Sam's Story

Sam (Shell) joined Radley in September 2022. An exceptionally talented musician as well as a strong academic, Sam gained both a Music Scholarship and Academic Exhibition to attend Radley, and was selected to receive The Hamish Aird Foundation Award. At the end of his Shell year, we caught up with Sam to find out how he had settled into Radley life and ask about his first year.

You’re coming to the end of your Shell year, how have you found your first year at Radley?

At the beginning I was quite homesick, but the dons at Radley are amazing and especially my Tutor, Sub Tutor and PHM, so that went away in the first couple of weeks. I’ve made lots of new friends too, mainly with the music bunch and others in my Social.

How do you find the academic side of Radley?

The dons are brilliant and because there are more sets at Radley it means we can learn at the pace that’s right for us. My last school was quite small so there were only two sets in most subjects. At Radley there are eight sets in Maths so if you’re in the top set it’s really fast moving.

What instruments do you play?

I play French Horn, Bass Guitar and I sing too –it’s quite a variety, but I love all three. I’m in Chapel Choir and Chamber Choir as well as the orchestra and lots of ensembles. I’m in Radley Voices too, it’s a group of between 4 and 18 people of all age groups of boys as well as some dons. We mostly sing pop songs and songs from musicals. At the moment we’re rehearsing Can You Feel The Love Tonight? I particularly enjoy singing in Chapel. I sang a solo in Chapel for both the Remembrance Day Service and also at John Pattisson’s Memorial Service.

What other activities are you enjoying at Radley?

I really enjoy rowing – I’m a cox at the moment. I’d never done anything like that before I came to Radley. I like rugby too, but rowing is my favourite. I currently do two terms of rowing but I’m hoping to do three terms, when I’m allowed to.

What do you like to do in your free time at Radley?

I really like to read, and I’ve also enjoyed playing table tennis and pool in my Social. But I don’t get much free time because I’m kept really busy with my music and rowing now too. On a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon when I’m at the Boathouse, I get off the water, either get the bus or run back to Social, get changed as quickly as I can and then get straight to the Music School for either Horn Ensemble or Brass Group … followed by Choir Practice! I really enjoy it all though, I never feel like I don’t want to go.

What’s been the most memorable experience you’ve had at Radley during your first year?

The Choir Tour to France (well, apart from the fact I was so travel sick!). There were so many different places we visited and sang at, but the most amazing was the Basilica of Sainte-Therese in Lisieux. We sang in the crypt for a service, it was such a great experience. I also played in the orchestra in the Chateau where we were joined by a French orchestra. At the end of the trip, I even got to play my bass guitar for a Jazz Night – that was really fun to do.

Would you like to have a career in music?

I think I’ll probably stick to the academic side for my career, perhaps something in engineering, but I’ll definitely keep playing music because it’s really fun.