In Memoriam
Joan Handford
We are very sorry to report that Mrs Handford has passed away.
She died on Sunday 23rd September 2007 after some months of illness.
Joan will never be forgotten by her Mathematics students at St Ambrose.
She regularly attended Old Boy events since 1996.
Her funeral was held at 12-15pm on Tuesday 2nd October
2007 at St Hugh's Timperley.
May her eternal soul rest in peace.
Sam Wilkinson
We have just heard the sad news of the death of Sam Wilkinson who taught so many of us
Drama and Biology at St Ambrose.
He amused and enriched the lives of all those he taught.
His funeral was held at 2pm on Monday October 1st 2007
at Holy Angels Church.
May his eternal soul rest in peace.
Matthew Norton (S.Manihara)
1952-2009
Former pupil of St Ambrose, and Founder of the SKCV Charity, Vijayawada, South India.
Matthew founded SKCV in 1984 and passed away on June 1st 2009, aged 56 years.
The Hindu, India's National Newspaper,2nd June 2009
Obituary - The Guardian, 10 August 2009
Memories of Matthew Manihara Norton
“There is a light that never goes out.”
Johnny Kelsey and family
“He had a dream and he made it come true, he showed us the way and we followed it through.
He sacrificed his life and made our dreams come true.”
Kids at SKCV, Vijayawada
"Very rarely does one meet a true visionary whose impact is immediate on everyone they meet.
Matthew was such a person"
29.4.1931 - 3.11.2002
The BBC News website reports:
Musician Lonnie Donegan MBE, known as the "king of skiffle", has died aged 71.
The Glasgow-born singer was midway through a UK tour after recovering from a heart operation earlier this year and was due to play a concert in Stoke, Staffordshire, on Monday.One of the most successful recording artists of the pre-Beatles era, he had three UK number one hits and numerous top 10 entries in the 1950s and 60s.
The star was with his wife and son when he died in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday at about 0230 GMT. He had been complaining of back trouble shortly before he fell ill.
Dr Richard Reynolds
We were shocked and saddened to hear the tragic news in mid-February 2000, of the death of Dr Richard Reynolds, in a swimming accident in Australia.Richard left St Ambrose in 1988 to study Medicine at St Andrews. He had completed his training and exams for General Practice, but planned to spend a few months working in Australia before settling into practice in the UK. Both Richard and a colleague who were swimming together from a beach were drowned in the same incident.
A keen cricketer at school, and a supporter of Manchester City, Richard will also be remembered for giving his time to assist the disabled as part of the annual Lourdes Pilgrimage.At the school prize day on 20th March 2000, the Richard Reynolds prize for the best First year Cricketer was presented for the first time.
Mr Geoffrey Chilcott
passed away in June 1997. He had taken early retirement in July 1996, but intended to continue teaching Geography in a part-time capacity. Unfortunately, he took ill in September, and was unable to resume teaching. He died in Christie's Hospital, Manchester, and was cremated at Dunham, Altrincham, in June 1997. Reverend Deacon Alan Morris presided at the funeral service in a packed church. Jeff came to St. Ambrose from St. Benedict's, Ealing, and quickly proved to be an outstanding and extremely popular Geography teacher. Many old boys will remember the field-trips in Derbyshire and the traffic-surveys in Hale Barns. Jeff also took rugby teams, and refereed at club level, before a knee injury curtailed his career. The Old Boys' Association will finance a "Chilcott Geography Prize" to be presented annually on Speech Day in his memory (to the best Geographer in the Sixth Form).
Mrs. Jacqueline Harrison
passed away in September 1997 and her Requiem Mass took place at St. Vincent's, Altrincham, where Reverend Deacon Alan Morris spoke movingly of her life, work, and affection for St. Ambrose College. She taught French in a part-time capacity for many years at the College. Born in Belgium, she was a native French-speaker, and was a J.M.B. French Oral Examiner at 'A' level for many years. Her husband, Denis, was a University Lecturer in the Education Department at Manchester University. After taking early retirement he became School Librarian at the College for some years. He died two years ago. Both will be remembered by Old Boys with great affection.
Mr. John Dennison
passed away in September 1997 and his Requiem Mass was held at Christ Church, Heald Green. John was Head of Music at the College in the 1960s, when he initiated what became our annual Christmas Carol Service. Indeed, he was an outstanding choral trainer. He moved on to St. Augustine's, Wythenshawe, where the late Fr. Frank McGuinness had become Headmaster. He later became Deputy Head of St. Elizabeth's R.C. Primary School. His uncle, Bob Dennison, was a well known football manager, who once had a talented striker by the name of Brian Clough in his Middlesbrough side. John took early retirement three years ago, but had numerous piano pupils to occupy his time. He had just returned from a three week holiday in the USA, when he died quite suddenly in his sleep.
Brother Patrick Theobald Owens
passed away (aged 88) in a nursing home at Ince Blundell, near Southport. For many years he was Head of the Preparatory Department, before moving across to the main school where he was invariably Form-master of 1 Owens, where he taught French and R.E. He also ran a Catholic Repository. He was also a very knowledgeable and fanatical gardener' After his retirement from teaching, he continued to live in the Community at Hale Barns, and it was only a few years ago that he moved to Ince Blundell.
Kit Kelly
Passed away in his sleep, only 51 years of age, November 2009. Older brother to Patrick. Funeral held at Holy Angels Church, Hale Barns, 18th November 2009.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families. Requiescant in pace.
