Lusimus THE RADLEY BROADSHEET
www.radley.org.uk
Issue 32, February 2016
A stolen Caravaggio recreated by Adam Lowe (1972)
Alessandro Gaja
see pages 2 & 3
Foundation – pages 4-5
Huddy Rugger – page 6
The Warden – page 7
Archie Manners – page 12
Sport – page 19-20
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET How a long-lost Caravaggio masterpiece was recreated
10 December 2015
Painstaking project to recreate Caravaggio’s Nativity painting led by British art expert
According to one account the painting, which today would be worth at least £13 million, ended up being hidden in a farm in the Sicilian countryside, where it was eventually nibbled to nothing by rats and mice. Another story, told to Italian police by a mafia “pentito” or turncoat, recounts that the painting, which is 2.7 metres
high and nearly two metres wide, was used as a floor mat by Toto Riina, the murderous head of the island’s Cosa Nostra mafia.
Whatever became of it, one thing is sure – it was never recovered, and is listed by the FBI as one of the world’s top 10 art crimes.
Yet another theory holds that it was destroyed in an earthquake in Irpinia in the southern region of Campania in 1980, shortly before it was to be sold on the black market.
Now an art laboratory led by Adam Lowe, a British artist, has managed to reproduce the masterpiece in all its original glory after a painstaking project lasting five months.
By Nick Squires
His team faced a huge challenge – initially they had to work off a single colour photograph that was taken of the painting a year before it was stolen. By luck, they then managed to find in an art conservation institute in Rome a collection of black-and-white glass-plate negatives of the masterpiece, dating from its last restoration in 1951. The experts used sophisticated, 52 mega-pixel cameras and purpose-built digital printers to make copies of the images, steadily building them up into a composite image that was as faithful to Caravaggio’s original canvas as technically possible. They painted in details in a style that was true to Caravaggio’s famous “chiaroscuro” technique of depicting light and shade.
Nearly 50 years after it was stolen by the mafia from a church in Sicily, a masterpiece by Caravaggio has been miraculously brought back to life by cutting-edge technology pioneered by a British expert. In one of the most infamous art thefts of the 20th century, Caravaggio’s Nativity with St Francis and St Lawrence was snatched from the Oratory of San Lorenzo in the heart of Palermo in 1969 by two unidentified raiders who cut it out of its frame with knives.
“This is unique in terms of the level of engagement that has gone into the project,” Mr Lowe, the director of the Madrid-based Factum Arte digital restoration laboratory, told The Telegraph.
Alessandro Gaja
From The Daily Telegraph
The restorers studied high-definition scans taken by Adam Lowe’s studio of other Caravaggio paintings. In this way, Factum Arte could digitally recreate some key elements of Caravaggio’s technique and overlap them on the Nativity’s replica. 2
They were even able to replicate the original brushstrokes left by the Renaissance painter.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Alessandro Gaja
“We worked by hand to decipher and interpret areas where the photographic information was not sufficient,” said Mr Lowe, who did the painting along with a colleague. “It was a constant process, moving between the digital realm and the physical realm.
A documentary about the project, The Mystery of the Lost Caravaggio, has been made by Sky Arts and will be shown in the UK in January.
“We created multiple layers to build up the densities of tone and colour. We took photographs about the size of a postcard and then stitched them together digitally,” said Mr Lowe, who founded Factum Arte, a multidisciplinary workshop aimed at art conservation, in 2000. He has since worked with art institutions and museums around the world, including the National Gallery and Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, the Prado in Madrid, the Louvre and the Vatican Museums.
It is thought that Caravaggio painted Nativity in 1609, just a year before his death in Porto Ercole, Tuscany. He arrived in Sicily in October 1608 after escaping from Malta, where he had been jailed for the killing of a young artist in a brawl. The hell-raising artist, whose real name was Michelangelo Merisi, went on to produce many of his best-known masterpieces in Sicily.
Part of Adam Lowe’s studio
Factum Arte has been involved in similar projects before, but they involved making copies of paintings that still existed.
His team was able to make sure they were using exactly the right colours and shades by studying other Caravaggio works, including three which hang in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome – The Calling, The Martyrdom and The Inspiration of St Matthew.
The company made a copy of The Wedding Feast at Cana, a massive oil painting by the late-Renaissance artist Paolo Veronese, after being commissioned by Venice.
“We used our knowledge of the paintings in Rome to paint in the missing elements, in the character and style of Caravaggio,” said Mr Lowe, 56, originally from Oxford. “We would make a very highresolution digital photo, then check that it was faithful at a detailed level, and repeat the process over and over again. It was gradual, incremental. We added in multiple layers of information.”
The original painting was plundered from Venice in 1797 by Napoleonic troops and is now owned by the Louvre Museum in Paris. The facsimile can be seen in a monastery on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore in the Venetian lagoon, where the original once hung. The recreated Caravaggio in the Oratory of San Lorenzo in Palermo
The project brought together photographers, digital restorers, art historians and computer scientists.
The Madrid-based firm was also responsible for producing an exact three-dimensional copy of the tomb of King Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings at Luxor, Egypt. Nicholas Reeves, a British archaeologist, studied the highresolution facsimile and came up with the theory that behind the walls of the tomb lies a hidden chamber that could be the final resting place of Queen Nefertiti, the stepmother of the boy-king.
The reproduction was stretched, varnished and mounted on traditional canvas. A few days ago, it was placed in the exact spot where the original hung, above the altar in the Oratory of San Lorenzo. It will be unveiled on Saturday [12th December] at a ceremony that will be attended by Sergio Mattarella, Italy’s president. “When we installed the painting last week, the people connected with the Oratory said how wonderful it was because they felt that a wound had been healed,” Mr Lowe said.
“I would hope that whoever took the original would now be prompted to return it, prompted by the degree of care and affection lavished on this project.”
Results from radar imaging have been sent to a team in Japan for analysis, with the results expected in the next few weeks. Sky Arts commissioned the project and broadcast Operation Caravaggio – Mystery of the Lost Caravaggio on 27 January.
Article in The Times 3
Arthur Woyka & William Davie-Thornhill
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET
A Radley Racing Club and Syndicate – are you game? Are you interested in racing – either on the flat or over the jumps? Have you ever dreamed of owning a share (however small!) in a horse? Perhaps you already do, but like the notion of joining like-minded souls within the world of Radley. The College and its community already has strong and successful connections in racing, of course, with some of the country’s top trainers being Old Radleians – Kim Bailey, Andrew Balding, Nigel Twiston-Davies and Oliver Sherwood to name just four.
The idea has recently been raised of creating a Racing Club within the Radleian Society. The Club would run on similar lines to the other OR clubs, allowing members to enjoy their shared interest – with organised visits to major race meetings and behind the scenes tours, plus (it is hoped) an annual dinner (at The Turf Club) with speakers drawn from key players within the sport, visits to trainers, the yearling sales and more – as members suggest. It is hoped that Tattersalls (the College Racing Society, which some readers will remember) may also become involved, to allow for a connection between ORs and present Radleians. As a subset of the Club, it is also thought we may establish an ownership syndicate … open to those able to invest a larger sum and keen to experience the thrill of owning and watching their own horse(s) run. If a sufficient number of ORs or Radley parents express an interest, then we will look to appoint a couple from that number to manage the syndicate and explore how best to operate it. So – if the thought of seeing Lusimus, or Sicut Serpentes running at Cheltenham, Ascot, Epsom or York, with a jockey in black silks with red and
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white sash and a white cap excites you, or if you like the idea of simply sharing a box, or terrace (at subsidised prices) with kindred spirits at strategically chosen meetings, please log your interest with us by emailing radsoc@radley.org.uk mentioning whether you would be interested in the Racing Club, the Syndicate or both. If your interest includes the syndicate, it would be very helpful if you could tell us of any involvement you already have in this field. We will respond to everyone who replies in due course.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Initial Reflections from the new Development Director course (he is extraordinarily competitive). I met and chatted to current Radleians when I could, attended Chapel (the boys’ singing is remarkable), attended talks given by returning ORs, entrepreneurs, the American Ambassador and others, and became involved in the work of the Radleian Society in bringing ORs and Radley parents together – in the UK and further afield.
It is a pleasure to be writing my first report for Lusimus as Development Director and as successor to Anthony Robinson. This gives me the opportunity not only to recognise, albeit in a wholly inadequate way, the enormous contribution that Anthony made to the Foundation, but to thank him too for the time and kindness he has shown to me in the early weeks and months. I quickly learnt that introducing myself as ‘Anthony Robinson’s successor’ was a double-edged sword: it provided an instant shorthand to explain who I was, but it also stimulated a significant burden of expectation – I clearly have big shoes to fill! Last term was a whirlwind of activity, spent immersing myself in the College, its ethos, traditions, people and structures. My time was quickly (and very pleasurably) spent visiting all the Socials, attending Social Prayers, meeting Old Radleians aplenty, enjoying the wonderful privilege of time spent with Dennis and Diana Silk, Richard and Margaret Morgan, and Angus and Liz McPhail, and locking horns occasionally with the Warden on the golf
Those first weeks and months left some powerful impressions – many that, truthfully, I hadn’t expected. I was struck by the combination of tradition and ambition that pervades the College. I was impressed by the quality of teaching – and the stimulating, challenging, fast-paced and fun nature of lessons (joining a set of Shells in calculating the height of Clock Tower with just a metre rule: worth trying!). I was blown away by boys whose engagement and discipline in the classroom seemed matched by a beguiling modesty, affability, willingness to converse and charm (at a G Social gathering of staff and 6.2s: “Sir, Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon?”). Perhaps above all, I was struck by the strength of community and collegiality at Radley – not just within the College itself, but in its wider network. There is, I quickly discovered, a tremendous affinity and pride that comes with being part of the Radley firmament. It is not ostentatious and overbearing – but confident, thoroughly decent and understated. That first term was, essentially, a time too to learn about the work of the Radley Foundation and consider the challenges and work that lies ahead for us. As I write this, meetings are imminent with the Foundation’s Trustees when we will debate how we will best marry the future goals of the Foundation to the vision and direction of the College under Warden Moule. At the core of our mission – as it has been since the inception of the Foundation in the late 1990s – will be the provision of bursary support to those boys who seriously need and deserve it in order to enjoy the benefits of a Radley education. It is remarkable and inspiring that there are now a record 47 boys at the College whose places have been made possible because of donors’ generosity and who bring diversity, talent and commitment to the life of the College. Many of our donors have chosen to support the provision of opportunity at Radley through the
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creation of new and enhanced facilities. The opening of the new Jock Mullard Rowing Tank on a warm Sunday in September was a very special occasion not just for current wet bobs, but for the many ORs and parents who joined us that day and, in an impressive number of cases, donned their old singlets to have a go! In the coming months, the Warden, Trustees and I will be launching the next stage of the Foundation’s work – and the ways in which, at every level, members of the Radley community will be able to become involved. I look forward to being back in touch soon about that. But in the meantime, it simply remains for me to express our gratitude again to every one of those who have so generously contributed to the College’s fundraising endeavours. We are truly indebted to you all for your partnership and support. Colin Dudgeon Development Director
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET The Huddy Rugby Lunch The event took place in Clock Tower Court before the Tonbridge match on 3rd October. It was attended by friends and family of Anthony Hudson (Tutor of F Social 1970-1984 and Sub Warden 1979-1988). Over a hundred came to ‘raise a glass’ in memory of Huddy, including all generations of the Hudson family, the Silks, members of Huddy’s rugby teams, his Social and his forms, many colleagues from Common Room and several guests from Tonbridge where Huddy had been as a boy and later as a Governor and President of The Old Tonbridgian Society. The Warden warmly welcomed all assembled and was followed by Mark Rushton who rekindled very fond memories of Huddy.
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Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET The Warden is magnified countless times by those who knew him; our thoughts and prayers are with Julie and their three sons: Archie, Lucas, and Theo. It is a great loss.
The Warden, John Moule I am writing this on the day that the College is hosting a memorial service for Simon Whitworth, Old Radleian and Deputy Chairman of Council, who sadly died of cancer in late November. Others are far better placed than I am to reflect on both the immense contribution Simon made to the College over many years and of the warmth and generosity of his character – he was a true friend of Radley in every sense – but it is tribute to him that even in the short time I knew him, he came to embody for me the
very best of the place. He was, of course, as Chairman of the Nominations Committee for the appointment of the new Warden, the very first Council member I spoke to . . . as he welcomed me to my first round interview in London in November 2012. His charm, his wit, his considered manner, his incisive questioning and his rapier-like intellect were all evident within ten minutes; it is perhaps no surprise that I enjoyed the experience given the outcome, but I know that my experience then and since
In the midst of the sadness of Simon’s funeral and thanksgiving service, however, there is also a reminder of what we should celebrate about a school like Radley, which goes so far beyond the normal measures of success. Friendships formed that have lasted fifty years, a sense of shared loyalty and affection that enriches the whole community and a sense of service and duty that brings benefit through ‘giving back’. And, above all, character – partly formed at school – that genuinely contributes to the world in a way that would make anyone proud. That should be – I hope very much that it is – what we are about. I attended a conference shortly before Christmas which was rare (pleasantly so) in that it avoided all discussion of initiatives, or policies, or curricula, or exams, but simply sought to challenge us to think about how and why we should do
The Thanksgiving Service for Simon Whitworth in Chapel 7
Simon Whitworth, OR, Former Radley Parent and Council Member what we do. The title of one talk struck me in particular: ‘From Covenant to Contract’. The speaker bemoaned the fact that all too often, not just in education but in all public services, we deal merely in contracts. Price matters, measurable output matters, targets matter, the secular outweighs the spiritual and the tangible ‘product’ is king. By contrast, the concept of covenant stresses values as much as price, the relationship as much as the transaction, and the long-term benefit
as much as the short-term ‘fix’. In a business sense, of course, the contract matters hugely: we need to be genuinely accountable for our performance as a school. But it will make no sense whatsoever in Chapel this afternoon, as we reflect on the influence of a school in the life of a man, and a man in the life of a school, for us to be thinking about a contract. And the fact that it makes no sense whatsoever should give us pause for thought. Covenant makes a lot more sense: inspiringly so.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Nicholas Salaman (1949) Hulton Archive
George Butterworth
The fragment is very different in style from Butterworth’s other music and includes the longest, and possibly the finest, melody that he composed. There are no surviving sketches for the work and, through an in-depth analysis of Butterworth’s musical language, Kriss Russman has extended this three-minute fragment to nearly nine minutes, similar in length to the composer’s other works.
George Butterworth (1885-1916) The Radleian Society has joined Aysgarth, Eton, Trinity College Oxford and many others in helping to fund a recording of the complete orchestral music by George Butterworth. Butterworth was a brilliant young composer who was one of the great hopes for British music. After Trinity College, Oxford he came to Radley to teach Music before joining the army at the outbreak of the First World War. The few pieces he composed – including the Rhapsody: A Shropshire Lad, the Idyll: The Banks of Green Willow and Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad – are
masterpieces and have remained popular since they were first performed. Butterworth was killed in the First World War at the Battle of the Somme on 5th August 1916, aged just 31. Extremely modest and much admired, he was awarded the Military Cross twice for his bravery. 2016 is the centenary of his death. Kriss Russman, a conductor and composer, will produce the CD with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, internationally acclaimed baritone James Rutherford and the award-winning record company BIS Records.
The White Ship, the latest book by Nicholas Salaman (1945) will be published on 24 March 2016
twenty-one-year-old bastard son of one of these barons, has just been released from seven years’ education in a local abbey. He has a mastery of Latin, maths and other subtle arts but is desperate to learn the subject of Women. He soon falls for Juliana, daughter of the King and wife of an ambitious and sottish local Count. She employs Bertold as a tutor for her little girls and his love is returned. But the disputes and intrigues of the barons and the Court cannot be kept at bay. Juliana’s daughters are offered as hostages for a strategic castle, and a tragedy is unleashed that overtakes them all.
The year is 1189 AD and Henry, Duke of Normandy and King of England, is in Normandy as usual, trying to bring his unruly barons to heel. Bertold, the
Paperback: 300 pages Publisher: Accent Press Ltd (24 Mar. 2016) ISBN-10: 1910939587 ISBN-13: 978-1910939581
The CD will include three world premiere recordings of Butterworth’s music. One is the completion of a recently discovered 92-bar fragment of a work that Butterworth left unfinished before going to war. It is remarkable that the piece has survived at all as Butterworth destroyed much of his music before leaving for the trenches. It is called Orchestral Fantasia and was brought to Kriss Russman’s attention by Butterworth’s biographer Anthony Murphy.
Dave Fielding and a Geo-practical
Kriss Russman has also orchestrated Butterworth’s Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad for voice and piano and arranged the composer’s virtually unknown Suite for String Quartet, with its deeply moving slow movement, for string orchestra. These three recording premieres will sit alongside Butterworth’s other well-known orchestral pieces on the CD as well as the composer’s only song-cycle for voice and orchestra, Love blows as the wind blows. It is hoped the CD will not only revive Butterworth’s musical legacy, but also allow music that has lain dormant for more than 100 years to finally be heard. www.krissrussman.com
Dave Fielding writes: The photo shows Jon Wilson and Tim Chapman being put through my geo-practical 29 years later at the Turf Tavern where they treated me to lunch. Tim is holding the handlens and the table is strewn with
specimens, some of which Jon brought to try me out as well! Considering we had enjoyed the landlord’s brew we didn’t do at all badly. Both went on to read Geology at Oxford and came out with very good degrees.
Nigel Odling (1971)
Between the end of August and the end of November Nigel Odling sailed in Clipper Telemed+ in legs 1, 2 and 3 of the Clipper Round the World Race from London to Rio, Rio to Cape Town and Cape Town to Albany, Western Australia.
Engraved glass panel by Laurence Whistler in the Music School at Radley 8
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Old Radleians join forces to ride Le Tour
Above: The Radley College Road Club, 1984: Corin Mellor, John Maitland and Sam Gordon A team of Old Radleians are donning their lycra for charity in 2016 to ride part of the Tour de France route as part of the Tour de Force cycling event in aid of the William Wates Memorial Trust – and you are invited to join them! Old Radleian Will Wates died during his gap year in 1996. 2016 marks 20 years since his death and 10 since the inaugural Tour de
Force – a fundraiser set up by Will’s family to enable them to award grants to charities that work with the UK’s most disadvantaged young people, keeping them away from a life of crime and violence. A hard core of once-Rugbyaces from Rick Wates’ year (one of Will’s four brothers) are heading out for the Grand Départ from Mont St Michel
on Saturday 25th June to ride the first two stages of the tour one week ahead of the pro race. They will be joined on these and later stages by others from Will’s own year as well as several more Old Radleians who can’t resist a challenge. All Old Radleians are warmly encouraged to join the team, whether on the earlier flatter stages, or up into the mountains later in
Thames Doggy Ed Parsloe (1994), Hamish Reid (1994) and James Taylor (1993) helped to organise a fundraising, non-stop doggy paddle relay along the River Thames from Lechlade to Tower Bridge, in August. The doggy paddlers swam in two hour shifts, day and night for over 5 days. During the challenge they were accompanied by a support team and a giant inflatable pink dog mascot named Stem. Their efforts were in aid of the UK Stem Cell Foundation. Stem cells have the potential to treat conditions such as spinal cord injury, heart attacks, strokes, blindness, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, bone and cartilage damage amongst others. So far the Thames Doggy team have raised almost £22,000. www.thamesdoggy.com 9
the route. You can choose to cycle anything from 2 to all 21 stages of the Tour de France route 2016, fully supported. To find out more, visit: www.tourdeforce.org.uk Old Radleian Sam Gordon plans to take part in the Tour de Force 2016 and shared this splendid image of the Radley Cycle Club in 1984 that he
and his friends Corin Mellor and John Maitland founded. If you’d like to join him, Will’s brothers and fellow Old Radleians on the Tour de Force this year, drop Tracy a line at: tracy@tourdeforce.org.uk or simply ‘Register Your Interest’ and be sure to note that you are an Old Radleian.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Paddy Montgomery (2000) – Stage 1 of the World’s Toughest Triathlon Paddy Montgomery has just completed his first challenge, the Race Across Europe, the 2934 mile bike race across Europe, in 11 days, 12 hours, 21 minutes and 4 seconds.
Their aim is to fulfil a long-held dream to raise over £300,000 to fund their challenges and most importantly, support their chosen charities – The Prostate Project and The EY Foundation.
This was the first part of Saddle Sand Sea, the world’s toughest triathlon.
Paddy reports on the first stage: It really was a tough experience, going across 7 different countries, with completely different challenges to overcome throughout. There were the mountains of Austria and famous mountain passes such as Mont Ventoux and Colle dell’Agnello, alongside the long flat roads of Italy/Spain, each providing different but equally tough challenges to overcome.
The next two parts of the triathalon are:
Seamus Crawford and Paddy Montgomery
Sand, the 2016 Marathon Des Sables, a six day ultra-marathon of 250 km in the Sahara desert and Sea, the 2017 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a 3000 nautical mile rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera to Antigua.
We are allowing ourselves a couple weeks off, but then need
to get back into training for our next event, the Marathon des Sables, the multi-day ‘ultramarathon’ or ‘ultra’ run in six days over a course of between 150 and 156 (254 km) miles. The experience we gained from completing the Race Across Europe has given us both a load of confidence about the next two events, but we are both very wary of the amount of hard work we still need to put in. Marathon Des Sables: marathondessables.co.uk Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge: taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge. com www.saddlesandsea.com
Charles Stevens & Will Hsu (2010) – Cycling from Beijing to Tehran When one conjures up images of a gap year, cycling 10,000 km from Beijing to Tehran is not usually the first thought that comes to mind. This is however what we shall attempt to do (with basic support) in aid of the small but inspirational charity, A Child Unheard (www.achildunheard. com, Registered Charity No. 1136396). It is considered the longest, hardest, hottest and coldest cycling challenge in the world with fewer people having ever completed it than have climbed Everest. We are aiming to be (unofficially) the youngest people to ever complete it at 18 and 19 years old. One is often asked to give a justification before doing anything out of the ordinary in life. Many people have asked why we would want to spend four months of our lives on a bike (especially after a few months of pulling pints and stacking shelves). Despite shared interests and passions in many respects we both have difficulty
orphanage community, we met many of the children for whom ACU is planning to set up their second learning centre. Among the children were Badu (the boy in blue shorts next to the girl standing up named Abla in the picture below), who has dreams of being a doctor and Abla, who, as you can see, wants to be a dancer. Despite their smiles every child in this photo has suffered some form of serious distress in their lives. We are hoping to be able to raise £25,000 to help these amazing children and many more like them. in articulating clearly our individual motives for this trip. This is especially true when the essence of the trip is about the unknown. Upon our return we both hope to be able to convey exactly why we went on this journey and recognise where we want to make an impact in our lives.
Left to right: Charles Stevens, Jeremy Elmhirst and Will Hsu in Ghana
Over the four months we will cycle through China, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan before concluding our journey in Tehran, the capital of Iran. We will traverse deserts, steppes and mountain ranges, experiencing a range of temperatures from 45 degrees to 10 degrees below freezing and climbing from sea level to heights in excess of 4000 metres. It will be demanding, both physically and psychologically. However, the difficulties we experience will be outweighed by the charitable benefits. All of the money raised will go straight to the grass-roots work of A Child Unheard. Their philanthropic mission is to educate and broaden the horizons of physically, psychologically and sexually abused children in Africa 10
by encouraging cultural, sporting and artistic pursuits, as well as setting up learning centres where counselling, guidance and education can be obtained in a safe and secure environment. Having spent September 2015 in Ayenyah, Ghana aiding the
Some of the children in Ghana
Any donation is hugely appreciated and can be made through our website (www. beijingtotehran.com) where you can donate using our secure fundraising page. If you have any questions we would love to hear from you so feel free to email us at beijingtotehran@gmail.com.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Dr Oliver Johnson, OBE (1999)
New Year’s Honours 2016
Dr Oliver Johnson in Sierra Leone
Professor Christopher Bulstrode
The Guardian’s alternative New Year’s honours: we salute you We celebrate the heroes of 2015 – those people who deserve our admiration and thanks, and to whom we would give our own Guardian medal of honour.
Rex/Shutterstock
Many, perhaps most, Guardian readers have long looked
askance at the British honours system. Rather than honouring the best among us, it seems to reinforce the worst about us: class, snobbery, flummery. And that’s before you even think about the apparent awarding of honours in return for political services or cash. Or indeed the prospect of a knighthood for a figure as divisive as the Tory strategist Lynton Crosby. It’s tempting to cast an envious eye across either the Atlantic or the Channel, where citizens’ highest achievements are applauded
without resorting to titles of imperial pomposity. Today, in that spirit, we list those to whom we would offer thanks, and our own Guardian medal of honour.
Oliver Johnson
Johnson is a young, idealistic doctor who wanted to make a difference in Africa when he flew to Freetown in January 2013 to head the partnership between King’s College London and three big London NHS trusts with Sierra Leone. He was quickly thrust into the middle of the largest Ebola outbreak ever known. Johnson’s small team worked closely with the Sierra Leonean government and others to slow the disease and treat those infected, including doctor colleagues who died. Last month, Sierra Leone was officially declared Ebola free.
Professor Christopher Bulstrode (1963), Emeritus Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College, has been appointed CBE for services to humanitarian medicine. Professor Bulstrode, who was Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Oxford and a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre from 1982 until his
retirement in 2010, was honoured for his work with Doctors of the World. The charity provides medical care to people affected by war, natural disasters, disease, hunger, poverty or exclusion around the world. Professor Bulstrode has worked with the organisation in many countries including Afghanistan, Haiti, Nepal, Palestine, Ukraine and recently in Sierra Leone, helping to combat Ebola. Said Khartib/AFP/Getty Images
From The Guardian 29 December
Others in The Guardian’s list were: Khaled al-Asaad, John German, Eva Carneiro, David Pocock, Nadiya Hussain, Christiana Figueres, Angela Merkel, Mhairi Black, Brian Harrison, Feidin Santana, Ione Wells, Phaedra Almajid, Marlon James, Elena Ferrante, Sam Bain & Jesse Armstrong, Naz Shah, Abi Morgan, Andrea Accomazzo, The women who exposed the Met’s undercover cops, Barack Obama, Baroness Warsi, Steph Houghton, Edward Snowden, Emma Watson, Aziz Ansari, Lassana Bathily, Yvonne Hall, Claire Wilcox, Benjamin Clementine, Bryony Kimmings, Malala Yousafzai, Michael Sheen, Judith Kerr, Alan Watson Featherstone Oliver Johnson was awarded an OBE in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours. It was presented to him by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in November
www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2015/dec/29/ guardian-new-year-honours 11
Christopher Bulstrode (centre) and Palestinian surgeons from the Gaza Strip perform surgery in southern Gaza in December 2009
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Archie Manners (2006) – Look into My Eyes
In September 2015 Archie starred in E4’s new show Look into My Eyes where he deployed his powers of hypnotism to bend the minds of celebrities and the Great British public on this comedy hypnosis show. In the TV programme Archie took on the former Heavyweight Champion, David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye. The statistics seemed to be slightly against him: DAVID ‘THE HAYEMAKER’ HAYE FIGHTS 28 KNOCKOUTS 24 FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD ARCHIE ‘THE MAGICIAN’ MANNERS FIGHTS 0 KNOCKOUTS 0 USED TO BE GOOD AT CROQUET
However Archie did not need to put on his gloves – he managed to leave ‘The Hayemaker’ rooted to the spot, unable to deliver another knockout blow. The following interview is taken from The British Comedy Guide: ‘Look Into My Eyes’ is a fun new show. Can you explain it for our readers? Thank you – it was so much fun to do. I travel around the country and twist the minds of people for entertainment. That makes me sound slightly odd, but by using hypnosis to change the way people think and behave there’s a lot of fun to be had. Hypnosis is a hard one to define, and many hypnotists and hypnotherapists disagree on what is actually happening. I use various techniques to tap in to someone’s subconscious and allow them to use the full potential of their mind. Doubtless there’ll be a fair few people reading this – and watching the show – who don’t believe hypnotism is real. How do you respond to that? I’d hypnotise them all if I could – hypnotising people who don’t ‘believe’ it’s real is terrific. I appreciate that sometimes people don’t
Objective Productions
believe it and that’s fine. However, it is real, and everyone in the show is properly hypnotised. As I say in the opening sequences, we don’t show the whole process of people being hypnotised (it’s really, really boring) so you are just seeing the entertaining elements – the suggestion and reactions. Having said that, you don’t need to ‘believe’ in hypnosis to enjoy the show. I’m also a magician: no one actually thinks I went to Hogwarts and have the ability to walk on water whilst simultaneously making my mother disappear. But that lack of actual ‘belief ’ doesn’t detract from having a great time. If you really want proof that it’s real go and look in the archives for the 1952 Hypnosis Act. It’s a real law that governs what we hypnotists can and can’t do. Politicians say it’s real, and they’d never lie...
E4
Archie Manners has quickly established himself as The Society Magician. Performing for the Royal, the Famous and the Powerful, he has the ability to bring something very special to your event.
What do you think of ITV’s hit You’re Back In The Room? I think it’s cool. ‘Look Into My Eyes’ is a very different format in that we’re not in a studio but instead out and about. I thought the studio format worked well – ‘You’re Back In The Room’ was hugely entertaining and Phillip Schofield is an absolute legend. How did you get into hypnotism, and into comedy? I’m a professional magician which naturally led to an interest in hypnosis; they’re quite closely related and I use hypnosis elements in much of my magic work. I was trained in hypnosis at the age of 16, I think then the youngest in the country, and continued doing it since. I’m not a comedian per se, but making people laugh is my raison d’être. I absolutely adore it. In another life I’d love to be a stand-up, but I would be in an armchair as standing up the whole time would be knackering. You’re still quite young compared to many others in the profession. How do you feel about getting the spotlight? I am young, but statistically I will get older. I’ve not really thought about what it’s like to be ‘in the spotlight’ and I’m always aware that I’m very lucky. Being recognised a couple of times (as a result of the trailer being on E4) is certainly strange but it’s amazing to meet people who enjoy having fun as much as you do! 12
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Alexander Downer (1964) There’s a mix of hypnotism to different ends in the pilot. What do you prefer, and what’s the most interesting thing you’ve ever done? Absolutely – the guests on the show are hypnotised to do different things. We have the moderately more sensible element of curing fears but also have a huge amount of fun. Personally it’s the pranks that I most enjoy – getting people to do things they’d never normally dream of doing and having a laugh in the process is, as we young say, ‘dope’. The most interesting, however, was definitely curing someone’s fear. I don’t want to say too much about it as it’s all in the show but that just demonstrates what a powerful thing hypnosis is and how it can be used seriously to have a positive impact on someone’s life. How much set-up did the pranks in the show need? Was it a bit more nerve-wracking to pull off those street stunts? Surprisingly little. Unlike magic, for example, hypnosis requires no sets, gimmicks or Debbie McGees. Just a voice and good training. Having said that there was an incredible production team working on the show who did a huge amount of work behind the scenes. Particularly my makeup artist Nicole, who had one hell of a job! Have you ever had a hypnosis attempt go disastrously wrong? Fortunately nothing major has happened to me – you do hear scare stories of people never waking up but I don’t believe them. I was very nearly expelled from school for hypnotising two friends and making them chase each other. The headmaster sat me down and his first remark was “Archie, don’t hypnotise me during this meeting”. If he had tried to expel me I’d have definitely given it a go.
If E4 order a full series, have you any further ideas for stunts and set-ups you’d like to include? I know everyone says this but I am full of ideas for a series. Just doing one episode made me think of buckets of things we could do. Watch this space... Archie’s publicity material includes the following: Archie’s previous audiences have included most of the Royal Family, David Cameron Brian Moore, Alex Ferguson, Chris Tarrant, Rory Bremner, Jack Dee, Paloma Faith, Ellie Goulding, DJ Fresh, and many other private clients. Performing from Geneva to Guildford, New York to Newbury and Canberra to Chelsea, Archie makes every event that much more special. A member of the Magic Circle, you can be assured that Archie Manners will deliver. Whilst many Magicians perform the same tricks with effortless boredom, Archie’s aim is to make Magic entertaining. Archie’s usual form of magic involves mix and mingling with people, performing close up magic in their hands. Using Cards, Coins, Fire, Sponges, Rope or anything else he can get his hands on he can perform extraordinary things. Further to that Archie can perform a 20 minute stage show Act, well rehearsed from his run at the Edinburgh Festival in 2012, to compliment his round-the-tables closeup magic. This has been phenomenally successful at a variety of larger events.
The Hon. Alexander Downer, the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one of Australia’s most distinguished politicians and diplomats, spoke to a large audience of Radleians and Dons in September as part of the weekly 6.2 Lecture series. He is shown above in Hall with Hamish Aird and the Senior Prefect, Charles Betton.
Matthew Barzan, United States Ambassador
For more information, a demonstration or informal chat please do get in touch with Archie. He is always happy to meet and give you a demonstration of what he does, with absolutely no obligation. www.archiemanners.com
Archie with Jamie Laing (2002) of ‘Made in Chelsea’ – you can find this on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcvVspSAws4
The Radley Theatre was full for a talk in September by His Excellency, Matthew Barzun, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, shown above with the Warden, John Moule 13
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Veteran Car Club Rally – May 1950
Warden J. C. Vaughan Wilkes in a car on the front drive David Holland (1946) presented to Radley the photographs he took as a boy of the Veteran Car Club Rally held at Radley in May 1950. David writes: I don’t think that the operator was especially skilled, and I only had a cheap and cheerful
Ensign Selfix at that point, with 120 size film – Ilford FP3. I used to enlarge onto Kodak paper, and I spent hours finishing the prints to remove dust spots from the enlarger with a very fine paintbrush and dye, and I then mounted them with the standard double-sided
The view from Memorial Arch tissue fixed in place with a hot smoothing iron. I used to have a wellequipped darkroom in my parents’ house in Henley, and while I was at College I was given the use of a room at the top of Tony Gardiner’s house in D Social. Perhaps I should
Honduras The Radley Expedition to Honduras in June 2013, led by Head of Biology, Michael Noone, made the front page of a recent issue of the world’s top science journal Nature, with its cover story on ‘Tree Density Mapping’. Data collected by Radleians on the 2013 Honduras Expedition formed part of the data set on which this study was based. The study was coordinated by Yale University, and credit was given to Dr Steve Green, whom the Radley Expedition met while in Honduras. As world leaders geared up for the International Conference of Earth Science and Climate Change in Paris in October, this was just the sort of crucial research needed to make a difference. Similar good work will no doubt be done in due course with the data Radleians collected during their latest Honduras Expedition, which took place during the 2014 Summer Holidays. 14
confess that I ran a profitable developing and printing business in College which I used to finance photographic equipment, not to mention my musical activities, such as buying my first saxophone in Oxford. Regrettably there was a ban at Radley in those days on all forms of dance music
and jazz, so I was forced to find secret sound-proof places around College to play this instrument of the devil, as well as my official clarinet! That is another yarn, anyway. I used to play serious music with D. C. HammondChambers-Borgnis, much to my musical advantage.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Captain H. A. Thompson
Ian Thompson visited the grave of his OR father, Captain H. A. Thompson (Radley 1930-1932) who was killed in action in France on 3rd August 1944. Tom Pearson-Chisman accompanied Ian Thompson and reported: “When we visited the farm of La Butte du Chêne, which Captain Thompson himself had liberated, a farmer
Captain H. A. Thompson (Radley 1930-1932)
came over to investigate my Land Rover parked on his land. Once he knew the story he insisted on Ian putting on his father’s medals and posing for photographs. His family own (and owned) La Butte du Chêne and he shook Ian’s hand and thanked him for what his father had done for France.” For Ian, that, and the visit to the
René de Branville and Ian Thompson at La Butte du Chêne
Marching in Memory In July 2015 two 6.1s, Nick Bennett (J Social) and Charlie Barber (D Social) organised a sponsored march in aid of the charity Combat Stress undertaken in memory of those Radleians who fell on the Western Front in the Great War. They visited as many of the War Graves in France and Flanders as possible over six days, covering 40km each day. They photographed the graves and memorials of 119 Old Radleians. At each grave a cross was placed which included a message written by one of the 2014/2015 Shells (some examples shown right). Nick and Charlie raised over £10,000 for Combat Stress. 15
grave, were the highlights of the trip. Ian Thompson wrote to thank the Radleian Society for their contribution towards the costs of his trip: “Without that I could not have had this wonderful experience, which has helped me to understand better, and properly appreciate, the father I never had a chance to know.”
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Blues & Royals
On Sunday 20th September, the Blues and Royals came to Radley, to Lay Up their Old Standards in Chapel
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Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET The 1995 Unbeaten Rugby Team Reunion
This is how we did it – the 1995 team remember their best moves
Back: Richard Greed, Ross Jennings (Captain), Max Livingstone-Learmonth, James Johnson, Ben Hawkins, Mark Rose, James Amos, Ben Spiegelberg, Jim Brodie, Ed Jennings, Tom Lewin Front: Tom Turmezei, Tom Williams, Charlie Starmer-Smith, Ed David, Alex Hay
OR Dinner
Over 140 attended the OR Dinner at the RAC in December. The Dinner was held in honour of Hamish Aird, who in 2016 will complete 50 years at Radley. Hamish is due to retire at the end of the Summer term and this was an opportunity for him to toast his many friends and recount some delightful tales of his time at Radley.
The Warden spoke on some of the current affairs of the College, and Michael Van der Gucht made the announcement that he would be succeeded in his role as President of the Radleian Society next year (2016), by Sam Melluish.
Young OR Drinks
150 attended the Young (under 30) OR Drinks at the Phene in Chelsea. The Radleian Society put some money behind the bar – but this did not last quite as long as had been hoped. 17
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET A mostly F Social Reunion
The Beagles at Chetwode
Standing: Dave Chalk, Chris Martin, Mike Lindsell, Mark Millar, Julian Pycraft, James Anderson, Des Lenahan,Wade Newmark, Dave Vyvyan-Robinson, Adam Pollock, Martin “Jeff ” Beck, John Alexander, Justin Judd. Seated: Mark Woodward, Tim Lambert, “Pickles” Kaye, Delaval Astley – all came to Radley between 1973 and 1975 Tim Lambert writes: 18 of us met (my brother Nick had already left for home by the time this photo was taken) at the Cooper’s Arms, Flood Street, Chelsea in September. A fabulous, fun and laughter-filled evening was had by all. Some of us hadn’t caught up for over 37 years! Many great stories from Radley days and our varied lives since. The people-manager, Chris Martin, made this happen – and it was his 55th birthday!
C Social Reunion Top and above: A meet took place in December at Chetwode, the home of Rupert Sweeting (1978) Picture above – Back row: Harry Gosling (2006), Sam Nugee (2006), Sam Halliday (2006), Jack Soames (2008), Atty Beor-Roberts (1971), Bertie Beor-Roberts (2009) Front row: Tom Chatfeild-Roberts (2006), Tim Morris (Master i/c Countryside Centre), Simon Timbrell (Countryside Officer), Harry Ross (2011), Archie Clifton-Brown (2012), Freddie Thackray (2014) Right (and below right): The Reels Evening in December at Radley to help raise funds for the Beagles – most of the costs of running the beagles are raised by parents, boys and ORs. The 1989 C Social annual reunion –- from left to right: Nick Latimer, James Rooth, James Haigh, Rick Gardner, Hamish McPherson and Toby Flint
Dell Davison & Jean Mead
To celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Beagles a dinner will be held in Hall on Saturday 19th March. If you do not receive an invitation and wish to attend please contact Atty Beor-Roberts: atty.beor-roberts@knightfrank.com
Calendar of Events 2016 Radleian Society & Foundation Provisional Programme Beagles 75th Anniversary Dinner Saturday 19 March, Radley Radley for Life Networking Event March, London Student University Dinners Lent & Summer Terms 2016 Radleian Society AGM & Committee Dinner May, Radley
After a combined 36 years in the Reprographics Department, the brilliant team of Dell Davison & Jean Mead retired in October. Dell came to Radley in 1989 and Jean in 1995. Between them they have produced over 40 million copies including 80 editions of the termly Radley calendar.
Hamish Aird’s Farewell Celebration June/July, Radley Radley Mariners Henley Drinks Thursday 30 June, 12.30 pm Choir Reunion November/December, Radley
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Details will be published on the website when events are confirmed and invitations will be sent out by mail or email. See: www.radley.org.uk If you have questions about Radleian Society and Foundation Events please contact: Caroline Monaghan: Tel: 01235 543171 Email: caroline.monaghan@radley.org.uk
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Sailing – Seaview Regatta
Fives
A group of ORs, boys and the Master in Charge
ORSA battles the Old Wykehamists in the Mermaid keel boats at the Seaview Regatta 2015. The Winchester Fives courts newly painted After a period of some years where one court was used for storage the College has now restored the two courts to full use. The entrance hall and gallery have been carpeted, display boards and viewing facilities improved and the walls painted black. On Sunday November 29th an Old Radleian IV consisting of Duncan Neale (1982), Tom Maconie (1992), Rory James Duff (1992) and Peter Gwynn (2002) played and coached a group of Sixth form players and their Master in Charge, Dave Cox.
Real Tennis Henry Brind (1996) reports: The first OR Real Tennis match took place in November. Unfortunately we lost! However, we had an extremely enjoyable day playing against the Old Malvernians captained by Philip Shaw-Hamilton. This was the first time ORs have got together to play Real Tennis and we plan to have many more matches and social days in future. ORSA won the Rickards Cup beating the Radley Boys 2-0 in the team racing event. Above: Andy Thomas (Radley Boatman), Julian James (Radley Parent), Lauren Thomas, George Barker (Radley Sailing Coach), Jules Facer (1982), George Pitcher (2004), Simon Palmer (1987) Each year in September, current and old boys from Radley and Winchester meet up at the Seaview Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight for a day racing the Mermaid keel boats. Each team consists of 3 boats crewed with 2 or 3 sailors. Competition is always fierce, and this year was no exception. ORSA’s team this year was again a bit light on the OR front, but help was enlisted from within the wider Radley fold to crew the boats. The three ORs – Jules Facer (1982), Simon Palmer (1987) and George Pitcher (2004) – skippered the boats with a small handful of ringers – George Barker (Radley sailing coach), Julian James (Radley parent), Andy Thomas (Radley boatman) and Lauren Thomas (Andy’s daughter) – ably crewing. Proceedings were overseen by ORSA’s Commodore, Alexis Dogilewski (1958).
2nd, 6th and 9th places – not inspiring, but not completely embarrassing either! After lunch in sunshine at the Seaview clubhouse, the teams took to the water again for the team racing events. Winchester boys narrowly beat the Radley boys 2-1 and they also managed to beat the Old Wykehamists as well. ORSA succumbed to the pressure from Winchester and were beaten 2-0 by the Old Wykehamists. All was not lost however, and in the final series of races, ORSA managed to win against the Radley boys 2-0.
There was barely a breath of wind on Sunday morning but fortunately the wind picked up, along with sunshine, to ensure a good day’s sailing.
Proceedings finished with prize giving – still in the sunshine! Although conceding the Duke of Wellington Trophy to the Old Wykehamists again this year, ORSA managed to retain the Rickards Cup (ORSA vs Radley). This event will be run again in September 2016 and ORs of any sailing ability would be warmly welcomed. Information and points of contact are on ORSA Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Twelve boats (3 from each team) were sailed off the moorings, and the day started with 2 fleet races as part of the “Bart’s Bash” event. ORSA managed
Jules Facer, jands.facer@gmail.com 07881 944456 19
The results were: Michael Carr (1979) vs Tim Harper 1-6 6-3 5-6 Mick Dean and Chris Lindsey (1972) vs Nigel Draffan and Bernard Weatherill 6-2 4-6 4-6 George Brind (1996) and James Donger (2005) vs Peter Begg and John Burnett 6-2 6-2 Ben Boddington (2007) vs Tom Bomford 3-6 2-6 Henry Brind (1996) and Alistair Mitchell-Inness (1993) vs Philip Shaw-Hamilton and Simon Constantine 3-6 4-6
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET BigBlade Photography
Rowing
Sean Morris (1957) won Masters H (70-75) at the 11 km Silver Skiff Race in Turin in November. This was his fourth (or was it fifth?) victory in the event. Other wins included the Masters G Coxless Pairs (above: Sean at stroke) at the Pairs Head.
Hatti Archer (neé Dean) BigBlade Photography
Ollie Wynne-Griffiths (7) and Charlie Elwes (4) in the Yale crew which won the Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles in October, beating Harvard on their home water in Boston
Adrian Theed (1983), stroking the London Rowing Club crew with Radley blades, won the Masters D Doubles at the Pairs Head and came third in the Senior Masters Eights at the Head of the Charles
Hatti, daughter of Mick Dean (former Radley Don), is to get a Bronze medal after originally finishing fourth in the 3000 metre steeplechase at the European Championships in Barcelona in 2010. Marta Dominguez of Spain won the Silver medal but has since been given a three-year ban and stripped of all medals and results achieved between August 5, 2009, and July 8, 2013. The Russians who were first and third in the event have served, or are serving, bans for doping offences so Hatti deserves the Gold medal.
Rugby Football
Contact Details Radley College, Abingdon, OX14 2HR Web: www.radley.org.uk
Colin Dudgeon, Development Director Tel: 01235 543151 Email: colin.dudgeon@radley.org.uk Lucy Johnsson, Administrator & PA to Development Director Tel: 01235 548543 Email: lucy.johnsson@radley.org.uk Kim Charlton, Data Wrangler Tel: 01235 543172 Email: kim.charlton@radley.org.uk Caroline Monaghan, Events & Communications Wizard Tel: 01235 543171 Email: caroline.monaghan@radley.org.uk Hamish Aird, Foundation Philosopher Tel: 01235 548574 Email: hha@radley.org.uk Jock Mullard, Editor, Lusimus & Old Radleian Tel: 01235 543103 Email: jock.mullard@radley.org.uk
Will Stuart (2009, above) and Tom West (2009, right), both Wasps Academy players, have been included in the England U20 Elite Player Squad for 2016. 20
The Radley Foundation – Registered Charity No. 272671 The Radleian Society – Registered Charity No. 309243