St Joseph's Society
‘There were 33 in my year when I began in Underlow, and among them were Jim Matthews and Joe Weston. At ordination, there were 22, the biggest group ever, after taking in students from Salford and Minevia.
On reflection, life at the College wasn’t always easy or even enjoyable, and some of the teaching was of no relevance to us later in parish ministry, but many of us were driven on by the ultimate prize of priesthood!
The key to getting by, was getting involved, and for me, music was to become a lifelong interest and passion, even to this day.
In Higher Line, I was selected by Dr Ellison ‘the fastest organist in the country?’ to play 2nd clarinet in the College orchestra, and because of this, my tuition fees were paid for by the College.
The Rector, Mgr. Joe Turner played double bass, and he taught Joe Weston to play it in the orchestra, also; Gerry Weston played trombone, Jim McQuaide, viola, Lol Mayne, french horn, Kevin Snape, cello and John Thompson, 2nd violin leading to 1st violin. Basil Walker played the flute to professional standard and Leo Alston played the oboe. Joe D’Arcy was 1st violin and Frank Burke played the clarinet. When you added the music tutors to the ensemble, we were well able to play our set piece concerts one year, and the G and S operettas the next.
Music and performance stayed with me, and for some years after ordination, Joe D’Arcy and I organised and played at Christmas Concerts in our parishes.
I now often listen to music, and when asked recently what one record I would choose from the eight on my Desert Island, then depending on my mood, it would probably be Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A, K581, and it’s just possible that I heard that for the first time at Leo Alston’s Sunday evening gatherings, to help with our musical appreciation and lifelong enjoyment.
Another memory that occurs was when, in the Senior House, I became “the window man” with an ‘access all areas’ brief. If a window was broken anywhere in the building, I was handed a note detailing the need to fix it. My job was to assess it, measure it, and pass on the inventory required by way of new glass and materials. In time, glass and putty etc. were provided, and my job was to fit and make good. With a large window, I needed an assistant, and over the years, I/we must have saved the College hundreds of pounds in glaziers’ costs alone!
This job raised my personal profile, and one day, Mgr. Breen, the Rector, called me in for a special undertaking. His view was that the paintings of the Profs’ corridor made it look ‘like a stamp album!’, and I was instructed to remove some of them. ‘Where do I put them?’ I asked. ‘In the cellar…anywhere, but just make sure no one sees you, and on no account tell anyone that it was my idea!’
And finally, even after more than 60 years, I still have memories of ‘the worst retreat ever!!’
Senior students will recall that each year around Trinity Sunday, there was an eight day retreat especially for those about to be ordained, and one year, Mgr. Joe Turner, then Rector, decided he would share this particular opportunity and join in with the student body.
The Retreat Director in question was a Jesuit, who spoke in a monotone and made frequent use of ‘…and frankly, brothers, it’s not easy!’
By Wednesday, and this repeated refrain, everyone had become depressed, including the Rector, who promptly sacked him on the spot!
As a postscript to life at Coll. seen from the viewpoint of today, the bonds that were forged with classmates, especially those who were ordained, have lasted throughout our lives, and in the early days of priesthood, I organised class lunches, and the view expressed at our Silver Jubilees in particular, was that these gatherings were ‘too good to lose’, and we know that if one of us needs help or advice even now, the others would give it gladly.’