Old Princethorpians

OP Mark Woods (86 - 93) brought his wife Sarah and young sons, Stanley, five and Louis, two, back to the College in the summer for a special trip down memory lane.

Mark takes up the story...

From the moment I turned into the driveway on a sunny Sunday in August I knew this was going to be a very special day.

Over 25 years ago I was making this same journey as a school boy and now here I was coming back with my family to see my two sons baptised.

Our eldest, 5-year old Stanley, was fascinated by the 'gold' chapel and was chattering and pointing away as I told him that I'd often sat in the very spot he was now in when I was a boy listening to Father Whelan or Father Sweeney.

Father Teddie O'Brien led mass that day though, followed by an intimate ceremony to welcome our sons into the Catholic family and despite a good dousing with holy water both of the little ones enjoyed the whole experience immensely.

But the day was most special of all for me - back in a place I'd spent so much joyful time in to see the next generation keep the candle burning.

Congratulations to Graeme and Kerry Low on the birth of their second child, a son, Dexter Forrest, born on 4 September at 1.30am.

In his rush to join the world, Dexter, nearly made his arrival in the hospital car park. A healthy 7lb 5oz, he's a welcome addition to the Low family, joining big sister Darcy, age three-and-a-half.

Graeme was at Princethorpe, from 1987 to 1991 and is a Carbon Management Officer at Islington Council and his wife Kerry also has a Princethorpe connection, working in the school as our Careers Advisor.

We wish them all well!

9 November 1921 - 24 August 2012

The Princethorpe community was saddened to learn of the recent death, in his ninety-first year, of Father John Kevin Fleming MSC, who was Princethorpe’s first Headmaster from 1966 to 1969.

After ordination, Father Fleming went to the MSC mission in Papua New Guinea. On his return, he obtained his BA degree and the Higher Diploma in Education and was then appointed to the newly established St Bede’s School in Leamington Spa.  Within a year he was appointed headmaster of the school. He applied himself with great enthusiasm and dedication and was a man of the ‘strict observance’ so community life was adhered to with great fidelity to prayer.

Under Father Fleming’s leadership the school grew in numbers and flourished in reputation, so much so that despite the purchase of nearby buildings for classrooms, the school was forced to look further afield for bigger premises. Fortunately, a Benedictine Priory was for sale some seven miles outside of Leamington Spa and so Princethorpe College was founded.  Father Fleming was appointed superior of the community and the first headmaster of the school.

The establishment of this newly-founded school was a challenging task to undertake but he did so with his accustomed sense of purpose and vision, so that by the end of his term of office, the College was well and truly on its way to becoming the successful and popular school which it is today. 

On leaving Princethorpe, Father Fleming moved to Kirkby, Liverpool, where he continued in the ministry of education in St Kevin’s comprehensive school. He then moved back to Ireland to Coláiste an Croí Naofa Carraig na bhFear where he taught.

Following a further two years from 1973 to 1975, guiding and directing MSC students in Moyne Park, Co. Galway, Father Fleming again felt the call of his first love, the foreign missions. moving to Goodwood in South Africa, remaining there until 1981. On his return to Ireland he joined the community in Grace Dieu, Waterford, and in 1987 was appointed chaplain to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Waterford City and also spiritual director to the seminarians in St John’s seminary. He remained in Waterford until he retired to the MSC house in Western Road Cork in October 2003.

In all his ministries, be it the foreign missions, education, formation or chaplaincy, John Kevin gave of himself generously and selflessly in the service of God.

The Princethorpe community sends heartfelt condolences to Father John Kevin Fleming’s confreres. May he rest in peace.