BURSAR’S BULLETIN Issue 16
Lent Term 2022
Welcome to the first Bulletin of 2022. I hope everyone has had a restful holiday and is looking forward to the year ahead. I do encourage you to take a few minutes to read this Bulletin—there is a lot in it, and something for everyone. Among other things, it reveals what goes on during a week in the life of the Warden (Anna tells me the Bursar is next!), gives a short preview on the College’s emerging sustainability strategy, and contains bundles of staff news. Inspired by an interview with Pat Clarke, our longest serving staff member, a new feature ‘My Radley’ looks at Radley from the perspective of different staff members—thank you to Lianne Oakley-Rowland and Alan Bishop for being our first contributors in this new and insightful series. The Bulletin also focuses on Radley College in the wider community. At a time when there is so much uncertainty in the world, this is an area I feel especially strongly about. We all have a part to play in supporting each other and in looking ahead at how, together, we can change things for the better. I would like to close by thanking all staff for all that you do for Radley and your communities. May you each have a fulfilling and healthy year. Best wishes,
college christmas trees find a new home Meet Rosie (above right), the new addition to the Countryside Centre’s deer enclosure. Rosie is an orphan, found in the middle of a road and bottle fed at the Countryside Centre. The College Christmas trees are recycled and used as cover in their pen. Tame deer are useful to have at the Centre, not only as interest for the boys and visiting groups but also to help get the beagles used to seeing them. This in turn helps train them against ‘riot’ (chasing deer when out following a trail). Squeaky (above left) was hand reared eight years ago and both lived in the house for the first two months of their time at the Centre. In this time, over 200 Christmas trees have been recycled.
A week in the life: There is no such thing as a typical week: it changes from week to month to term to year. But here is a flavour:
MONDAY My week begins with the short walk from home at Park End, to my office in Mansion. I check emails, then catch up with colleagues to see what the weekend has brought (hopefully no problems!) before the Senior Management Team (SMT) have their weekly meeting. We will always talk about staff and pupil issues before moving on to other agenda items. The day will have a series of 1:1s, some one-off and some regular. There might be a staff appraisal. Monday also sees four regular meetings that happen weekly: Tutors; 1:1 with the Bursar; a phone catch-up with the Chairman of Council (Radley’s governors) and a meeting with the Pups (head prefects). I will almost always get to the 1:30pm concert in Coffee Shop. Chapel will be followed by an evening event of some sort— perhaps a 6.1 Dinner where Diana and I entertain 12 or so boys for supper ... I am lucky enough to eat a lot of good food! Lucky too to share time with the boys; they are always great evenings.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
I start Tuesday over breakfast with the four senior Pups. We chew over various issues and solve the problems of the College and the world ... or at least try to.
At the moment, a group is meeting every Wednesday to discuss the Communications Review. A really important project.
There might well be an assessment day for Admissions which will typically involve five half hour interviews with Year 6 boys coming to Radley. I aim to be friendly and welcoming but to challenge them too. It is always fun; they say lots of memorable things, sometimes without meaning to! As on every other day, Short Break matters: a chance for members of the teaching and operational staff to gather in Common Room five days a week. This is a time to catch up with people and issues and is invaluable. I might manage to see some sport in the afternoon; more often, this has to wait until Saturday. On Tuesday, I speak to the College in Chapel, on something ... I have to find time for inspiration (and preparation) at some point in the day. After Chapel, it is a good time to fit in an Oxbridge session with some 6.2 historians ... a relatively early finish!
A key part of what I do—with others—is to interview for a new teaching appointment. That would mean a meeting beforehand to shortlist, interviews with each candidate on the day and a wash-up to decide who to appoint. The phone call to the successful candidate is one of the best bits of the job. I try to get to see various aspects of College life in action; a Wednesday might involve a visit to CCF (Combined Cadet Force) or to one of our partnership activities. I try to keep Wednesday nights less busy ... it does not often work! I am a governor at three schools and there might be a meeting to attend ... five or six meetings a term in total that will involve travel as well. The most interesting are those in Birmingham where I govern at Broadway Academy, a school we are working closely with in partnership. A very different, but inspiring place.
the Warden THURSDAY Sarah, my PA, might catch me to remind me what I need to do and what answers she needs to make sure the diary works for the week ahead. Planning dinners, Shell parent lunches, Cocoas, Social visits and fitting in time to write reports for governors are usually the challenges and we need to make sure there are no preventable clashes! Many evenings during this half of term are taken up by Shell Cocoas, where each group come round, by Social, for Diana’s brownies and a chat to see how they are getting on. One group arrive at 1930; the second at 2100. I have to resist the temptation to eat twice the amount!
FRIDAY I currently start Fridays with a Covid Team meeting. This regular slot is essential to keep on top of things; inevitably, they are longer some weeks. As well as the routine meetings that have continued throughout the week—I meet all SMT regularly as well as other senior colleagues such as the Chaplain, Precentor or Director of Partnerships—we might have a Prep School Head visiting. There might be a disciplinary meeting with a boy to arrange and prepare for, a public complaint to deal with or a parental concern, perhaps an event planning meeting for something coming up. Max Horsey might need to film me for another of his wonderful projects. On a Friday afternoon (fortnightly), I will meet other Heads from the ‘Rugby Group’ online. This involves about 12 – 15 Heads and is a great chance to understand what other schools, similar to Radley, are doing. That has been invaluable over Covid. Friday evening, or at least one evening a week, might be spent attending a College event—an academic lecture, a concert or a play. I try to get to all the main events. Not always easy at Radley!
SATURDAY I try to keep Saturday mornings a little clearer ... fewer meetings and more time for emails, writing papers, slowing down a bit. There will be the occasional preaching at a Prep School and we will often be busy with an Open Day or Shell Parent lunch in the middle of the day. Saturday afternoon is as sacrosanct as it can be. I watch Radley play sport. I see as many teams as I can (though I might drift a little towards the top team!). It is a joy. Unless there is a dinner, I try not to work on Saturday nights.
SUNDAY Radley is a 24/7 operation and there is still lots going on each Sunday. I have a strict rule, however, not to do any admin work or anything that does not need doing on that day. It means it is lighter: Chapel, maybe an inter-Social event to watch and the occasional set piece moment like the Haddon Cup. I always try to get to Church in Oxford as well as Chapel; this means a lot to me. I often play Real Tennis on a Sunday evening. And any spare time is probably catching up with politics and watching sport on TV. Much to Diana’s frustration. Some weeks are busier than others. None are the same. But I remember my son saying to me when he was a pupil in my school: ‘Daddy, we all want to know what you actually do!’ I hope the above gives an insight.
a greener campus 175 years after Radley College was founded, we still strive to stay close to William Sewell’s founding principles of the boys living and learning in beautiful and natural surroundings. On the surface the campus has changed very little, new architecture blends with the old and we are lucky to be surrounded by a landscape of parkland and trees.
Choice
Health
Gas
Process
Laundry
Materials Considered
Rewilding
Time Plants
Invest
Data Catering Clothing Emissions
Generations
Input
Non-negotiable
Consumption
Wellbeing
Waste Rainfall Re-Use
Technology
Everyday
Single-Use Compost
Machines
Electricity Habitats Supportive
Disposal
Future
Review
Sustainable
Right
Green
Goals
Heat-Pump
Carbon Footprint Wildlife
Light-Saving Miles Recycle Efficiency Food Damage LED Workflows Solar Reduce Rubbish Seasonal Management Resources Signage Forestry Self Clean-Air Jobs Bees Options Wastage Limits Explanation Agency
Insects Cause Trees
Carbon
Land-Use
Natural Heating
Construction
Insulation
Margins Grow
Water
Automate
Energy
Ecology
People
Education
Limits Optimise Fallow Initiatives
christmas jumper day 2021 Monday 13 December saw boys and staff participate in the annual Christmas Jumper Day, with £865.53 raised for the homelessness charity, Shelter. Thank you to everyone who took part!
As ever at Radley, sustainability has been introduced in a subtle, understated way. Over the last 10 years we have significantly upgraded our infrastructure and building fabric to give us a low energy foundation on which to construct our sustainable future. This will be interwoven within our four strategic pillars to promote engagement with the whole College community. We have ambitious aims around carbon neutrality. In simple terms, we plan to reduce our energy usage and waste, create renewable energy and enhance our site ecology to sequester carbon. Our full Sustainability document, with more information, will be published shortly. If you would like to be involved in this exciting project, please contact David Anderson: Email: dya@radley.org.uk
On Thursday 9th December, Radley College helped to launch the European Transplant and Dialysis Games, which will take place in Oxford in summer 2022. Following almost two years of shielding, the transplant community and dialysis patients from across Europe will be brought together for a week of celebration and sporting events from 21-28 August. After months of not being able to interact socially, and the 2020 Games in Dublin being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Transplant and Dialysis Games 2022 are set to be bigger and better than ever as they head to the UK for the first time ever. The multi-sport event is being hosted by Transplant Sport and will take place at venues across Oxfordshire including Radley College, the Sheldonian Theatre and Blenheim Palace. The launch event took place at Blenheim Palace, attended by Andrew Ashton and the Commercial Enterprises team who have been working hard behind the scenes on all the logistics involved in hosting the games at Radley. The launch was filmed by Radley Video, and their footage was later used by BBC News in their coverage of the launch event. The summer Games will see competitors participate in multi-sport events, including tennis, football, athletics, squash and swimming using the excellent facilities here at Radley College, which will act as a Games Village for the week. The event is projected to attract over 400 organ transplant recipients and kidney dialysis patients from over 25 countries across Europe and is aiming to act as a vehicle for spreading crucial messages around the lifesaving benefits of organ donation and encouraging people to share their organ donation decision with loved ones. Dr Paul Harden, Chair of Transplant Sport, was instrumental in bringing the Games to the UK. He said: “It’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for transplant recipients and dialysis patients in particular and many have experienced fear and isolation due to having to shield. We are so excited to be able to stage the European Transplant and Dialysis Games in 2022 and invite the
transplant and dialysis community from all over Europe to come together in Oxford, reconnect socially and take part in sport to help keep them active, something which is so important post-transplant. We are so grateful to the generosity of Radley College who are providing a Games athletes village and excellent sports facilities. Blenheim Palace have been tremendous for hosting us today and keen to help raise awareness about organ donation. We just can’t wait to see some of the Games events take place in such a spectacular setting.” Andrew Ashton, Bursar, said: “We were delighted to be asked to support the Games by hosting the athletes and providing the venue for many of the events. The work Transplant Sport has done to highlight the active and fulfilling lives that recipients can lead post-transplant is truly inspirational. These games will be an inspiration to many and will hopefully show that we can all play our part in helping to transform lives. As a school we have a role to play in helping educate people, both in our own community of students and staff and in the many communities we reach out to, in the value of the life sciences and the importance of organ donation.”
Spotlight on the:
maintenance team Radley’s highly skilled Maintenance Team is made up of 13 tradesmen who are responsible for the maintenance of all aspects of Radley’s estate, comprising 150 residential houses, 11 Socials with 100 rooms each and over 30 school buildings with more than 140 classrooms. Each year the department predicts the hotspot months when maintenance requests will be at particularly high levels. These are typically at the start of each term, in January, April and September, and when the cold weather arrives in November. In September 2021, the team had a record 922 requests, closely followed by a total of 822 in November. During the summer holidays the team adapts to work on specific projects and house refurbishments during the house-move season. However, with house moves increasingly taking place throughout the year, the team has recently expanded to encompass this work alongside day-to-day maintenance tasks. Meet the team and find out more about this army of talented tradesmen keeping the campus ready for anything!
CHRIS RADBONE, MANAGER
ED RICKS, ELECTRICIAN
Chris started at Radley in 1987 as part of a father and son team doing general building works, before becoming a permanent member of the maintenance team the following year. During this time Chris was involved in landscaping around the library, St Peter statue and Mansion’s cobbled car park.
Ed joined the department in 2019 having previously been a self-employed multi-trade electrician.
He became manager of the department in 2013 and is one of the four members of the emergency call-out team that responds to emergencies in College properties at evenings and weekends. In his spare time Chris is a bowyer and is part of the Clifton Hampton Longbow Society. COLIN GOODALL, GAS SAFE PLUMBER & MULTI-TRADE Colin joined the Housekeeping department in 2011 before moving to Maintenance as a plumber. He subsequently qualified as a gas safe plumbing engineer, and his ability to turn his hand to anything means that he is a valuable project team member. He is now heavily involved in new bathroom and kitchen installations along with boiler replacements. Colin is also Chris’s deputy.
He designed and installed the lighting and heating systems for the catering marquee used in the Michaelmas and Lent terms 2021 in a very short space of time. Along with Karl, Ed has recently begun the huge task of upgrading our lighting systems to energy-saving LED alternatives. NEAL ALLEN (BADGER), ESTATES MULTI-TRADE
BILLY BRAY, MULTI-TRADE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN Billy joined the department in 2017 from Deighton Builders. His role covers a wide range of building maintenance, both internal and external. Billy keeps all the keys and schedules up to date so that keys can be supplied for every door in the College when needed. He has recently completed a five-part course on advanced locksmithing to enhance this skill. He also works with the Facilities Manager on health and safety in the workplace, including fire alarm testing and fire equipment maintenance and signage.
Neal joined the team from Peach Croft Farm in 2006 and was originally employed to look after all the estate’s fencing and borders. Neal now installs and maintains all the College fencing including residential housing, and helps the maintenance team when needed.
ALEX WARD, MULTI-TRADE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
KARL ETHERIDGE, ELECTRICIAN
Alex’s engineering background means he is proficient at multiple trades, and he has recently been busy fitting kitchens and bathrooms in College properties.
Karl joined in 2016 and is a fully qualified electrician. He keeps all our lights and power requirements in good working order. Karl is also involved with the CCF Department and helps on Wednesday afternoons.
Before joining the department in 2018, Alex was a mechanical engineer. He also arrived with some building experience refurbishing homes.
Alex owns two Countryside Centre beagles, Crumble and Magpie, so he has really enjoyed a recent project working closely with the Countryside Centre to improve some of its facilities.
STUART CRAFT, GAS SAFE PLUMBER Stuart joined in 2016 after a wideranging career previously working with his brother David, who was Head Gardener at Radley until September 2021. Stuart is our main maintenance plumbing and heating engineer and keeps all the plumbing and heating facilities on campus in top working condition. Stuart is passionate about supporting local communities and helping children and adults in all walks of life have equal opportunities. He has been involved in working with the Radley Partnerships team to share his knowledge and help shape partnership work delivered in his local community of Blackbird Leys. ROB SOUTHEY, PAINTER Rob and his brother Donald first worked at Radley during the building of the new Theatre as sub-contractors. Rob became the sole painter in the Maintenance Team in 2011 while Donald remained self-employed.
Rob is an accomplished painter and does everything to a high standard, including organising all the paint stores and keeping track of records of paint colours and brands used in different areas. This knowledge is vital for keeping properties in good condition and also supports the Caretakers, who are often tasked with touching-up paintwork around the campus. As an ex-professional boxer, Rob is now part of the boxing coaching team at Radley. DONALD SOUTHEY, PAINTER & DECORATOR After working part time with his brother Rob as a self-employed contractor for the last ten years, Donald has come full circle and they are back together again after he recently joined the team this summer. Donald is an accomplished painter and decorator, hanging wallpaper is second nature and he can also turn his hand to many trades if needed. He owns a Countryside Centre beagle named Daisy.
JAKE MORRIS, CARPENTER Jake joined the department in 2011, having previously worked as a self-employed carpenter on various building sites installing shuttering and studwork, hanging doors and fitting locks and ironmongery etc. This experience has proven very useful as we have many doors and locks that need replacing on a regular basis. Jake is also the newest member of our emergency callout team (with Chris, Robbie and Alex) looking after the College during evenings and weekends.
YU SENG KAM (SENG), JOINER Seng started at Radley in 2004 and soon became a special projects tradesman. Seng’s skill in designing and making cabinets are in great demand around the College. He has been particularly involved in restoring antique furniture from Chapel to enable it to blend with its surroundings so you would think it was an original piece. His talents are incredible and much appreciated.
Standing, L-R: Colin Goodall, Ed Ricks, Neal Allen, Karl Etheridge, Billy Bray, Alex Ward Sitting, L-R: Stuart Craft, Chris Radbone, Rob Southey, Donald Southey, Jake Morris, Yu Seng Kam
estates update The extension of Shop is continuing apace (despite ongoing worldwide materials and labour challenges), with the new feature ‘zig-zag’ wall built and the roof structure starting to take shape. The catering kitchen and new servery are installed and ready to go when the extension is finished. Work is going on behind the scenes to plan the interior look, which will be fresh and modern and will make the most of the glazed windows overlooking the pitches.
One of the key objectives of our 175th year celebrations is to create opportunities for different parts of the Radley Community to come together—and that of course very much includes Radley staff! There will be a number of opportunities for you to join in the celebrations. We hope to see you there!
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Our Big Thinking Talks programme continues with Katherine Garrett-Cox CBE talking about the future of companies.
January
08 may
Our special 175 Celebratory Concert will take place at Cadogan Hall, London. A fantastic celebration of Radley music in a wonderful setting.
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In May, our beautiful 175 Anniversary book ‘Untold Stories’ will arrive at Radley for those who have placed their order. It’s not too late to do this and to claim your staff discount and free shipping.
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175 Festival week begins: a week of musical events, lectures, speakers, acts, performers and more, including Jamie Laing, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby Podcast, the BBC Big Band and comedian, magician, and TV host Archie Manners.
may
June
Staff News A warm welcome to staff who have joined since September 2021:
Joshua King, Real Tennis Assistant Professional Amy Manning, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time) Darren McMahon, Head Chef
Holly Allen, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time)
Abigail Monaghan, Leisure Assistant
Catharine Blagrove, Music Administrator
Katy Parry, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time)
Ella Cribb, Leisure Assistant
Chris Skelton, Leisure Assistant
Luis da Silva, Kitchen Porter
Robyn Swain, Sports Centre Receptionist
Bethany Davies, Leisure Assistant
Leona Sweetland, Financial Accountant
Matias de Sousa Silva, Kitchen Porter
Louise Vaan, Exam Invigilator
Ella Fifield, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time)
Yvonne Wall, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time)
Andrew Hillier, Breakfast Chef de Partie
Bob Wardle, Reception Porter
Martha Hind, Leisure Assistant
Mark Webber, Groundsperson
Louise Hounslow, Domestic Cleaner (All Year)
Judith Whittington, Domestic Cleaner (All Year) Ryan Yates, Senior Gardener
and to those joining in January 2022:
Martine Leach, Domestic Cleaner (Term Time) Rafal Pijarowski, Chemistry Technician Maddy Trépanier, English Graduate Assistant George Varley, Teacher of History of Art
congratulations Congratulations to Anneliese Davies who began her maternity leave in September after the birth of her twins Amaia and Jago. Mili Carter has taken over as Head of Spanish while Anneliese is on maternity leave. Jo de Ritter’s daughter Annabel was born on 15 November—congratulations Jo! Ben Knox is currently covering Jo’s maternity leave as Head of Vths. Maud Hurley begins her maternity leave in January and we welcome her cover as History of Art teacher, George Varley. Kate Lemke-Jeremy moves from interim Administrator in the Music Department to a new role as Learning Mentor and Exam Invigilator. Jenny Luke moves from Catering to the Housekeeping Department as a Domestic Cleaner (Term Time); Ben Weston-Conway joins on a permanent basis as Communications Manager and David Zimmer has replaced James Popplestone as J Social Sub-Tutor.
Leona Sweetland, Financial Accountant
Darren McMahon Head Chef
farewell We also said goodbye to groundsperson Andy King, who retired in December after 35 years at Radley, and to Tina Shepherd after 17 years service as a Domestic Cleaner in the Housekeeping Department. Andy, Tina and others who have all recently reached long-service milestones will be honoured this term with a Long Service event— more details to follow!
pat clarke Radley’s longest-serving staff member, who arrived at the College in 1966, talks to Iain Campbell. Having spent many years enjoying coaching boys on the magnificent playing surfaces produced by Adam King and his team, I was keen to find out a bit about Radley’s longest serving staff member, groundsman Pat Clarke. And so when the noise of his big red mower announced his arrival outside my classroom recently, I rushed outside to interview him ... It’s 1966: The Beatles release Revolver, England win the World Cup at Wembley, and 16 year old Pat Clarke from Sunningwell is looking for a job. He is directed to Abingdon School, but when it turns out they don’t have the vacancy he was expecting they send him up the road to Radley, where long-serving Head Groundsman Harold Smithson does need a new staff member. Pat is that man, and he is actually going to work under Harold, four other head groundsmen, five Wardens and about the same number of Bursars for five decades and counting. Wyndham Milligan is about to hand over to the legendary Dennis Silk. Pat remembers him fondly as a great Warden who well deserved the entire school applauding as they lined his exit from his last assembly. In 1966 the Radley campus looked very different. Pat spent a lot of time mowing Social lawns which no longer exist. There were far fewer buildings (the ever-increasing construction is noticeable when you can no longer navigate a tractor around the campus as easily!), while what was to become the golf course was then a soggy ploughed field. The athletics track was made of cinders, and the hockey pitch inside it was a grass one. After that it was redgra (basically gravel) before it became the College’s second astroturf in the 1990s.
In addition to the changes in buildings and facilities, over the last 55 years Pat has seen the number of gardeners and groundsmen grow considerably, and the same is true of the number of boys and teaching staff. From his day-to-day perspective, the biggest change has probably been the ever-improving kit the groundsmen have—he spends a lot of time on his sit-on mower and in the tractor, and they are very smooth and effective. In some ways surprisingly little has changed—Pat feels the boys don’t seem so very different to the ones he encountered when he arrived. Echoing Hamish Aird, he says it was noticeable that ‘their hair got a bit longer in the seventies!’ Funnily enough, despite all these years on the grounds, Pat has never been very interested in sport—he plays a bit of golf to keep moving, but that’s about it. I feel I have taken up enough of his valuable time (he needs to finish mowing outside the classrooms before lessons start or he will get an earful, he jokes), so I let him get back on his trusty mower. Not everyone has been doing their job as long as Pat, but he is one of many very committed College employees who quietly get on with their jobs to a very high standard— allowing things to function smoothly and us all to enjoy such a beautifully-tended campus. He fires up the engine and returns to putting immaculate stripes onto the lawn. With many thanks to Iain and Pat.
Inspired by Iain’s interview with Pat, I went in search of operational staff who work behind the scenes at Radley to find out more about what their day to day work lives look like. And where better to start than someone who literally works behind the scenes?
MY
radley
Hi Lianne, it’s great to meet you in the fabulous wardrobe department, hidden away above the Theatre. I know you’ve worked here since 2006, how did you come to apply for the job? I had just finished working in the TV industry and I broke my knee on set and had to take a year out to recover. My boyfriend at the time, now my husband, was living in Oxford and suggested I go for the job at Radley to get me out of the house! I joined just after the New Theatre had opened in 2005, initially only 10 hours a week. Before I knew it, 10 hours had turned into 20 and so on, and it’s grown from there! Tell me a bit about what goes into designing and making the wonderful costumes for Radley’s productions.
Can you pick a highlight, a production you were really proud of? I think probably Sweeney Todd in 2011. I designed everything from scratch and the overall vision for the show was initially mine. I did some illustrations for a book, years ago—a creepy and macabre Victorian circus—I just love all that kind of stuff and it was the perfect production to incorporate that style into. It was really dark and eerie and sinister, sort of horror film meets steampunk. 2010’s L’Hotel de Paris—a collection of Noël Coward plays— is another favourite. Visually it was really eye-catching, the whole set was white but the costumes were all vivid colours. Part of my degree was focused on costume history so it was fun to do all the research into 1920s costumes.
It all begins with the script. Initially I meet with the Director to see what their vision is and what the concept of the show will be. Then I’ll take their ideas and mix them with ideas that I have, and then do a series of designs. Once the designs have been approved, I hit the ground running! Sometimes I might have something in mind, say a jacket that I really want to use and I try to find a way to incorporate it, sometimes I find the perfect item in a charity shop; if not I make it from scratch.
Which aspects of your job do you particularly enjoy?
For A Few Good Men, which is the next 6.1 play, the costumes will be US military uniforms, so we will hire a lot of the costumes in. It’s funny because it was the first show that I ever did here, but this production is going to be very different.
What makes Radley a special place to work?
As well as sourcing, making and cleaning all the costumes, I also do make-up, wigs and props for each show we do. I have an assistant now, Kathryn Croxson, who started in September. Apart from being a huge help with the practical work, it’s great to work together creatively, having spent 15 years largely on my own! We’ve recently reorganised the wardrobe department and had a good sort through some older costumes, making space for the year ahead. I often get asked ‘what do you do when there’s no show on?’ Besides striking the set, laundry, and returning costumes and props after a production has ended, we are already working on the next one! We do three big plays a year, the College Play, the 6:1 Play and Remove Play along with practical exams, LAMDA exams, the Shell Show, Milligan Cup (musical theatre competition), Peter Cook Cup (monologue competition) and much more, so we are always busy!
I enjoy seeing designs I had in my head come to life on stage! I also enjoy working with the actors, welcoming their input and explaining the concept behind their costume. It’s important to me to ensure all cast members are happy with what they are wearing because fundamentally I’m their advocate. I need them to feel confident to perform on stage in front of hundreds of people.
The team! We are a relatively small department but we all get on really well and have different areas of expertise to bring to the table. Although term time can be very intense, I am lucky to be able to enjoy the holidays, which I value even more now since having my son a year ago. It’s always nice to know many staff members still come to see the shows. Hearing boys and staff compliment a show, especially when you’re running on empty, makes all the hours of washing, ironing and pre-setting for the next performance worth it! What has changed in your time here? The shows have got bigger, the casts have got bigger and the boys have got more talented over the years, and as a team, we don’t like to settle! We feel we can always do better. Thanks Lianne! Keep an eye on @RadleyTheatre for Theatre news and photos.
Lianne Oakley-Rowland, costume designer
Lianne with her sketches for the costumes worn by ‘Joe’ in 2020’s production of Our House
MY
alan bishop, caretaker
radley
Alan, it’s really nice to meet you—thank you for taking a break from shampooing F Social’s carpets to chat to me! You’ve been at Radley for 19 years. Can you tell me about how you came to work here?
more comfortable built-in furnishings. Everything used to be done by milk float—rubbish, recycling and deliveries. Every boy used to have a newspaper in the morning, so there was a lot of recycling!
It was a neighbour who first suggested I apply for a job here and I came for an interview with Helen Smith (Head of Housekeeping until her retirement in September 2021). I remember I met her in the old Housekeeping department in the prefab buildings, where Music is now.
There was a laundry float, ‘the Radley Flyer’ and the Caretakers’ stores used to be where the Coffee Shop is now.
Initially I thought I’d be here for five years, term-time only so I could look after my daughter during the holidays. After about four years Helen thought she might be able to find me something all-year-round and found me the position as Caretaker in Queen’s Court. After that, my role changed to being a Roaming Caretaker and then to being a Social Caretaker. I look after four Socials now, along with Jim Connolly who also has four and Shane Paintin who has three—we fix lights, unblock toilets, touch up paint, mend chairs, move furniture … you name it! What does a typical day look like for you? I start at 7am in the week and 6am every other Saturday. My first job is to clean the floor and stairs in Queen’s Court before lessons start. At 8:30, I make my way over to one of my Socials and find out what needs doing—the PHM will have a list for me. Monday is always a busy day with blocked toilets or a collapsed sofa after too many people have crowded onto it after a football match at the weekend and we’ll try and repair it the best we can. We stop for lunch in Hall—a very nice perk of the job—and then back to the Social. We prioritise the work so a broken chair will be mended as soon as possible so that no injury occurs, and a broken curtain rail will be fixed so that everyone has the privacy they need, spilt milk on the carpet will be shampooed straight away. Sometimes less urgent jobs have to wait until the next day. You must have seen some changes in your time here! The rooms in Socials spring to mind! When I first started a lot of the rooms were in pretty poor condition. Now the rooms are much nicer, they’ve got better and better. They tended to be dark and dingy, with dark paint colours, but now they’re much lighter with brighter paint and better and
What do you enjoy most about working here? I like interacting with the boys—they’re good lads and always very respectful and courteous—they’ll say hello, hold a door open for me if I’m carrying a load of boxes, and thank me for fixing something in their room. It’s nice to watch them as they go from quiet Shells to confident 6.2s. Can you pick a highlight or a moment that shows what Radley means to you? One thing that sticks in my mind was a retirement party a few years ago where some of the boys did an acapella performance in the Music Department. The singing was amazing, and I said to Suzie-Louise Naylor ‘Wow, that was good!’ and she said ‘It’s thanks to people like you and these ladies here (members of the Housekeeping Department). You all play a part for them because they don’t have to think about anything else but their singing and their music; they don’t have to wonder about whether they have a clean shirt or why their tap isn’t working properly. They just tell someone, and it gets sorted, they don’t have to worry—they can just focus on what they’re good at.’ She might not remember saying that but it always stuck in my mind—we all play a part, it’s about the environment at Radley and I’m proud of that. Thank you Alan! Alan and Lianne very kindly agreed to be interviewed to kick off our new ‘My Radley’ series. If you would like to be involved and tell us more about your role here; or if there is a person or department you would like to know more about, please get in touch! Email Anna: amth.haynes@radley.org.uk
a celebration of community “What a creative, imaginative project—thinking of what our home has meant to us, especially during the last 18 months.” Visitor to the House + Home exhibition Following a very successful exhibition of over 1200 miniature houses at St Ethelwold’s House in Abingdon in November, the houses are due to move to the Sewell Centre Gallery and will be on display from 14 January to 11 February 2022. The aim of this collaborative art project was to bring together members of our local community in an inclusive artwork and the houses were made by the students, staff and parents of Radley College and seven primary schools in the local area. With all the uncertainty and chaos recently, our homes have increased in importance and this project hopes to reflect this. We are excited to see the houses start appearing in the Sewell Centre Gallery— do come and take a look! Keep an eye on @RadleyGallery for more.
Apprenticeships @ Radley College he completed it in October 2021, gaining a distinction grade. Mike Ginger, Head Gardener said ‘Alfie is an excellent example of perseverance through adversity. He is a great asset to the team and has done exceptionally well to complete his apprenticeship with distinction.’
Alfie Hickingbotham joined Radley in September 2018 as an Apprentice Gardener. His apprenticeship encompassed both his job at Radley and an 18-month course at Abingdon & Witney College, a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Horticulture which required him to complete 40 learning journals and 40 plant profiles. The course provided a good base knowledge of horticulture practice along with work-based training and experience. Like many others, Alfie experienced the disruption Covid caused to learning so his apprenticeship took longer to complete than anticipated, but impressively
Radley College has hired apprentices for specific roles and offered apprenticeships to those who wish to enhance their development or learn new skills to further their career. We have invested in these in different departments across the College and they are fully funded by the College. Apprenticeships are a good way to gain qualifications whilst also working. We currently have three operational staff members working towards apprenticeships in their chosen field, some involve day release to college and some are completely work-based. If you are interested in apprenticeships, then please get in touch with the HR Department: Email: HR@radley.org.uk
power
of partnerships John (JMS) You are part of the Blackbird Leys community so I wanted to find out what your hopes are for these partnerships and what you see as the benefits for everyone involved. Stuart (SJC) You know, I think it’s a good opportunity to humanise our working class communities, because a lot of the boys here will only view us through the press. There’s a lot of good things going on and a lot of good people on our estates. I’d like to see them develop friendships with the children they’re working with. They’re giving opportunities to the children that they wouldn’t normally have—rowing is a perfect example. JMS Our rowing coaching partnership with The Oxford Academy—what does it do for the children in the community? SJC It’s community work—it’s really important because it affects a community rather than just an individual. Opportunities such as rowing demystifies all this stuff. Rather than feeling like this is all for posh people, the boys and girls get out on the river and they say ‘we can do this’.
Radley College is currently working on several projects in Blackbird Leys, in partnership with locally-based schools and organisations—from donating bikes to the Ready Set Go Challenge to helping class teachers in Pegasus and Orchard Meadow primary schools. John Sparks, Director of Partnerships (below, left) recently caught up with Stuart Craft from our Maintenance Team (below, right) to discuss the projects and the impact they are having on the local community.
JMS So you think it works both ways—you think it demystifies things for our pupils and the other way around. SJC At the end of the day we’re all human beings. You can’t help the world that
you’re born into, it doesn’t make you a good or a bad person, it’s what you do with your life. It’s that exchange of ideas, and the exchange of resources benefits both. JMS And the bicycle campaign, which is run with the Oxford Hub, what does ownership of a bicycle mean to a child? SJC Well, in Oxford it’s a great means of transport, everything’s accessible by bike. Blackbird Leys is quite a diverse community, culturally and economically, so there are a lot of
relatively comfortable working class families. There are also families that are struggling, and it’s these families that we need to target. I’ve cycled all my life. I wouldn’t be without my bike in Oxford, and I couldn’t imagine growing up without a bike, but a lot of children do. Once you reach a certain age and you haven’t cycled, it becomes a big issue, that’s for sure. But to be able to take to two wheels from early on, it just becomes part of you; it’s good for fitness as well as getting from A to B. JMS Oxford’s a cycling city but it’s also a city full of rivers. I think the identification of the need for children to learn to swim was something which The Oxford Academy raised with us and our swimming programme is bringing children to Radley. Can you see the benefits of that? SJC Yes—you told me a story of the one of the boys in the rowing team who couldn’t swim. You sorted out swimming lessons—that’s just fantastic. Because at that age, if he can’t swim, he may never get to swim so you’ve opened up a whole new area for him. And that allows him on the river and now he’s rowing with the team.
JMS It’s that collaboration of putting a boat on the water together, as much as rowing together. You mentioned friendships earlier, I wonder if that’s the key? This consistent and regular coming together as opposed just a one-off event. Perhaps one-off events just highlight the differences rather than the similarities? SJC You have to build the relationships. People need to get to know each other and find out how each other ticks, and then you can start moving forward over a period of time. Look at Steve Redgrave in rowing, the Williams sisters in tennis— sports that are traditionally middle class. When you do give working class kids the opportunity to get there, they thrive, because we’re as good as anybody, but we just don’t get the opportunities. So these partnerships are helping to give those opportunities and that’s a fantastic thing. JMS It’s so good to hear you say that. I’ve learned so much from you Stuart, because you’ve been honest with me and I hope I’ve listened. Find out more @RadleyLinks