese history in the nineteenth Patrick 2002. On leaving the College crossed: when Thorp was struggling by the services held there after 9/11. This Dr David Campbell OS 60-66 son of century. Since the rigours of academia in 1999, Conor went the Franciscan after leaving the novitiate, Newdigate sense of church as community, of the an Irish Catholic mother and an Ulster require technical publications in his University in Ohio to study Humanities introduced him to printing; and Thorp building as a metaphor, lay behind the Protestant father took A levels in Upper specialised field, he balances those and then moved to Washington DC in turn introduced Newdigate to CH St choice of its Gothic style, being the most Syntax and left in November, 1966, having requirements by carrying out research in 2002 to do a Masters in Theology at John Hornby, bringing about the friendly spiritual expression of the aspiration of enjoyed a very successful Stonyhurst which he hopes will result in a full the Catholic University of America and takeover of Newdigate’s Arden Press by career. He took a job as Hospital Steward length biography of Field Marshal Sir began a PhD there in 2005. He has a close WH Smith. Newdigate and Woodroffe on a mail ship sailing from Liverpool to John Lintorn Arabin Simmons RE, connection with the Jesuits in DC, giving often collaborated in book projects, Nigeria and on his first trip after a hur- Governor of Malta between 1884 and lectures and coaching rugby at Gonzaga and Binns received his training in ricane, had to deal with two deaths and 1888 whose personal archive he has been High School and is a parishioner of the Woodroffe’s studio. They often returned a birth. Then the Biafran War broke out reassembling over the past six years. Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown. He to Stonyhurst, leaving their mark in one and there was a coup in Sierra Leone. and his wife Charity live just a few blocks way or another: Binns’ designs of the He then went to Clare College, Mark Hussey OS 65-74 graduated in from Georgetown University. They have College coat of arms still decorate the Cambridge. Vacation work in America English from Leeds, before going on to a two year old daughter Sophia who was “hoodies” worn by pupils; Newdigate convinced him that was the place to be take a PhD at Nottingham University. He baptised at Holy Trinity in 2008. printed for the College, Thorp returned so after finishing his medical degree, he moved to America and holds a Professor­ His brother Joseph is with the Jesuits to speak there, and with Woodroffe the applied for positions. Interviewing him ship at Pace University in Manhattan, in the New Orleans province. three of them funded the Arden Prize, was a prominent Boston Catholic and specialising in Victorian and twentieth given to pupils for their achievements in friend of A L D’Abreu, President of the century literature, with particular [email protected] the Arts and Crafts. Stonyhurst Association. He got the job. emphasis on women’s literature: he has After completing his training, he met published work on Virginia Woolf’s and married his wife, Janet who was writing. He is married to Evelyn and Right: Woodroffe working on the Lady Chapel designs, and left his self-portrait as St Edmund a nurse; they had three children and they have two children, a boy, Xavier Campion in the Sodality Chapel, shown with St settled happily to life in New England and a girl, Miranda. Francis Borgia. JeremyHill Collection 20 21 manufacture, which resulted in a loss of quality. In stylistic terms a lot had been decided before Woodroffe ever came on the scene; already in 1900 the New York Times had reported that ‘The feature of the interior [of the Chapel] will be its color. All of this will come from the windows, which will have a predominating blue tone, blue being the Virgin’s color. The windows will imitate as nearly as possible those of the thirteenth century.’ In 1908, a year before the competition, Cardinal Farley described the windows exactly as they are to be seen today: ‘The Lady Chapel, including the flanking chapels, will have fifteen windows representing the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. The type of window to be employed is the medallion window, of which there are such fine examples at the Cathedral at Chartres. The large medallion at the top of each window is to set forth the mystery itself, while the lower part is to be made up of compositions representing the prophecies which foretold, or the types and symbols of the particular mystery in the medallion above.’ How come Woodroffe, only nine years on from his first church window, was given such a prestigious commission? He was talented and productive, and had had some publicity in America, but the compelling reason lies in his Stonyhurst background. Stonyhurst in those days occupied a leading international position in Catholic education, combining the College as it exists today with a University college – the Philosophers – and a Jesuit Seminary. Many priests on the East Coast had spent part of their novitiate at St Mary’s Hall, including for example Fr Thomas Ewing Sherman SJ, son of the Civil War general. The relationship with the East Coast existed on many levels: Fr Purbrick SJ, Arthur Femenella formerly Rector of Stonyhurst, was at this time Provincial the building; as William Morris said of the California gold rush out of general Chapel was held at Christmas. From the of the Society of Jesus in New York; and in 1900 Archbishop Westminster Abbey, ‘built by the hands trade, having arrived recently from beginning it was clear that the Chapel Corrigan visited Stonyhurst (where he would have seen of the people for the hearts of the people’. Ireland. He came from a landed family, was intended both as a focus of great Woodroffe’s armorial windows in production) as the guest Pope Benedict XVI expanded this idea the O’Kellys of Mullaghmore, and in New devotion and great beauty, described by of Cardinal Vaughan, OS. when he spoke in the Mass he celebrated York established himself in the cream of John, Cardinal Farley (who succeeded However the crucial link came from within the Kelly at St Patrick’s (April 19, 2008): Catholic society, marrying Archbishop Corrigan as Archbishop in 1902) as family: Eugene Kelly Jr (1859-1912), the eldest son of the ‘The unity of a Gothic cathedral, we know, is Hughes’ niece and being offered by ‘rich and delicate’, the ‘gem of the new forty-niner, had been to Stonyhurst as a Philosopher. He not the static unity of a classical temple, but Pope Leo XIII an honorary position at cathedral’, and the ‘Holy of Holies’. He remained close to the College, donating the money for the a unity born of the dynamic tension of diverse the Vatican charmingly described as explained that as well as being dedicated Angels on the reredos of the Boys’ Chapel, funding a literary forces which impel the architecture upward, the Camérier de Cape et d’Epée; which he to the Blessed Virgin, the Lady Chapel prize which he awarded in person, and commissioning a pointing it to heaven. Here too, we can see decided to forego, to concentrate instead was traditionally also ‘the chapel of the window by Woodroffe to portray his coat of arms, to be a symbol of the Church’s unity, which is the on successfully increasing his wealth in Blessed Sacrament, and hence . . . we find found on the Top Gallery by the War Memorial. In his role unity - as Saint Paul has told us - of a living banking. that all the skill and genius of architect, as the key decision maker in the work of the Lady Chapel body composed of many different members, Building, begun under the direction of sculptor, of metal-worker, of stained- Kelly’s old Stonyhurst links were to prove vital. each with its own role and purpose.’ of Archbishop Corrigan, was completed glass artist, are lavished on this portion In 1912 Woodroffe delivered one of the first windows, The Cathedral was opened in 1879 in in 1906, when the first Mass in the of the Cathedral’. The Nativity, for which his notebooks record that he was a New York whose Catholic community In 1909 Paul Woodroffe won the paid £400. The First World War brought a pause to works, was growing in stature and confidence: competition for the windows, accepting picked up again in the 1920s with funding from the one in the following year the city’s first a commission which was fairly pre­ surviving Kelly brother, Thomas Hughes Kelly, keen to Catholic mayor, WR Grace, was elected scriptive in its terms: not just the subject complete the work in his own advancing years, spurred (whose brother Morgan, famous for his matter, but also the stylistic and practical on by the approaching Jubilee of the Cathedral, which was career as a New Zealand legislator, was a aspects of the execution were dictated. postponed by a year until May 1930 to allow completion Stonyhurst boy). At this stage a shortage Concerned that Woodroffe’s studio in of works in the Chapel. Even then not all the windows of funds had prevented the building of a Chipping Campden would not have the Right: The Agony in the Garden. The Mystery itself is illustrated in the top Lady Chapel, traditionally placed behind capacity for such a large undertaking it roundel; below the first two rows illustrate Old Testament scenes of profound the high altar as an extension from the was specified that his designs should be alienation from God: The Fall, Cain and Abel, The Flood, The Tower of apse. Funding arrived in 1900, in a bequest sub-contracted to other workshops for Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah and The Golden Calf. Below these are 12 scenes by Mrs Margaret Kelly for a Lady Chapel in four rows illustrating the events of that Passover night, starting with Femenella Arthur to be built in memory of her husband Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and ending with Judas casting away his Left: Eugene Kelly Jr’s coat of arms, window by Paul 30 pieces of silver. Behind the whole and unifying the composition both in Eugene (1806-94). Eugene Kelly had been Woodroffe (Stonyhurst College);Above: The Lady a visual and metaphorical sense is Jacob’s Ladder, enforcing the theme of a “forty-niner”, making a fortune during Chapel, St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. prayer and suggestive of Jesus’ role as bridge between man and God. 22 23 were in place: in July 1930 The Times they reveal all their splendour. Many writers reported that the window illustrating – here in America we can think of Nathaniel seeing is believing “The Finding in the Temple” (known Hawthorne – have used the image of stained as the Jesse Window for its portrayal of glass to illustrate the mystery of the Church the tree of Jesse) was being exhibited herself. It is only from the inside, from the Hil a ry Mor i a rt y at Selfridge’s prior to shipment to New experience of faith and ecclesial life, that we York. In these post-war years Woodroffe see the Church as she truly is: flooded with was able to undertake all production grace, resplendent in beauty, adorned by the he fine catalogue for work in his own studio, so that only five manifold gifts of the Spirit. It follows that we, the Held in Trust exhibition and windows were sub-contracted. who live the life of grace within the Church’s a recent visit to the College (ten Whilst the plan for the windows communion, are called to draw all people into andT forty years respectively after my son was clearly prescriptive, Woodroffe this mystery of light.’ and my husband left) gave me pause for embraced it, and in a profound sense was A Holy of Holies, the celebration of an thought. able to use the windows to give a spiritual inherited communion to be projected out Stonyhurst has a treasure trove of articulation to the whole Chapel. The to a wider world: Woodroffe would have relics and precious items associated both windows stand out from the rest of instinctively understood this theme, with the school and with the wider world his work: generally his compositions and the Chapel windows are fittingly of faith. Its history runs very deep and its transcended the architectural boundaries his greatest work. The Chapel remains treasures and artefacts make palpable of a window, so a scene would be carried a tribute to him and to the Kelly family, today the faith for which yesterday across two or more lights, and the who are buried in the crypt below. Our people were prepared to die. whole window would be devoted to one East Coast OS should congregate there Nowadays in schools, we’re very unified rendition of a single subject. In occasionally to remember the OS who keen on taking children to where the Left: Relic of Blessed Edward New York, instead, every means is taken built it; it has after all been the venue of action was – visits to the trenches or Oldcorne SJ (Stonyhurst to divide up the visual space – frames, choice for the celebrations of the stages to Auschwitz are part and parcel of the Collections) lozenges, quatrefoils, all contributing to of life by generations of New Yorkers. modern historian’s armoury in the effort the kaleidoscopic, 13th century Chartres What better place to start from? From to make history ‘real’. Such stagings do upon twenty first century young for a gruelling five years, to establish effect. This is not however just for where better to leave? force the modern imagination to reach people? Surrounded by physical items their credentials as believers, entitled to effect: in a far more subtle way the many back to a different time, when people touched and left by ordinary people like entry for their offspring to a really good divided up little scenes and portraits of [email protected] much like us lived and breathed and themselves, as well as by the prominent church primary school, Protestant or each window add up to an iconographic believed in different things, and died for and famous, do students reflect more Catholic. Is it just a good education they exposition of the Mysteries of the different reasons. deeply – or even at all – upon what faith want and they are prepared to risk the Rosary through the shared experiences I have wondered if Stonyhurst’s rich means to them? religion to get it? Or do they actively seek of the community of the Church, in endowment of real items from past times When we visited, the Boys’ Chapel the religion as well? breadth across the globe and in depth – the hat of St Thomas More, a lock of was full that Sunday morning at the end I once heard religion – faith – likened through time. Thus St Isaac Jogues, first hair from Mary, Queen of Scots, the of the autumn term. There were girls as to playing the piano: if you do not learn Catholic missionary to Manhattan, is a Book of Hours belonging to Elizabeth well as boys, and the name of the chapel to play when young, you will probably manifestation of the flame of Pentecost; Plantagenet, daughter of Edward IV but is itself a relic from former times. Many never learn. Later, you can choose to and the violent religious suppression better known to us as Elizabeth of York, of the students had performed the night stop playing if you prefer: an informed by the Bolsheviks is yet another sign later queen of Henry VII – enriches also before in the school’s production of the choice. It’s the same with religion: if it of the scourging of the Body of Christ. the students’ sense of the school’s past. complex and demanding ‘Sweeney Todd’. is part of a child’s life from birth, he or The Mysteries are a living and shared Possibly not. While I stand in awe The week to come before the end of term she can make a choice later about what experience, the Joy, the Sorrow and of the glass cases which display such had two Carol Services and a concert as they believe and whether it is for them. the Glory resonating through time and things, so close you could almost touch well as classes and matches. And if some If you don’t get it young, you probably binding us together. them and feel history in your hands, my of the students looked less than sparkly, won’t get it at all. And you may miss a In his homily at St Patrick’s Pope husband reports that when he was a boy many of them had actually been up all great deal. How many of us in later life, Benedict recalled how Archbishop attending Stonyhurst in the late 1960s, night, between the production and the lamenting our wooden fingers, wish we Hughes’ stylistic choices had been neither he nor his companions gave any service, completing an advent vigil in the could play the piano? intended ‘to remind the young Church in of it a second thought. Church. The students sang the last carol So perhaps, even in atheist and agnostic America of the great spiritual tradition That reaction, of course, is one of in Latin and, so far as I could see, they all parents, there is a wish for their children to which it was heir, and to inspire it Right: The Coronation of the Virgin, above the main the reasons today’s history teachers go took communion. not only to get a good education, but to bring the best of that heritage to the altar; St Ladislaus of Hungary and the Emperor to such lengths to bring history alive There is no doubt that we live in an also for them to be introduced to some Constantine, from the Crowning with Thorns; and building up of Christ’s body in this land.’ the Bolshevik, from the Scourging of the Body of with trips and enactments and empathy, increasingly secular and sceptical world. of the ancient well-springs of spirituality, He went on to dwell on how aspects of Christ. possibly edging out the dates and events A report published in 2007 recorded just to be taught in a school which offers the building could which made up the subject when I did A 15% of the UK population attending something more: a glimpse of a faith, ‘serve as a starting point for a reflection I am indebted to Femenella Associates Inc for level history and never left the classroom. church at least once a month. 50 years which may or may not matter to you on our particular vocations within supplying most of the photographs; they are a leading But Stonyhurst has a collection which ago, apparently, half the population (yet), but once, for men and women just stained glass restoration company who have worked the unity of the Mystical Body: at St Patrick’s Cathedral. says more than, ‘Someone once held would go to church. Yet schools like like you, it mattered more than life itself. The first has to do with the stained glass this four hundred years ago.’ It says, Stonyhurst have never been more And maybe that’s inspiring. windows, which flood the interior with 1 Architectural Record, New York, Vol 21, June 1907 ‘Someone died for this.’ popular with parents. Why? Certainly mystic light. From the outside, those windows 2 Peter D Cormack, Paul Woodroffe 1875-1954, Is it possible that the very presence of the demand for places outstrips the are dark, heavy, even dreary. But once one William Morris Gallery 1982. Peter Cormack is the such reminders of the grim reality of a supply, and in many parishes parents Hilary Moriarty is National Director of the leading authority on Woodroffe; see alsoOriginality enters the church, they suddenly come alive; and Initiative, ed. Mary Greensted & Sophia faith, here in England four hundred years actually become church-goers before Boarding Schools’ Association, but writes reflecting the light passing through them, Wilson, Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum 2003 ago, somehow makes an impression the baby is born, and attend regularly here in a personal capacity. 24 25 St. John’s h A NDic a pped charities Childr en’s Trust eagle aid & spicma L ATEST NEWS FROM M A N v i & PANNUR , INDI A The Trust was founded in 1975 by a group of OS, led by Simon Morrison OS christopher page Last October Pannur and Manvi suffered catastrophic flooding 69-74, who had experienced the HLHCT Children’s holiday at Stonyhurst during he Stonyhurst Association We hope through the Association and the Jesuit Mission at Pannur found itself at the centre their sixth form (He coached the Colts is a charity in its own right. and through the Newsletter, to stir up of relief efforts. Fr Maxim Rasquinha SJ, Superior at the XV when I was at St John’s). Having said that, it is quite ‘the silent majority’ of our members in Thirty-five years later SJHCT con- Mission, appealed for funds, and the Association has been able Tpossible that to many the superficial support of their efforts. It is obviously tinues to provide residential holidays activities of the Association may not the case that many of our members to contribute to fund raising spearheaded by Jesuit Missions, for children from within the Thames be considered in the technical sense have their own pet charities, and there SPICMA and Wimbledon College, with money from the London Valley and West London with physical ‘charitable’ in as much as they may is no question of us suggesting that and learning difficulties, with exactly the Convivium and St Omers Press seem to relate primarily to keeping OS our members should only support same enthusiasm and ethos as when it in touch with each other and in touch EAGLE AID! However, it does seem was founded. This led to the catchphrase with the College. The more obviously an appropriate vehicle to use, and it is for the Trust, ‘Rise and Shine’, regularly charitable activities of the Association somewhat disappointing that the take sung, to all the children’s delight. Dear Friends, take place at a deeper level. Not only up is generally low, and generally by the We take approximately 25 children do the objects of the Association refer same group of people each time. We are writing to thank you for all the support, hard work and generosity on a summer holiday week, and about to the general promotion of the Church The joy of EAGLE AID is that it is able you have given to support the flooding appeal in Manvi/Pannur. There 12 children over the Easter weekend. (religion having historically been a to act as an umbrella; if you have a pet were a total of 29 villages which were destroyed by the flood in the region of Our aim is to give children a unique ‘charitable object’, although that is project that you would like to support, Pannur – most of them are now just piles of rubble. Thanks to the wonderful opportunity to experience new activities now questioned), we also have at heart and would like to make use of the generosity of JM Supporters we’ve raised £32k so far. in an amazing environment, namely the instinctive ‘charitable’ purpose administration (including for Gift Aid) Alton Castle, a stone’s throw from Alton Since the floods occurred, the Jesuits have provided much needed relief instilled in us by our faith and by our and experience that can be provided by Towers. As well as the activity park, and support to the local villagers, who would otherwise have been completely education, namely the use of our talents EAGLE AID, then please make contact activities include adventure playgrounds, neglected. In the initial stages they provided food, clean water and medical and privileges for the benefit of others, a (www.eagleaid.org) so they can give it the cinema, climbing and horse riding. help. Over the past few months, the Jesuits have helped several Dalit villages yearning for justice. consideration. Equally, we hope that Volunteer helpers, including too to build temporary accommodation. The constructions consists of reed The Association itself is able to provide you will agree that many of the projects many OS to list, give individual care to partitions and wood with a simple corrugated roof. They were simple and overtly charitable benefits, whether currently being fostered by EAGLE AID each child, developing a relationship that quick to build, but robust enough to provide a basic home. Each hut provides through scholarship funds, student are worthwhile, and we do hope that you ensures that they gain the most out of one large room which is divided by a partition in to a bedroom and kitchen/ grants, grants to Lourdes pilgrims or will support the latest ventures. their holiday. Parents get a well earned living area. The floors are earthen and the cooking is carried out on a fire with other forms of benevolent assistance. On As another way of providing general break, whilst we give the children a a pot hanging above the fire. The family sleep all together in one bedroom the whole, such benefits go to those who charitable support, we are pleased to fantastic holiday, full of fun and laughter on a huge mound of fresh cotton from the fields. The Jesuits have spent the are, or who have been, at the College. report that a similar charity, SPICMA, is – a memory that lasts forever! Many minimum possible to provide reasonable temporary accommodation which The Association Committee’s intention now provided with all its administrative volunteers still come from Stonyhurst enables the Dalits to continue with their daily work in the fields. However, however is that the Association, in this back up by our Association Office. We and many are also veterans of the they now have a long way to walk to collect water (around 2km) – previously Newsletter, should also be a catalyst will report further on that initiative later Lourdes Pilgrimage. Most helpers are they were close to the water’s edge. The Jesuits are currently negotiating with to encourage our members to general in the year, but on page 27 you will see personally introduced and therefore the government to grant permission for building permanent accommodation and genuine ‘charitable’ activity for a ‘thank you’ letter from Jesuit Missions, many of the St. John’s family are part on higher land. This is where the majority of the funds will be used. the benefit of our world, particularly for an appeal to which SPICMA was the of the Stonyhurst family, mainly due to for those less lucky than ourselves, not largest donor, a good illustration of what Incredibly, no-one actually died in the flood, although there were a few the ethos of service that is part of the out of a vague sense of benevolence, or SPICMA has been successfully raising close misses. However several people died from snake bites and diseases education there. Recently we have been ‘giving back’, but out of a genuine sense funds for. SPICMA was originally set (which were a direct consequence of the flooding). forging stronger links with St. John’s of justice and of love. up by old boys of St Ignatius, Enfield, to Beaumont with huge support from their Recently there was a large retreat organised by Fr Eric in Pannur – a We aim to do this in many ways: support their brother, a Mill Hill father, Social Committee who raise much of thanksgiving service for saving their lives in the flood. Over 500 villagers through fund raising, by providing in Uganda. It is a good illustration of our funds the rest coming from helpers’ turned up, despite this being the busy agricultural season. some sort of inspiration (by reporting how the strength of ‘family’ can spread initiatives and our own fund raising ball on the activities of OS), by encouraging to the benefit of the broader community, A huge tent was set up for the Masses and prayers sessions and the women in London. participation, in asking for your prayers. reflecting the aims of the Association. turned up in their multi-coloured saris from far and wide along with the men Please check our website, www. It is for that reason that we have been For both EAGLE AID and SPICMA and children. Huge cooking pots were set up on fires for the mass catering sjhct.org or e-mail me (below) whether pushing ‘our charity’ (which is technically it would be ideal if we could share our required! It was a very joyful occasion ! to volunteer to work or to help with a separate from the Association), namely email data with them, so that we become donation. We would be thrilled to hear Thanks once again for your support – it really has made a difference. EAGLE AID. You will find in this edition mutually beneficial to each other. We from some of the early members of the another flyer from EAGLE AID. EAGLE shall be asking your permission to do so; With all best wishes, Trust or even see you at our fund raising AID’S organisation is largely dependent we hope you will agree. ball in London on 13th November – look From the team at Jesuit Missions upon OS, primarily Michael Gorman out for details on the website. (OS 1939-1949), and operates through [email protected] You can give to the on-going appeal at: Dr Trevor Fernandes OS 77-82 supporting projects which should Chairman of Trustees resonate with our members, particularly www.justgiving.com/Emergencyappealforfloodinginmanvi [email protected] in conjunction with Jesuits’ work around reg charity no 284573 the world. 26 27 eagle aid zimbabwe pilgrim age lourdes 2009: some reflections

dav id a lton Rome 2009 edmund page

n November 2008 Zimbabwe’s tions – and within their context the issue he thirteenth annual n day five of this year’s inflation peaked at an astounding of access to land and natural resources Eagle Aid pilliday (pilgrimage/ pilgrimage to Lourdes our team daily increase of 98%. Statistics like (which has been used by Mugabe to in- holiday) to Rome was fully sub- went on an excursion up the hill Ithis one masked the desperate distress flame passions and to cling on to political Tscribed within a month of the confir- Oto the Cite Saint Pierre. It was designed 2010 catholic association for that country’s beleaguered people. power) will be crucial. mation of dates. We arrived in glorious to be a bit of an adventure and a team What has followed since the nadir of If Zimbabwe focuses on the produc- October sunshine and spent our first bonding exercise but given that it was pilgrimage to lourdes 2008 hardly represents transformation tive use of its land and resources, espe- two days in retreat at the Cistercian scheduled during a valuable afternoon but there is a sense that the old adage cially on agricultural development and Abbey of Casamari, sixty miles south of off and it was pouring with rain, I think that “the darkest part of the night is just the honest exploitation of its gold mines Rome. With our own chapel and confer- some team members were woken from The dates for this year’s pilgrimage are 20th-27th August. before the dawn” may be true. and other natural resources, there is no ence room, dining room and individual their siestas rather begrudgingly. Our One of the saddest consequences of reason why the eradication of poverty en-suite bedrooms, we were very well crazy Irish contingent, Gerry, did not For more information contact Beverley Sillitoe at Robert Mugabe’s tyrannical rule has (one of the key Millennium Goals) should placed indeed. Father Michael helped us make matters any better. She missed [email protected]. been the temptation to see the whole not be achieved. The formation of a na- to spend a day praying around St Peter two buses while doing her make up, then of Africa through the prism of Zimba- tional economic council to include pri- and another around St Paul. Casamari is straight after stepping off the bus she bwe. My own visits to Darfur, Southern vate business and civil society, charged a glorious building, one of the most im- walked into a wooden beam and filled All are welcome, and in particular the Stonyhurst Pilgrimage to Sudan, Rwanda and Congo could bring with the job of reviving the mining in- portant collections of Romanesque mo- the whole valley with echoing expletives. Lourdes wishes to assist more disabled and sick pilgrims, so please on a wave of deep pessimism but even in dustry and farming, must represent a nastic complexes to survive in Italy. At this point we were all pretending we spread the word to anyone who might be interested. these fraught places there are some signs small step in the right direction. With our foundations thus well laid, didn’t know each other – bonding was of hope and an understanding in the in- Morgan Tsvangirai may not be a we set off for Rome where we stayed out of the question. ternational community that without a Mandela and Zimbabwe’s Government close to the first house lived in by St Although she did not seem ecstatic story of Saint Bernadette and reminded easy to think of a shift in the Accueil as resolution of conflict there is no prospect of National Unity may still be too domi- Ignatius and his companions. We were to have found a compatriot, our Irish us of the reasons we come to Lourdes hard work and to long for free time, with of strengthening economic development nated by Mugabe’s Zanu-PF but we can all but literally following in his footsteps. guide, Veronica, was oblivious to the and the reasons it is so special. This the same attitude as you would typically or good governance. too quickly forget where Zimbabwe was A couple of minutes away was the great taut dynamics of our team. This was was encouraging because there are consider a gruelling day job. By the end Unhappy though Zimbabwe has been in 2008. That it has fallen out of the news Jesuit church of the Gesù, where we not surprising because the Cite Saint members of our team who had been you see how much you gain from work­ it is not a paradigm of Africa as a whole. headlines may actually be a reason for were twice able to have Mass in the re- Pierre welcomes such a diverse range coming to Lourdes for many decades, ing with those more vulnerable than you Among the continent’s more than 50 cautious optimism. cently restored rooms used by St Ignatius of people from all over the world, and and one member of our team was a and you want to stay longer, and this countries there are plenty which have Tsvangirai has called in Parliament for the last years of his life and in which she has been guiding eclectic groups of priest. These factors can put people off shared experience united our team. The either made or are making the transi- for an end to “brutal suppression” to he died. The Brother who looked after pilgrims around the site for many years. discussing spiritual matters because they disabled and sick pilgrims in the Accueil, tion from badly governed States to sta- allow the country to gain international us was thrilled when he learned that The enclave was founded in the 1950’s to feel ‘under-qualified’ and they are afraid by their afflictions, have been forcibly bility and better governance, and which aid. He said: “Brutal suppression, wanton two of us were mothers of Jesuits, Dawn give refuge to pilgrims who were too that they will say something wrong. But removed from the vain rush for social have understood that the first evil to be arrests and political persecution impede Bishop, mother to Simon (OS) and Mau- poor to afford accommodation in the the theology of Lourdes is very simple status and prosperity, but after a short stamped out is violent conflict and that our ability to rebuild our economy” and he reen Whelan, mother to Gerry of the town. These days it provides free food and in fact, it is the most vulnerable who time have realised that these are empty the second great evil is corruption. urged “the international community to rec- Irish Province currently lecturing at the and housing to 500 pilgrims at any one most effectively articulate what it is all goals in life. The humility that they have Faltering but steady progress must be ognise our efforts and to note progress in this Gregorian University. We also had Mass time, all made possible by volunteers about. It is not the theology that has to found comes out to those around them the hope for Zimbabwe. Its most impor- regard, and to match our progress by moving in the beautifully restored chapel of the like Veronica who dedicate three weeks be confronted but the ideas of status and with joy and celebration. With their tant neighbour, South Africa, still faces towards the removal of restrictive measures”. English College and on the Sunday we a year to work there. The pilgrims can ‘qualification’ that are imposed in a world vulnerability comes unconditional love many daunting challenges but 15 years Products on supermarket shelves, attended Mass in St Peter’s where Pope catch a free bus every twenty minutes to outside Lourdes’ boundaries. Veronica and a magnanimity that takes hold of ago no one anticipated the remarkable greater availability of petrol, a more Benedict presided over the closing Mass the centre of Lourdes, although they also clearly interpreted for us the joy felt by you and draws you slowly towards their transformation and reconciliation which stable currency must all be welcome. of the Synod of bishops from Africa. conduct many of their celebrations in situ the poor visiting the grotto year after wisdom. Above all it is their faith that is it has experienced. Surely, with the right Above all, the enduring spirit of Zimba- Steven Fachada, helped by Mgr Rod on the hill. The first thing that strikes you year. Here they can identify with Mary most inspiring, for it is in their humility leadership and priorities, Zimbabwe bwe’s own people is the greatest reason Strange OS of the Beda College, worked as you arrive at the Cite Saint Pierre is the and Bernadette who both abandoned and their struggles that Christ’s presence could undergo the transformation. for hope. This spirit is particularly re- hard at laying on visits to a number of peace (Gaelic swearing aside), especially everything of themselves for God. is revealed to them, and as such it is they Some in the country understand the flected in the determination of schools, less well-known places such as the inter- in contrast to the bustling domain at the Veronica’s confidence must have in Lourdes who are most alive to the need for change and appreciate that like St George’s College, to fearlessly and national headquarters of the Knights of foot of the hill, and looking out over the rubbed off on our team, because the next depth of God’s love. there can be no development without in- courageously continue to provide educa- Malta and the gardens of the Vatican. foothills of the Pyrenees, it is a place of afternoon we had a period of reflection So Lourdes turns the world on its ternational investment. But the precon- tion and to survive the turbulence until A last word about who we were. extraordinary natural beauty. In fact, in which all eight members of our team head, lifting up the poor and the afflicted dition for investing anywhere in Africa is happier times come. This resilience in There was one OS and several mothers the accommodation set up for the poor were open about their own experiences who are marginalised by society. But good governance, political stability, and the face of such great adversity serves as of OS, Farm Street parishioners, friends, in Lourdes is far more majestic and care of Lourdes. Some described their own it is only of any use to the rest of the respect for the rule of law. Zimbabwe is an inspiration to us all. Canadian cousins and so forth. You can free than any hotel in Lourdes itself. spiritual journey, while others recalled world if, like Bernadette, Veronica, and still a long way from establishing clear see that all really are welcome on these What struck me about Veronica’s anecdotes about working with the the vulnerable pilgrims we can share lines of accountability, effectiveness of (Lord Alton of Liverpool, a parent at the pillidays. Plans are taking shape for next guided tour, aside from the excessive disabled, often saying the same thing but this message with each other, so that national and local government, regula- College, is an Independent Crossbench year with Naples as the venue. Watch attention to detail, was the confidence in a slightly different way. By this stage Lourdes can become a springboard for a tory quality and the control of corrup- Peer and a former member of the House of this space or one like it! in which she delivered it, and the in the week it was clear that working in more just and loving world. tion, but at least the debate is underway. Commons. He is Professor of Citizenship at convictions she had about the spiritual the Accueil (hospital) was no longer a Whoever succeeds Robert Mugabe Liverpool John Moores University and is a Maxinne Torrents dels Prats dimensions of the Cite Saint Pierre. chore but we all looked forward to each Edmund Page OS 99-04 will have to address these core ques- governor of the College). [email protected] She gave us a very simple lesson on the shift. At the start of the pilgrimage it is [email protected] 28 29 annual dinner books & classifieds

Fr John Twist SJ is the Chaplain at Jimmy Burns OS tells the story of his Pr esident Ba r ry O’Dr iscoll Stony­hurst, and regulars at St Peter’s father Tom’s work as a British spy will be familiar with his laconic, in our Embassy in Madrid, a tale intelligent and quietly humorous style. of political, religious and romantic e held the 2009 Stony­ development at College. Sport provided Each homily is a bite-sized piece of passion; he “brilliantly evokes the hurst Dinner at the College a framework which demanded hard wisdom, relating a biblical passage to shadowy world of dingy cafes, luxury on 31st October. The excellent work, discipline, patience and honesty; everyday life… each would be quick hotels, propaganda, bribery and Wchoice of venue, which is traditionally a reliance on your fellow man and enough to read on the train or bus, or betrayal… Lovers of Spain, lovers the President’s, was straightforward and his or her dependence on you. Sport before bed time. Filled with realism and of true spy stories and lovers of very much approved of. at Stonyhurst demanded humility in laced with humour, these ‘thoughts for love itself will adore this enchanting Since I left the College in 1960, there victory and graciousness in defeat. the day’ provide much to ponder on. book: Burns junior has served up a feast” [Sunday Telegraph] have been few years when one of my These are the values which we see £8.50 family has not been at the school and being threatened in every sphere of life, St Pauls Publishing, 2009 £ prices vary: see Amazon.co.uk the aura of peace and stability in the which makes their cementing in place ISBN 978-085439-7570 Bloomsbury Publishing 2009 College, strikes you without fail every at Stonyhurst all the more important. ISBN 978-0747595205 time you cross the threshold. It reminds I exemplified this by noting that every those of us whose Alma Mater it is, just member of that unbeaten XV at Stony- Charles Carroll of Carrollton is how fortunate we have been. On this hurst had turned out to be very happy most often remembered as the sole Catholic signer of the Declaration occasion, I was lucky enough to have Christian family men and all were ex- of Independence. This monumental fifteen close family members with me to tremely successful in their chosen ca- study vindicates a family’s enjoy the event. reers. determination to triumph without Originally, I wanted to use the Top I referred to the major sadness of my compromising lineage and faith. Refectory, surely one of the great halls of Presidency year when we lost Fr Charles Ronald Hoffman peels back any building, but numbers ruled this out. Higham who was my rugby coach at layer after layer of Carroll family BEAUMONT UNION Notwithstanding that, the Ambulacrum Stonyhurst. Not only was he the best history, from dispossession was decked out magnificently with rugby coach I had ever played under in Ireland to prosperity and superb sound and lighting and a colour but also every time I came off the field prominence in America. Beaumont College closed in 1967 yet the old scheme of green and gold. I am indebted after a coaching session with Fr Charles, University of North boy’s association, the Beaumont Union is still to Simon Charles and Gareth Jones I felt enhanced as a person as well as a Carolina Press, 2002 for this layout. Despite the size of the rugby player. The principles that Fr ISBN 978-0807853474 going strong. In the Stonyhurst Newsletter Ambulacrum, we had to put a ceiling Charles instilled in me have remained there are often names mentioned which were of 250 for reasons of health and safety, maturity of thought and presentation, the bedrock of my life. very familiar at Beaumont, so if anyone’s father otherwise many more would have rarely seen in one so young. I emphasise my gratitude to Beverley In this book, William W Warner attended. My Guest Speaker was Sean Fitz- Sillitoe for her hard work and invaluable explores how Maryland’s Catholics or grandfather was at the college and is not on It was greatly encouraging to see so patrick, a legendary figure in rugby and advice throughout the whole year of my drew upon their long-standing the Beaumont database, we would be delighted many of the younger generation of OS. world sport. He is a graduate of the Marist term of office. This was all done with such tradition – advocacy of separation to hear from them. They will then receive the They provided an element of vigour, College in Auckland and Auckland Uni- good humour and kindness. Her new of church and state, a sense of joy and optimism which contributed so versity. The Marist principles of educa- assistant, Layla, whom we welcomed, civic duty, and a determination BU Review and other news concerning their old much to the evening. tion so wonderfully complement the has certainly got a fine mentor. ‘to live at peace with all their school friends. neighbours’, in Bishop Carroll’s For those of us who were slightly principles of the Jesuit tradition. Sean is a I made no apology for referring so phrase – to take a prominent part There is no subscription or charge. older, the reminiscences went on late World Cup winner and the most capped much to sport in my speech. Being in the early government, financing, into the night, mainly based on the Mark Captain of the illustrious All Blacks and physically and mentally fit go hand in and building of the new capital. Twain truism ‘As I get older, I find the he regaled us most entertainingly with hand. Sport at its best, and Stonyhurst is Guy Bailey, Chairman Beaumont Union further I go back, the better I remember stories of life and rugby. only interested in the best for each pupil, Georgetown University Press,1994 Park Palace, MC98000 Monaco things, whether they happened or not.’ In my speech as President, I welcomed is a quite wonderful contributor to one’s ISBN: 978-0878405572 The College catering staff showed the many distinguished guests making life and development. [email protected] why they have built such a reputation in particular reference to the Jesuit Fathers Mass in the Chapel the following Joseph O’Connor has written a the Ribble Valley for the quality of their present – men who had dedicated their morning included a fine and relevant “tale of war and forgiveness, of food and service. lives to living, teaching and spreading homily by Fr John Twist, College strangers in a strange land, of In his speech, the Headmaster was the Ignatian Way, the basis on which Chaplain, and was concelebrated by love put to the ultimate test”. Set the welcoming and erudite Principal the integrity and legacy of Stonyhurst Fathers William Hewett, Chaplain to in the dying days of the American we have come to know. The breadth College is guaranteed. I referred to how the Association, Michael Bossy, Nick Civil War the story revolves around of education, spiritual, academic and in a College offering an education based King, Michael O’Halloran and Hilary the mercurial revolutionary James sporting, which is available to the on 400 years of Jesuit principles, I had Thomas. The hymns were sung with O’Keeffe, a thinly disguised Thomas Francis Meagher OS 1839-43. “A pupils is indeed excellent and he is benefited so much from the academic, splendid gusto and all in all, this was the riveting historical novel… from to be commended on the impressive scholarly and artistic windows of appropriate peaceful transition back to the author of the internationally way the school moves forward and opportunity provided. the day job! best-selling “Star of the Sea”. standards are maintained. The Head of Having said that, sport in my case the Line, Caroline Shorthouse, made particularly rugby and cricket, were Harvill Secker 2007 an outstanding speech, displaying a probably the major factors in my [email protected] ISBN 978-0436205699 Available hardback and paperback 30 31 L D S

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