Jacques Liesenborghs is dead – Le Soir

Jacques Liesenborghs was a grand Monsieur, a “model”, writes Vincent Engel.

Article reserved for subscribers

Columnist

Pair Vincent Engel

Published on 02/21/2023 at 16:52
Reading time: 4 mins

En 1976, I am eleven years old. I have just entered 6th grade at Collège Cardinal Mercier, where my two brothers preceded me. After a village school, here I am immersed in a huge institution, between 2 and 3 thousand students. As much as the primary buildings are despicable (a sort of concrete HLM, with a concrete courtyard, surrounded by fences), the secondary buildings are beautiful, neo-Gothic style, with huge green spaces, football pitches, hockey… But primary school students are not allowed to go to the secondary school site. Forbidden.

The prohibition presupposes an authority. The supreme authority of the CCM is its director. Jacques Liesenborghs. I’ve seen it before, but from far away. That’s what a director is; a kind of divinity who does not waste his time scrutinizing his sheep, but who must be feared and respected.

This article is for subscribers only

With this offer, enjoy:

• Unlimited access to all the articles, files and reports of the editorial staff
• The newspaper in digital version
• Reading comfort with limited