Lusimus THE RADLEY BROADSHEET
www.radley.org.uk
Issue 39, March 2020
125 years and counting
As work continues on the Chapel extension, here's an in situ look back to an earlier building phase – the current Chapel under construction in 1894. Taken from the centre of the aisle, looking back towards the west end, the two large wooden posts show where the entrance doorway now is. Behind are the two mullioned windows, now fitted with stained glass, which bring light into the vestibule.
Chapel stained glass – p5
Rowing Tank five years on – p6
Radley For Life – p8
ORs at Radley – p12
OR Sports – p16
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET news from Radley L Social update Work continues apace with the construction of L Social, as the new building springs up next to the old Warden's House. Walking through the shell (no pun intended!) of the boys' accommodation, you immediately get a sense of how the building sits within the contour of the landscape and how it works alongside its 1930s neighbour, connected to it by bridge walkways and glass corridors. Given its location, L Social will surely become quickly known for the quality of its vistas. Looking away from the College out over Abingdon, on a clear day you will be able to see all the way across the Vale of the White Horse. Closer to home, new views looking out over Pups' Field, College Pond and College Oak will be opened up, especially from the Shells' dorm room on the upper floor. Another of the interesting features of the new Social is how it ties the site together more, bringing Mansion and College Pond back towards the heart of the College.
The two new wings of the H-shaped building clearly taking shape next to the old Warden's House in the background.
A previously unseen view. Looking out over Pups' Field towards the golf course, with College Oak and Pond visible centre and centre-left.
Ronnie Howard
New Radley oak As mentioned in the July 2019 issue of Lusimus, in recognition of the many years' service to Radley Council of Mike Hodgson and Simon Whitworth, an oak tree has been planted in the College grounds. Situated between Mansion and B Social, the sapling has been grown by Benedict Pollard (1986) from an acorn collected from College Oak.
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Ronnie Howard, who died on Sunday 9th February 2020. Rowing coach from 1960-80, he was instrumental in increasing participation and success in rowing at Radley. In honour of his service, a thanksgiving event will be held at the College later in the year. Further details will be sent out in the coming months. 2
Sicut serpentes, sicut columbae. This original bannister newel post from the old Warden's House will be retained.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Warden's Notes One of my favourite moments in the year is Declamations. For a number of reasons. It is one of the very few days in the year when I can enjoy a whole morning free from emails . . . the diary is cleared and I sit in the Silk Hall to hear the finalists from each year-group, starting with the Shells in Period One and working through to the 6.2s in Period Five. It is a wonderfully relaxing experience for the Warden. My love of Declamations is due to much more than personal indulgence, however. It is an excellent Radley tradition. Like many such things, it has waxed and waned over the years but it is in rude health in 2020 and there has been an unbroken line for over seventy years. I am not sure William Sewell – who founded Declamations as far back as the 1850s, soon after the founding of the College – would quite have appreciated the choice of pieces that grace the modern competition; there is a tendency towards the film script and the occasional swear word (acceptable if delivered within the spirit and purpose of the piece and not for gratuitous effect). As I often say, though, the best traditions evolve rather than remain static. I am confident that Sewell would recognise the essence of what he cared about: experiencing, learning and communicating a piece of art. It is, of course, a competition about much more than finals day. We insist on four year-groups all doing a declamation in front of their form master (for some reason we allow voluntarism in the 6.2) and, in many ways, it is the hesitant performance at that level, cajoled and encouraged in equal measure, that is the real strength of Declamations. It is, of course, an important skill; standing in front of one’s peers presenting something is great preparation for doing the same in later life. For some it is a nightmare, but being out of their comfort zone is good for them.
The competition then moves to the semi-finals. Form Masters select those worthy of a place in the next round and, a week before finals day, a consummate feat of logistics takes place – under the all-seeing eye of the Master-in-Charge, Dominic Scott. In five different venues around the College, the numbers are whittled down to six per year-group. And that is another lovely thing about Declamations, it requires a significant number of dons to help organise and there is a palpable feeling of Common Room collegiality at its best. To Finals Day. And it’s not just the participants that matter. The audience is key. I am very proud of the way in which the boys support their peers: each year-group listen to their own with rapt attention even when they might not pick up the subtle literary nuances. I had a conversation with a Pup (I will not embarrass him by naming the Social) only this morning who said he had enjoyed it this year but had not really understood any of the pieces! The adjudicator makes the judgment and even if there is controversy, it is accepted in the spirit of the competition. Radleians at their best. What were the highlights this year? I am always impressed by those who are willing to be vulnerable in their choice: two boys declaimed their own work, others chose pieces that required visceral emotion. We had the full range: Shakespeare to Glengarry Glen Ross; Dickens to Kobe Bryant. We had Cromwell’s magnificent denunciation of the Rump Parliament, Forrest Gump at Jenny’s graveside, Scott’s last letter. The classic Dulce et Decorum Est, some Plath and some Armitage. We had a serial killer (Edgar Allan Poe), The Great Dictator (Chaplin), and The Wolf of Wall Street. Eclectic indeed. There was one extra twist. The three top declaimers from each year reprise their performance in Coffee Shop two days later, and we hear who the winner of the Elizabeth Madgen prize is, the Victor Ludorum for the year.
David Smellie - New Chairman of Council
This year I added an extra dimension by choosing a supplementary ‘Warden’s Choice’ for each year: the standard was excellent. That meant twenty repeat renditions and another lovely evening. As the penultimate declamation began – a searing extract from Our Boys by Jonathan Lewis – the lights went out. The young man, who had won the 6.2 section, paused for a few seconds, then carried on. Poise personified and somehow appropriate for the piece. It is one morning in my year. But it is a great reflection of things I care about and of which the College should be proud. Arts to the fore. Respect for performance. Peer support. Excellent standards. The whole school involved. Common Room at the centre of making it what it is. A healthy variety, a willingness to express emotion, a belief in the power of words. A tradition alive and well, but not just done out of duty. A tradition that is vibrant and relevant and exciting. Radley College, in other words, in a nutshell. John Moule, Warden, March 2020
Elisabeth Anderson
I took over from Mike Hodgson as Chairman of Radley last summer. Mike is a hard act to follow, but I am keen to do my best for a school about which I am passionate! I am not an OR myself, but I am a former Radley parent. I was educated at Glenalmond in Perthshire – a (then all-boys) school which in many ways shares a similar history and feel to Radley – not least due to its beautiful location and fine cricket square. At Glenalmond, I was taught by Angus McPhail in the first of his teaching jobs which culminated in him becoming Warden of Radley. When invited to join Council I took the place of another Smellie – Alastair Smellie, an eminent surgeon, who had served Council well. I am also conscious that there are a number of Smellie ORs, some of whom may be reading this now – please get in touch! So much for me. I am keen to meet as many of you as I can during my tenure. Because it is clear to me, to the Warden, and to all of Council, that Radley is more than simply a school. Obviously, today’s school is at our very core, but Radley is also a wider community – including not only ORs, RadSoc, the Foundation, former parents, former staff, and members of Council, but also future pupils and parents and donors past, present and future. If ever there were a demonstration of the Radley community, it was in the 1,000 plus who gathered in Southwark Cathedral in November in memory of Dennis Silk. For those who were not there I recommend watching the highlights – including the College choir – on the Radley website. It was moving and memorable but at the same time the very best of the whole Radley community.
be a school which can transform not only the lives of boys whose families can afford our fees, but also of those for whom our fees are – or have become – out of reach. We want to have an endowment which provides us with strength and security in order to deliver on our vision, whilst at the same time be able to withstand the various challenges which the rest of this century will doubtless present. Above all, we want Radleians to develop at the school the understanding, skills and global awareness to contribute positively to a changing world.
The Warden and Foundation Trustees are pleased to announce the appointment of Elisabeth Anderson to the role of Development Director.
People often ask me “What does Council actually do?” Well, I can report that our eyes are fixed firmly on the horizon. We are planning not just for the 21st century, but also for the 22nd. The Radley Vision is key to that. We want Radley to be relevant in a changing world whilst retaining its traditions and culture. We want to
These objectives cannot be achieved by Council, the Warden and staff, or today’s Radley pupils and parents on their own. We need to harness the power and support of the whole Radley community. That’s where you come in. I look forward to updating you on our progress and meeting as many of you as I can in the years to come.
A former Chairman of the Institute of Development Professionals in Education (IDPE), where she was awarded the Lifetime achievement/IDPE fellowship award, she is also a member of the Institute of Directors and Governor of The British School of Milan - Sir James Henderson School.
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Elisabeth will join Radley from Bryanston School in Dorset, where she has been Director of Development for five years. Prior to this she held the same post at Fettes College, Edinburgh for seven years after a career in management and leadership in the USA.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Silk fund & Chapel campaign It’s an exciting time in the Foundation Office as we kick off the Silk Fund and Chapel Campaign, which will run for the next 23 months. I’m delighted to report that we have already had a fantastic response from the community, with over £600,000 received and pledged in donations from 138 donors. Thank you very much indeed to all who have supported us already and brought us another step closer to achieving our goal. By now, you will all have received the brochure ‘Building On Our Foundations’ which explains our plans in detail, and I hope you have enjoyed reading it. We are pleased to have received words of support from the Silk family, former Wardens and subWardens, which I think perfectly represents how the Radley community – of different generations, and of different walks of life – can come together to make a real impact on the school. Supporting others and coming together in Chapel have always been at the centre of Radley life. It is these principles that make Radley so special, and the two funds we seek support for – the Silk Fund and Chapel – embody these values perfectly. The following pages focus on these two funds in a little more detail, and stories about the Silk Fund and Chapel will be a regular feature over the coming editions of Lusimus. That said, there is always so much to say beyond what can be encapsulated in just a few pages, so I am always happy to answer any queries – do please just drop me an email at henry.cosh@radley.org.uk.
Making a difference: a Silk Award story
There is much going on during the campaign. There are many events planned, a list of which can be found opposite. Invitations for all will be shared in due course. In the meantime, registrations are now open for the Chapel Open Day on Saturday 27th June. Of course, we will keep the community informed with regards to our events programme in line with current government guidance on COVID-19.
Whenever I think back on school days I'm reminded of what a huge privilege it was to go to Radley. The resources available to us were incredible, with top quality classrooms, music facilities and sports grounds. The teaching was also first class, and I have continued respect for how much work the teachers put in to create the inspiring learning environment. I certainly enjoyed the school days, particularly all the varied opportunities related to music: the choir, orchestra, singing groups and music trips as some examples.
We will also be sharing online a number of campaign videos, showing interviews, construction progress and other stories, so do be sure to follow Radley on social media to see the latest (@RadleyCollege). But the overarching message, across all the campaign and all that we do, is thank you. Thank you for the support you so generously give that makes Radley the best it can be, now and for the future. Henry Cosh, Development Manager
Academically, Radley was instrumental in helping me achieve my potential and building up the confidence to apply to Cambridge University. I had a series of very dedicated tutors who made sure I was challenged and supported the whole way. The Geography classes first opened my eyes up to the world of international development and sparked the interest which I've pursued as a career since then.
Growing Funded Places
I received my undergraduate degree in Geography, which led me to spending the next 6 years based in East Africa working on a mixture of community development, environmental, disaster management and food security projects with various NGOs. Wanting to specialise more in nutrition I attended the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to do an MSc in Public Health Nutrition in 2009. I spent two years after that working with Action Against Hunger setting up therapeutic feeding programmes to treat severe acute malnutrition in their emergency response team, followed by a couple of years with Valid International doing operational research in Ethiopia and India on acute malnutrition topics.
Since the Silk Fund’s founding in 1991, the number of award holders has continued to grow.
I then spent a year working on iron metabolism before starting my PhD with the Medical Research Council, Gambia Unit. For my PhD I specialised in nutritional epigenetics, designing a nutritional supplement to improve nutrition status in Gambian women in the dry season. I now work as a Research Fellow in the LSHTM nutrition group, working on projects to improve iron deficiency anaemia and dietary diversity amongst communities in Nepal and India.
Number of boys on a Silk Award, 1999–2020
Without the Silk Fund I would not have been able to attend Radley. I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to experience all that Radley had to offer and the Silk Fund played an absolutely integral part in providing me with the platform for the career I now enjoy. Phil James (1994, C)
The Silk Fund is a part of the College’s strategic plan to increase the number of meanstested bursaries available to talented boys. Our ultimate target is for 20% of all fee income to come in the form of fee remission. In recent years, thanks to the support of the Radley community, we have been able to increase the number of funded places available to families in need. This academic year, some 10% of all boys at Radley are receiving a means-tested award. Means-tested bursaries can range from a fully funded place to a small proportion of the fees, and are awarded to boys from a variety of backgrounds – including those from traditional Radley families and those who have never experienced Radley before.
70 60 50 40 30 20 10 2015/16
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
Number of recipients of a means-tested bursday, 2015–2020. As of 2020, the total number has grown to 74.
Phil with his research team in The Gambia. 4
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Light and colour - stained glass in Chapel The story of the newest additions to Radley's stained glass windows began when the design by Purcell architects for the Chapel extension was first approved. Their plan to elegantly increase space, whilst allowing more natural light to be filtered through the sanctuary, provided the perfect opportunity for more stained glass in Chapel. One of many questions which quickly arose was the matter of creating this new stained glass. Just exactly what should the design be? And who should undertake such a task? The first plan – and a very good plan it was – was to incorporate surviving pieces of stained glass from the original 1847 Chapel (pre the Jackson Chapel we know today). Five panes of this precious glass have been archived for many years, as there seemed to be no possible way to display them safely in the school up to now. Whilst considering this possible incorporation, the Estates Bursar came across some modern pieces of stained glass in New College, Oxford. The twist? It was made of shattered pieces of glass from an older window in their Chapel, a seamless bringing together of old and new that Radley was keen to emulate. Impression of the Chapel extension showing the location of the new stained glass windows.
Details from two of the original 1847 Chapel stained glass windows, currently in storage. The New College window project was carried out by York Glaziers Trust, and Radley were quick to be in touch. The Trust were keen to be on board, and soon visited Radley to inspect the old glass and see the plans for the new Chapel. After some time, the Trust came back with some news – news which we were not hoping for. Research into the glass showed that the panes were of high quality but in poor condition and although historically important, both for the College and in general, they would be too vulnerable to effectively re-use. Further research is required to discover the maker, donor, exact date etc. The Trust informed us that to reincorporate the glass would be both technically challenging, and ethically difficult to justify, due to our pieces being wholly intact – New College’s old window was already shattered.
Some examples of initial designs available for use in the new stained glass windows.
campaign events: 2020-2022 There are a number of special fundraising events planned throughout the campaign. Invitations and more information will be sent nearer to the date of each event. Registration for the Chapel Open Day is now open on the website. SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT COVID-19 SITUATION Saturday 27th June 2020 Chapel Open Day (Radley)
Radley already has a remade, broken stained-glass window panel in the Singleton Library. There is no record as to how or why these medieval fragments were installed here however.
Saturday 12th September 2020 Celebration of Dennis Silk – in aid of the Silk Fund (Radley)
So, we were back to the drawing board. We knew we still wanted York Glaziers Trust to carry out the design, as they closely understood our requirements and wishes. It would now, however, have to be from scratch. We knew that we still wanted to incorporate old with new, representing the feel of the Chapel extension as a whole. In addition, we certainly wanted to include emblems of Radley (the cross keys, the serpent and the dove) as well as incorporating some perhaps lesser-known religious iconography from around Chapel, in particular scenes from the reredos which are replicated throughout, such as the ladder carved into external stone bosses and to a number of pew finials.
December 2020 Christmas Carol Services in the new Chapel (Radley) Spring 2021 Regional Campaign Dinners Summer 2021 Summer BBQ and Cricket Match
York Glaziers Trust have come up with some designs, inspired by the existing windows and the original 1847 panes both in colour saturation and style. Some examples of these initial ideas are shown to the right above, although these are yet to incorporate any emblems. And so, the designing process continues… One thing is for sure, we certainly want to have plenty of Radley red, although reportedly this is a rather costly colour!
Autumn 2021 Celebration of Funded Places February 2022 Dedication of the new Organ –175th anniversary event (Radley)
Panes of stained glass are available to sponsor in the new Chapel. Please get in touch with the Foundation Office for more details: foundation@radley.org.uk 5
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET five years of rowing indoors Rowing has been central to Radley since 1849 when, two years after the College was founded, the Radley College Boat Club (RCBC) was set up. The early Boathouses near Sandford Lock were developed progressively between 1853 and 1899. The Evans Boathouse, near the Island, was constructed in 1911 and the present Howard Boathouse complex was started in 1921 and enlarged in 1966. An addition to the training facilities available to RCBC came in 19XX, when an ergo Bio-rower Four was installed in a temporary shed-like structure next to the CCF buildings. And then, most recently, in September 2015, a cutting-edge training facility was built at the College - the Jock Mullard Rowing Tank. Built on the same site, it entirely replaced the previous temporary buildings and was the first part of an ambitious plan to provide the school with a first-class training centre. Since this was opened, the current 6.2 year have been the first group of boys to have access to this sort of training facility throughout their entire time at Radley. So what better time to look back at why and how the Jock Mullard Rowing Tank came about, and the impact it has had to date on rowing at Radley.
The OR wet bob's view Successive Masters-in-Charge of Rowing have struggled to overcome two significant challenges for the Boat Club: namely, how to introduce Shell beginners to sculling in a safe way during the Lent term without them falling into a freezing river too often (!) and how to keep boys of all ages involved and motivated when the river is inaccessible because of flooding. Over the decades various contraptions have been invented for use on College Pond and, in the 1960s, Ronnie Howard and John Birkhead built the infamous ‘decalogue’, a heavy twin-hulled raft that housed eight oarsmen and enabled the coach to move among them during outings; however, it was brutally hard to make any progress in it against a strong current. Being the main flood plain between Oxford and Abingdon, the Radley Reach flooded nearly every winter and this kept most wet bobs off the river; a solution had to be found as the loss of many weeks of early training on the water increasingly became a significant handicap for College crews when it came to
The Jock Mullard Rowing Tank sits alongside the Strength & Conditioning Centre as part of the College's high performance training area. competitive racing. Radley often underperformed in the Lent Term and struggled to catch up during the Summer regatta season. Rowing only becomes hugely enjoyable when one is winning! The original inspiration for the tank came from John Gearing when, shortly after his appointment, he set out his vision for the future development of Radley rowing. David Sheppard (1960), a dedicated and long-serving former Chairman of the Radley Mariners, also played a key role in bringing it to fruition. As, understandably, a rowing tank was not top of the list of priorities for College funding, the Foundation was set the task of raising the necessary funds from the Radley community. The response from former parents and wet bob ORs was most encouraging and current parents in particular seemed to understand why it would make such a difference to their sons. Many donations, all deeply appreciated, were often accompanied by heart-warming letters from generations of ORs for whom rowing had been a defining feature of their Radley careers; letters filled with fond memories of rowing through snow storms and ice-flows with freezing hands and dripping noses. The eventual total raised (more than £400,000) was made up of many smaller sized gifts but one of the larger ones had a welcome condition attached to it: that the tank be named after Jock Mullard (1958), a life-long devotee of RCBC. The Warden and Council readily agreed. A variety of tanks were visited before plans were finalised and construction began in 2014. The RCBC tank was designed to be suitable for everyone from young boys learning to scull or row to advanced oarsmen seeking to perfect their technique. Unusually, scullers/oarsmen move back and forth within the tank to simulate as closely as possible the ‘feeling’ of being in a boat and cameras and performance monitors have been fitted to each seat to provide training aids for the coaches and for self-learning.
A previous solution MkI: The 'decalogue' in use on the river in 1966 (from left to right) are Pedro Grove, David Allott, William Johnson, Guy Galbraith (cox), Richard Padfield, Tim Crooks and Anthony Robinson.
A previous solution MkII: J14s in half the Octopunt on College Pond in 2010.
As with many other sports, it is intensive preparation and meticulous attention to detail in rowing that delivers improved performance along with physical fitness, passion, crew-bonding and self-belief. Let’s hope it won’t be long before Radley is victorious again in The Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley - something all wet bob ORs would love to see. Anthony Robinson (1962), former Foundation Director
The tank mid-construction in 2014, with the steel frame and water tank taking form. 6
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET The coaches' view Since the Radley Rowing Tank was completed in September 2015, many young Radleians have benefitted from it, as well as a whole host of external clubs. The tank is virtually in continual use throughout the season, although it would be fair to say that the Michaelmas and Lent terms are when we really see the most noticeable advantages. This is in part due to the river often flooding during these months, making rowing on the river impossible, particularly for the Shells and Removes. However, with access to such a high-class facility, we have found that our boys have managed to make significant technical gains whilst being off the river, something that is frankly hard to replicate on just a rowing ergometer. This has proven to be extremely valuable to our Shell rowers, who when learning a brand new sport, have the ability to get high quality coaching in a safe environment, with instant feedback visually through the various cameras linked to the Rowing Tank system. We can also teach them other skills such as “backing down” so that when they do get on the river they have much more control and are able to do things such as turning the boat around or manoeuvring it safely and quickly on the flowing river.
of technique. Just ten minutes with a boy doing a one-on-one session during lunch hour can make a huge difference in correcting a specific technical issue. It is also very valuable for doing technical drills where the boys will practise various parts of the stroke and the coach can make corrections or offer specific advice. In dynamic mode the tank can also be used for an extended training session, similar to an ergo session but more like being in a boat. This is particularly useful when we are pushed for time, which is often the case, or when weather conditions prevent us from getting on the water.
On top of this they learn basic sculling skills such as feathering and squaring their oars and moving in time together. Learning these skills in a safe, comfortable environment ensures a far more accelerated learning curve compared to the time when we did not have the benefit of the tank. Similarly, when the boys switch to sweep rowing in their Remove year, the coaches start them in the tank to learn the different skills required when using just one oar and also get them used to rowing on either bow side or stroke side.
The number of outside clubs and schools who make use of the tank when RCBC is not using it is another indication of just how useful it is. Some of these travel for over an hour to get here in order to use the tank, so this reinforces just how fortunate we are to have it on our premises. It is hard to quantify just how much the tank has benefitted the boat club since it was built, but it has undoubtedly played a key role in our recent successes on the water, including securing the top spot for schools on the medal table at the 2019 National Schools’ Regatta.
As with anything new, we are continually looking to make improvements to the tank. We have had some issues with water getting over the sides during rowing and flooding the seating area. We are now in the process of designing and fitting a lip to the sides of the tank which will prevent this from happening. We are also working on different oar designs for when the tank is in static or dynamic mode. We have tried various designs and have come up with a solution that works, but now we are trying to find someone who can manufacture these for us.
For the J16 and senior year groups the tank is an excellent tool to work individually with boys who have specific areas to improve and to explain some of the finer points
Sam Townsend, Master in Charge of Rowing John Gearing, Head Rowing Coach
Senior squad boys putting the Tank through its paces shortly after its opening in 2015.
The boys' view How do the Senior Squad make use of the Rowing Tank now?
The last word however, should go to one of the boys who has experienced the Rowing Tank, from arrival as a Shell to captaining the First VIII five years later:
Being in the senior squad the Rowing Tank becomes less of a vital tool, now that we have developed the basic skills of rowing that enable us to do most technique work on the water. However the option to have one on one coaching where the coach can stand just 5 meters away, as well as have about four different camera angles on the big screen, allows us to fine tune the difficult and personal issues of the stroke.
What was your first experience of the Rowing Tank? As a Shell I arrived at Radley having never seen a rowing boat in the flesh let alone a state of the art Rowing Tank. I joined the boat club in the summer of Shells (not at the conventional time of after Christmas). This meant that I was behind most boys technically. The Rowing Tank enabled me as a Shell to develop the basic skills of the catch, feathering, squaring and the sequence of the rowing stroke.
How has it helped improve your rowing? The biggest benefit I see in the Rowing Tank is the use of the live video you can see of yourself rowing. Personally this has enabled me to make significant changes to my rowing stroke and has allowed me to make some of the best corrections/developments to my stroke in a short period of time. The use of the video allows you to see what the coach is asking for and make an appropriate change, something which is not as easy on the water.
What was the impression of the boys in your year when they first saw/used it? At the age of 13 having just left prep school and all of a sudden being at Radley you have access to some of the best equipment there is, the rowing tank is the epitome of this. The Rowing Tank provided myself and my year group the opportunity to learn to row but also such a facility pulls people towards a sport. It gave people the opportunity to try out something new no matter what their skill, and enjoy it.
Fred Dreyer (6.2, G) Captain of Boats 7
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Radleian Society News The Power of Volunteering
Membership survey - what more can we do?
Through connecting the world of work to the Radley education we can help Radleians to broaden their horizons and gain a greater understanding of the opportunities and challenges they may face in their early career.
The Radleian Society’s goal is to bring the Radley community together in a variety of ways, and to support this we have significantly increased our Events & Communications programme over the last three years. We felt that now was a good time to get your views on what we are doing, and find out what you think we should be doing more of, or less of, to support the community and the school.
The more Old Radleians and Radley parents who volunteer to share their experience and their network of professional contacts, the more opportunities become available for the boys. Every interaction with the workplace counts, and multiple interactions can be transformational in helping to shape future careers.
Therefore, in the coming months we plan to run a ‘Radleian Society membership survey’ to ask for your views. If anyone in the Radley community is an expert in the area of ‘surveys’ then please contact us, we would appreciate your help.
“After speaking at a Radley For Life networking event on the theme of ‘Disruptive Technology’, I was then asked to come back to speak to the boys at the Radley Careers Futures conference. It was great to come back to Radley and feel like I was able to really help the boys and parents have a better understanding of the impact of technology and how it will dramatically transform the world they will step into very soon. If not already." Alexander Low (1991)
Radleian Society Chairman to retire After 12 years of magnificent service (2008 to 2020), Rupert Henson (1975) will be standing down from his role as Chairman of the Radleian Society at this year’s AGM, which will be held at Radley College on 25th April. Our current President, Sam Melluish, will step into a combined President/Chairman role while the Committee seeks a new Chairman. Rupert will be warmly thanked for his immense commitment and dedication to the Society at the AGM; he will be much missed.
Privacy Statement A reminder that we have updated our Privacy Statement in line with the changes to privacy law that came into effect last year, detailing how we collect, use, share and store your personal data. The Privacy Statement also provides you with information on your rights in this regard. There are many ways you can volunteer, and more and more Radley Parents and Old Radleians are choosing to help in a variety of ways by: • Coming back to speak to the boys at Radley about their areas of expertise • Joining our online communities to provide advice • Offering work experience or internships • Sharing connections to aid networking • Speaking at a Radley For Life business networking event (pictured above)
You can view our new Privacy Statement here, under the ‘IT and Data’ drop down: www.radley.org.uk/about-radley/policies-inspection-reports A paper copy of the statement is available upon request.
You can get in contact with the Radleian Society office at: radsoc@radley.org.uk
Please volunteer your time, either by joining Radley Connect, or contacting our office.
Radley Business Gazette Old Radleians of all ages are often involved in many new business ventures and post about them on our online portal (www.radleyconnect.org.uk) and our RFL LinkedIn page. Here are a couple that caught our eye! If you have a new business or a business update that you would like to get out to the Radleian community through the Business Gazette feature, then drop us a line at: radsoc@radley.org.uk
Look good...
... and feel good
Will Flindall (2008) left Radley in 2013 and studied Architecture at Oxford Brookes University. Will Flindall Ltd was launched in 2018 enabling Will to showcase his first wallpaper series entitled ‘London’ which was inspired by architecture around the city. Will has been building his reputation in the art/design world over the last two years and targets commercial companies and sports clubs with his bespoke wallpapers whilst also using these illustrated designs for merchandise.
Alex Webster (1992) launched Genie Living Drinks in early 2019.
Will is also a passionate artist. His interest in art started at Radley and has developed from his training in drafting whilst at university. Both disciplines have enabled Will to develop his skills and style over the last few years resulting in an exciting start to 2020 with his first wallpaper commission for the clubhouse at the newly opened Royal Norwich Golf Club. If you are interested in learning more about Will Flindall Ltd then please do not hesitate to contact Will via email at will@willflindall.com or look at his website: www.willflindall.com.
Left: Will's wallpaper for the newly opened Royal Norwich Golf Club, showing the crests of the Royal Golf Clubs in the UK, linking these unique clubs together. Right: Alex's 2019 start-up, Genie Living Drinks. 8
Here at Genie we make healthy soft drinks, including the UK’s first Live (probiotic) sodas and delicious kombuchas…there really is a Genie in every bottle! After a great first year, during which we won great taste awards, received amazing reviews (The Telegraph 9/10 & BBC Good Food), gained legions of fans and secured exciting distribution deals, we are now on the lookout for interested EIS investors to help us build on our start. We’d also love to hear from anyone in the hospitality or retail sectors who might want to stock our drinks, the perfect drinks for this new decade.
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Radley for Life Business Network RFL business event: ‘What will the future hold for marketers?’ 2nd March 2020 A diverse audience of over 80 Old Radleians, Radley parents and current boys gathered on Monday 2nd March for the latest in our series of RFL Business Networking events, held at FTI Consulting, London, courtesy of Charles Palmer (1985). George Prest (1988), founder of the agency Blood Global, and a partner in You & Mr Jones, chaired a discussion on the Future of Marketing with a panel of experts in the field – Emma Cookson, Tim Sparke (1988), Remi Pedro and Simon Peck (1985). The topics covered ranged widely, examining areas such as the potential impact of AI on the industry; how people play the role of the client given the huge number of marketing channels available to them and their agencies; the structural organisation of the industry going forward; marketing as a career; what makes a brand today and the importance of brand purpose in today’s world. George kicked off the evening by asking the panellists to reveal what they were most passionate about when it came to marketing. Remi Pedro, Marketing Manager at Direct Line Group, wants to see the industry challenge universalism in marketing – the idea there is a one-size experience that will apply to all. Looking at the future of marketing and how to change this widespread approach, Remi noted that technology and the personalisation of the marketing experience can provide a pathway to do this.
the heart of a brand. The rise of social media means that it is now much harder for brands to control their own messaging, as information is shared directly between consumers, and this then led on to the topic of the importance of brand purpose. With many direct-toconsumer start-ups having their brand purpose built-in to their business model from the outset, how much the big brands can demonstrate their own authenticity was examined. Simon Peck, formerly at Engine UK, was of the opinion that stakeholder capitalism – aiming to do the best for customers and employees as well as just shareholders – will lead to companies finding their brand purpose in a realistic manner. With a sizeable contingent of young ORs, current parents and boys from Radley in attendance, the panel paid particular attention to marketing as a career. They noted that with so many ways now to create content and reach people, in many respects there’s never been a better time for marketing, but also that changes in technology and societal behaviour also mean that the business landscape is evolving. Tim Sparke, Partner at Congregation Ltd, commented that marketers can be so obsessed with the new that they can easily forget about the fundamental skills of marketing; and an OR who had begun working in marketing in 1970 added that the traits of empathy, imagination and curiosity are as important now as they were then.
Emma Cookson shared the wealth of her wide experience from her time as Global Head of Brand Strategy at agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, where she learned the importance of the psychology of marketing and how people make buying decisions. She raised the point that whilst technology and social media are providing so much more information, people aren’t always using data in a smarter way.
Our experts: Tim Sparke, George Prest, Remi Pedro, Simon Peck and Emma Cookson George summed up by saying that to be a good marketer you need to “be a cultural magpie… creativity and ingenuity have never been at more of a premium.” Once the discussion had concluded, the panellists and attendees took advantage of the networking session to make contacts and discuss the points raised. Another excellent evening, once again showcasing the amazing resource that is the Radleian business community. With thanks to Max Horsey and the Radley video unit, the panel discussion was filmed and is available on the Radley College website, where you can also find a link to photos of the event.
As the panel moved on to the subject of brands in the future, they all agreed that authenticity needs to be at
Far left, left & above: The Radleian community in action as ORs, parents and boys network and make connections in the open session after the panel discussion.
RFL business event: Networking in the creative industries – November 2020 Our next Radley For Life networking event will be for those in the creative industries. Creativity works in mysterious and often paradoxical ways, ideas and innovation don’t come on command, they often spring up when we least expect it. Creativity is not a defined process and you often have to work through mental barriers and internal blocks and push back against external forces trying to shape you to ‘the norm’. At this Radley For Life networking event our speakers will discuss what it is to think differently and how they, personally, managed to break the mould and go on to establish themselves in their creative careers. This networking event is for all those with a Radley connection who are in the creative industries - writers, singers, actors, producers, artists, musicians and more, all are welcome.
Our host for the evening is Jamie Campbell (1990) Jamie went to London Film School in 2001, after which he directed, produced, and appeared in multiple primetime documentaries for Channel 4, ITV, the BBC and Sky 1 – including Candid Cameron, Martha and Me, 24 Hours With… and Osama and US. He set up production company Eleven in 2006 and most recently produced the series Sex Education for Netflix. Jamie started out writing and directing theatre, taking his plays to the Edinburgh Festival in 1993 and to London’s Finborough Theatre in 2001. Send us your venue ideas Please contact us if you have any venue ideas that you think would be an ideal backdrop for our networking event focusing on the theme of creativity.
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Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Social diary Radley Reunion - 50 Years since leaving
Radley Reunion - 10 Years since leaving
Sadly, we have had to take the decision to cancel this year’s 50 Years since leaving reunion, in line with current government guidance on COVID-19.
The first of the reunions to which our ORs are invited enables them to get back together in London, 10 years after having left the College. For those of you whose year it is, here are a few reminders to jog the memory...
We will continue to keep you updated via our emails and social media In the meantime, here are some photos from The Radleian of 50 years ago to spark memories of Radley days for this year group.
The 2010 1st VIII competing at Henley.
The 1970 1st VIII on the water, winners of the Bourne Cup at Reading University Head of the River race.
The 1st XV forwards packing down. Above: The Poetry & Folk Concert, July 1970. Right: The dons perform their annual play, which in 1969 was 'Peter Panto', written by PDL Way. Below: Services Day, May 1970, included an unarmed combat display by the Royal Marines.
One of the stages of the 87-mile Ridgeway Run, completed in Michaelmas term, 2009.
Maj. Gen. Bradshaw conducting the biennial CCF inspection, having landed his Lynx helicopter in the middle of College Quadrangle.
Warden Silk and his Prefects, Lent 1970. 10
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Young OR Christmas Drinks
Exeter University Supper
The evening of Tuesday 3rd December saw over 80 ORs under the age of 30 join dons Richard Greed and Niall Murphy for their annual Christmas Drinks party, courtesy of the Radleian Society. It was a lively evening, with a mix of festive cheer and catching up with old friends, as well as keeping in touch with both the College and the Society. RadSoc chairman Rupert Henson (1975) welcomed those present and gave the ORs a reminder of the opportunities that the network and Society offer, particularly through Radley Connect. The festive merry-making then continued late into the evening!
On 11th November 2019, over 30 Old Radleians currently studying at Exeter University joined dons Richard Greed, Dan Pullen and Charlie McKegney at the Stand Off pub in Exeter for a burger and a beer. It was an opportunity for these recent ORs to stay connected with each other and the College and to hear about the opportunities of support through the wider
Radleian Society community. A great evening was enjoyed by all and for some it continued into a great night and early morning! The Radleian Society's programme of University Suppers will continue with two more to take place in 2020, so keep an eye out for details to be announced later this year.
Radley Reunion - 25 Years since leaving The Old Radleian leavers of 1995 returned to the College on Saturday 8th February to celebrate their 25 Year Reunion with a number of current and former dons. The day involved tours of Socials, an Evensong service in Chapel, a champagne reception and then Dinner in Hall, as old friendships were re-kindled and old stories retold. After dinner, speeches from Senior Prefect, Fred Dreyer, and the Warden warmly welcomed the ORs back to their College and former Senior Prefect, Jamie Campbell (1990, A), reciprocated on behalf of the year group, before a trip down to the JCR, where the reminiscing and enjoyment continued into the wee small hours. But the best way to report on the event is with the words of those whose reunion it was:
I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It was great to see so many staff and friends, many of whom I hadn't seen since the day I left! It was lovely to see the school again and I thought the overall format of the evening was fantastic. It was great to be back in Chapel and have a good sing as well as having a look inside the old Social again and some of the newer buildings. Charlie Hutchins (1990, E) What a brilliant event it was, and very special to meet up with faces I haven't seen since we left! I particularly enjoyed meeting Dave Dixon, and had long chats with him. James Bell (1990, A)
It was a sheer delight to meet so many former pupils, who seemed without exception to be thoroughly worthwhile, rewarding and fulfilled human beings. All that I met were there wanting to enjoy the company of old friends, giving generously of themselves, without needing to show off their achievements or compete for attention. Catching up with former colleagues was also a huge pleasure. Dave Dixon coming over from America for the event must get first prize! Charlie Milward (Hon Member)
ORs and Former Staff catch up in Hall (left) and JCR (above). 11
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET ORs at Radley Throughout the Michaelmas and Lent terms, the boys at Radley have been lucky enough to have benefitted from the experience and knowledge of an array of Old Radleians. Experts in their fields, ranging from entrepreneurism to journalism to oceanography and more, these ORs have given their time to come back to Radley to give talks or have opened up their workspace to visiting boys. With even more visits planned, these show the vibrancy of the Radley community.
James Pearce (1983) The evening of Wednesday 29th January saw James Pearce (1983), the first of two sports broadcasters and journalists come back to Radley to talk to the boys. He presented a fantastic talk on working in sport and how to be memorable at interview (for the right reasons!) He then spent time putting students through their paces in mock interviews!
Rob Martineau (1999) We were very lucky to have Rob Martineau come and speak to us on Tuesday 28th January. It was extremely interesting for all who attended, learning about his dramatic change in lifestyle, from being a lawyer working in a large corporate firm and trying to find time to fit in some extra sport, to running in the Marathon des Sables. This led to him changing his work career to developing TRIBE food nutrition combining and trying different recipes in his kitchen at home. His pride for running pushed him to the founding of the Tribe Freedom Foundation, raising money against modern slavery and human trafficking, which included raising £250,000 with a 1,000km run across many countries with high rates of child-trafficking. It was an amazing talk and we very much appreciated his efforts to come down to Radley on a cold January evening. Jamie Sharp, Max Jardine-Brown and Alex Sweetnam Adam Smith Society
Mark Durden-Smith (1982) On Thursday 30th January, Mark Durden-Smith (1982) very kindly came in to give a talk about the world of journalism and media within sport.
Mark is an OR from B Social and is currently a Radley parent, and having been presenting since 1997 - Channel 5 rugby highlights, I'm A Celebrity, and commentating on Henley RR for BT sport - he gave the boys a fascinating insight into the world of journalism and all the incredible opportunities it has given him over the years. These include being on the touchline at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, watching Japan’s historic win over South Africa. Mark reflected upon his days at Radley as a boy (with some photos and old school reports), and alongside making everyone laugh, he talked about an alternative route for boys to potentially take after finishing school, the world of media and journalism. There was a great turnout from the boys, and the engaging, humorous and eye-opening talk was greatly appreciated and received by all. Dominic Stone 6.1, Corinthians Society 12
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Charles Towers-Clark (1983)
Tom Milligan (2005) & Jon Tarcy (2007)
One of the invited guest speakers at the RadleySt Helen’s-Desborough 6.1 Artificial Intelligence Conference held at the College on Tuesday 4th February was Charles Towers-Clark (pictured below, right).
Tom and Jon (pictured below, third and second from right) once again trod the boards in Theatre as they returned to Radley on Wednesday 26th February to lead an Acting Masterclass for current boys.
Of particular note was the work on playing objectives and status, and the session provided much for the current crop of Radley actors to reflect on.
The author of The WEIRD CEO, he spoke to the assembled pupils on how the future of work (and life) will be affected by the rise in Artificial Intelligence.
Hamish Mackie (1987) At the end of January, the 6.1 Art students had the privilege of visiting the studio and foundry of the talented OR sculptor Hamish Mackie. Hamish has been sculpting animals in motion as a successful career since 1996, and has works in public and private collections around the world. His studio was filled with incredible and life-like animal sculptures that grabbed your attention from every corner of the room. His pieces ranged from all manner of size and shape and each piece had a certain uniqueness to them which always made them stand out. At the foundry, we saw a full process of how each piece went from clay to bronze masterpiece. We saw a full casting with molten bronze as well as the creations of the moulds and refining techniques used. Very many thanks to Hamish for giving up his time to show us his fascinating work and magnificent creations. Henry Dixon (6.1)
ORs from The Old Radleian After being featured in the 2019 edition of The Old Radleian, Radley were pleased to welcome David Taylor (1971), Oliver Steeds (1989) and James Pritchett (2001) back to the College to talk to the boys. In February, Oliver visited the Radley Geography department and talked to the boys about the importance of the health of our oceans. Both David (pictured left) and James (pictured right) were invited back by the boy-led Environmental Society to speak about important green topics. David gave an Introduction to Green Politics, taking the assembled boys through the philosophy, polices and strategies that will create an ecologically and socially sustainable future. James spoke about the housing of the future and how new developments can help pave the way for future generations. 13
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET School report Radley Mock Elections
On Thursday 5th December, in our brand new Science Lecture Theatre, the Radley General Election Question Time kicked off with the introduction of all the candidates to the lively crowd. Chaired by Mr Rathbone, there was a large range of questions – from Brexit to boycotting the College Steeplechase! With there being party representation of the Conservatives, Labour, LibDems, The Brexit Party, The Green Party and Change UK, each of the party candidates tried their best to ‘woo’ their potential voters; both in the theatre and those watching it on the live stream.
Shell Tug-of-war
According to tradition, the first Sunday afternoon of Term saw the Shells Inter-Social Tug of War knockout competition. The atmosphere was highly charged, as supporters across Radley cheered on every Shell. After an extremely exciting and closely fought battle, the Warden presented the ‘Shell’ trophy to C Social as winner. Afterwards, everyone was treated to a College BBQ on the games field.
STEMfest On 16th October we celebrated the opening of the new Science Centre with a celebration of Science at Radley - STEMfest. All Radley students along with about 80 pupils from our partnership academy, Desborough, attended an inspirational series of lectures and seminars. We are extremely grateful to all of the eminent scientists who gave up their time to talk about a diverse range of subjects including Codes, Climate Change, Black Holes and DNA Fingerprinting.
Christmas at Hanover Square The ongoing building work in Chapel provided an excellent opportunity to hold this year’s Christmas Concert in the beautiful St. George’s Church in Hanover Square, London. After a brilliant carol service, the concert was kicked off by the Orchestra playing Overture in D by Handel (arranged by Elgar). The opportunity to play some Handel in his own personal church is not something that comes
Jacob Rees-Mogg along very often for schoolboys. The orchestra, and later string ensemble, certainly made the most of it, delivering some wonderful performances. Other highlights came from the percussion ensemble, playing ‘Cabasa!’ and Big Band performing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, with Tom Reed singing vocals and sending everyone away ready for Christmas.
The year 2019 will be remembered as an unprecedented year of political turmoil, resulting in widespread discontent over political stalemate. The Politics Society was therefore delighted when Jacob Rees-Mogg MP accepted an invitation to give a talk at the College in early October. Mr Rees-Mogg deliberately spoke only for about 15 minutes, touching mainly on Brexit and on public service, in order to allow the rest of the hour to be spent on questions, which he clearly enjoyed. It was clear that Mr Rees-Mogg’s performance was a masterclass. He spoke with no notes, he kept carefully to a coherent argument, ranged broadly, accepting some points, parrying others and resisting a few. It was pleasing to hear so many boys from all year groups having the confidence to hold a senior cabinet minister to account. Many boys and dons commented on how much they had enjoyed hearing him speak, and whatever their political opinions, they respected the way in which he articulated his perspective.
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Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Glimpse into the archives Radley's founding principles: Christianity With the 175th anniversary of the College’s founding taking place in 2022, I am gathering material for a book as part of that celebration. The book will not be another history of the school, instead it will focus on the four founding principles of Radley and their continuing and changing impact across time: Christianity, collegiality, aesthetics and privacy. I am currently working on the section on Christianity and the central role of Chapel in school life. This includes approaches to liturgy, the role of student Christian movements such as Christian Forum, church music, social services and charity work.
Chapel A building in which the school could gather daily to worship God was one of the most urgent concerns of the founders of Radley College. Sewell and Singleton were convinced of the need for reform in the Church of England and that this could best be effected through the liturgical and architectural changes being introduced by the Oxford Movement. Beauty in worship, achieved through ritual and music, was as central to their ethos as was the beauty of the physical surroundings of the landscape and furnishings which they provided for the school. The musician Edwin Monk, the first Precentor, was the highest paid of Radley’s teaching staff. He was also charged with the care and training of the servitors – poor boys from Radley village and from Oxford who were educated at the school in their own classes in exchange for daily work and singing in the choir. Chapel, therefore, was also central to Radley’s earliest approach to social service and to the provision of education for those who could not afford fees. Monk went on to become organist at York Minster and several of his hymn tunes are still widely sung, including Angel voices ever singing which is still a favourite at Radley. He was just the first of a number of Radley hymn-writers. In his diary, Singleton agonised over the cost of the building: ‘But this was a very serious sum to expend in the existing state of the finances; & yet what were we to do? We must have a chapel, & something good too, otherwise we should fail at once. … [We} asked each other would it not be a distrustfulness of Him, who had so graciously helped us hitherto, were we to shrink from what we honestly believed to be essential to our success?’ The building went ahead and with it the order for the first of Radley’s organs, designed and built by Telford’s of Dublin, and the purchase of the reredos: a beautiful work of art and a great instrument to support this essential part of the school. The reredos bought by William Sewell still has pride of place in Chapel, with the new extension being designed around it. The organ has been updated and replaced, but its role in worship at Radley has not been superseded. Sewell and Singleton’s chapel was itself replaced in 1895, part of a massive building programme following the purchase of the freehold of the estate in 1889. In 1891, when discussions about the new chapel first began, the Bishop of Oxford urged that the building should not restrict the school: ‘he advised that no building should be begun which would not bear embellishment or enlargement.’ (The Radleian 1891) The new Chapel, designed by Sir Thomas Jackson, was innovative in its use of bare brick in the interior. Only the choir had stalls, the rest of the school and visitors being seated on wooden chairs. The windows were all plain glass. The chairs were gradually replaced by stalls, particularly a set at the east end in memory of Warden Thomas Field in the 1930s. The stalls were again expanded in 1995 ready for the 150th anniversary of the school, at which time the ante-chapel took its present shape. The stained glass windows were made one at a time, each commemorating a boy or don, beginning with the East window consecrated in 1895 in memory of GEW Brooke (1889 D). The entire sequence is by the firm of Burlison & Grylls.
Beyond the College But the building was just a part of Radley’s Christian ethos. Social service among the urban poor was a matter of deep concern, leading in 1881 to the founding of what became known as Radley College Mission based at the parish of St Peter’s, London Docks. The school’s first task was to raise funds to build a playground. Within a few years an Old Radleian, Rev Harold Pollock, began work as curate there, concentrating on developing boys’ and mens’ clubs covering sporting activities and education. From 1910 the school paid his salary and that of his successors in post. Regular groups of Radleians went to help out with activities, to produce entertainments and to raise funds to buy a campsite by the sea in Sussex. Groups from St Peter’s visited Radley, including women and girls from clubs set up by the wives of ORs and dons. At times the school paid for orphans from the parish to be boarded and educated in Radley village, and hosted evacuees in WW2. The Old Boys’ Club of St Peter’s, London Docks had its last dinner in 2000, attended by Dennis and Diana Silk who had supported the work throughout Dennis’ time as Warden. However, attitudes to a mission whose main concern was religion rather than social service were changing, particularly through the Great Depression of the 1930s,
An 1859 photo from William Wood's album showing the original Chapel, Mansion and the 'tin tunnel' that would be replaced by cloisters. and the school began to reconsider its charitable and social service activities. The first of these endeavours was in the coalfields of Durham, an area hit hard by unemployment. Radleians fund-raised and visited the area through the late 1930s, activity only being curtailed by WW2. After the War, the debate was resumed, particularly in the light of changes to the Welfare State. In 1960 Radley College formally stopped its support of the Mission at London Docks, although it kept up the association long after, and a group of dons, led by Bob Stoughton-Harris, later supported by David Flint, set up Radley Youth and Social Service Trust to work with boys’ clubs and older people closer to home. RYSST was funded by donations just as the Mission had been. As always with school activities, the success and enthusiasm for this fluctuated, with various levels of embarrassment and uncertainty on both sides. Gradually this morphed into a formal activity funded by the school, much of it under the guidance of David Coulton first as assistant chaplain, then as chaplain. Since then, overseas projects have been added to the local work, starting with the support of the family of Rev. Alban Makoni in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), then in Romania, Kerala and currently Gehandu High School in Tanzania. In 2019 the school raised collectively more than £100,000 for charity. Over the years many ORs have been ordained into full-time ministry in the Church of England, whilst others have lay roles across the broad spectrum of churchmanship and denominations. I recently asked those in full-time ministry whether they would share the impact that school had on their faith. Several have written about the influence of individual Chaplains, especially Charles Neate and Warden Vaughan Wilkes, who left education to take up a role as parish priest. Others wrote about Christian Forum under David Flint, itself a successor to a ‘TocH’ group who met here in the 1920s and 1930s. To quote one: ‘Radley taught that it’s perfectly reasonable to be a thinking Christian.’ As such, I would very much like to hear from any other thinking Christians and if you have any memories of social service that you would like to share, then please get in touch: archivist@radley.org.uk
Radleians in Kerala, India in 2010, continue to help build houses for the community on Radley Road. 15
Clare Sargent, Archivist
Lusimus . THE RADLEY BROADSHEET Sports
ORGS vs Radley Seniors
Will Stuart (2009) Congratulations go to Will who was called up for the England 2020 Six Nations squad. Selected on the bench (or as a 'finisher' as it was called) for the first game against France, he came on to earn his first cap. He was again selected as a substitute for the game against Scotland but didn't get on the pitch, which was possibly a blessing given the stormy conditions of that game! He went on to earn his second and third caps in the victories over Ireland and Wales. With the final game of the Six Nations, against Italy, postponed until later in the year due to the coronavirus outbreak, he will have to wait until the summer tours to continue his burgeoning international career.
Sportsphoto LTD / Alamy Stock Photo
With the Old Radleians Golf Society benefiting from some great talent that has come through the College in the last few years, it was the turn of the current generation of Radley golfers to impress when they took on the ORs on Tuesday 10th March at The Berkshire. The wet conditions and strong winds had an impact on shot-making, but both sides made impressive shots. With two pairs and a third man making up the match, the first pairing was halved thanks to a match-saving 18th hole from Ben Wilson (6.1, K). Victories in the other two games (that included a great-uncle vs greatnephew!), saw the ORs win the match 2 up. All ORs commented on the high standard of play shown by the boys and nothing would please Sir Archie Birkmyre (1936) more than to read how the golf course is encouraging current Radleians to play.
Cross-country It was a bright, but very blustery February day at College for the Radley Relays, which saw 78 school teams competing across four laps of a 2 mile course.
Some very solid running by the Dons saw them to their first win since 2011, pipping the Boys to the title by just 7 seconds.
We were delighted to welcome five ORs to the event, a slightly smaller contingent than in recent years, but ready nonetheless to take part in the annual Old Boys v Dons v Boys match, with the ORs hunting a remarkable eighth successive victory. The aftermath of Storm Ciara meant that conditions were tough with around half a mile of leg-sapping mud proving a test for all, including a few who ran multiple laps.
The ORs have a solid committed core to the team, but would also welcome some fresh legs, especially among some of the more recent leavers (anyone under 45!?). Please do contact Benedict Pollard for further details (benedict.pollard@gmail.com). The 2021 fixture is scheduled for Tues 9th February.
Contact us
Radleian Society, Radley College Abingdon, OX14 2HR www.radley.org.uk Simon Brand Publications & Social Media Editor Tel: 01235 543103 Email: simon.brand@radley.org.uk Caroline Monaghan Radleian Society Manager Tel: 01235 543171 Email: caroline.monaghan@radley.org.uk Cassandra Russell Events Co-ordinator Tel: 01235 548574 Email: cassandra.russell@radley.org.uk Selina Woodcock Database & Donations Manager Tel: 01235 543172 Email: SKW.Woodcock@radley.org.uk Henry Cosh Development Manager Tel: 01235 543151 Email: HRC.Cosh@radley.org.uk Lucy Johnsson Foundation Executive Tel: 01235 548543 Email: lucy.johnsson@radley.org.uk
Dan Channer (1987), Simon Robson-Brown (1986), Benedict Pollard (1986), Ed Moisson (1986), Ralf Arneil (1987). 16
The Radley Foundation – Registered Charity No. 272671 The Radleian Society – Registered Charity No. 309243