Radley The
N e w s l e t t e r
Hockey | The New Socials | Achievements and Activities 2006-7 Greek Trips | Art at Radley
Michael Sidders dribbles past two Abingdon players
Hockey 2007 R
od journeaux left Hockey at Radley very competitive and it was important to find the best replacement possible. We were very fortunate to find a coach with a formidable reputation, Graham King. He had been a top class player in South Africa before turning to coaching; he then coached a succession of western Province U18 champion teams, a considerable number of whose players (8 in 2002 alone) went on to play for the South African U18 team. Four
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of that cohort became full internationals. Graham came to the UK in 2003 to run the hockey at Bedford School, and there too had considerable success with the 1st XI. He started at Radley in September 2006 and describes his first 1st XI season here as follows: ‘The 2007 season, which began with the customary pre season tour in Barcelona, will be remembered by many for the fact that the Radley College 1st XI was unbeaten on what has proved
to be an extremely competitive circuit. Whilst this is a commendable feat, I prefer to concentrate on the attributes of the individuals and the team that resulted in a record of played 11, won 9 and drew 2. Every successful team relies on a combination of talent, attitude, team spirit and leadership and this one was no exception. Not only did we have in the squad highly skilled players – Charlie Davies, Jamie Stallibrass and Charles Wood were all
THE TEAM C Davies (C)
(Beeston Hall, A Social)
J Stallibrass (VC)
(Milbourne Lodge, C Social)
H MacKinnon
(Sandroyd, A Social)
H Mayes
(Pinewood, G Social)
J North
(Ludgrove, B Social)
C Wood
(Dragon, E Social)
M Sidders
(Caldicott, D Social)
A Crampton Smith (Dragon, F Social)
G Coles
(Woodcote House, G Social)
H Jennings
(Ludgrove, G Social)
J Stanton
(Cottesmore, B Social)
R Savill
(King’s Hall, G Social)
N Buchanan
(Elstree, G Social)
Unbeaten playing in the 1st XI for a third year – but our strength in depth was the envy of many opponents. It is a tribute to the coaching structure at Radley College that all fourteen members of the squad were highly skilled and could be relied upon regardless of the match situation. But to focus on skill levels would not do justice to the real strength of the team: their attitude and collective spirit. Training was always done at the highest intensity, and their competitiveness on match days could not be bettered. There
were excellent wins against Eton (2-0) and Cheltenham (6-2) and this team did not know when it was beaten; the fact that equalising and winning goals were scored in the dying moments of matches against Bradfield (3-2), Wellington (3-3) and Charterhouse (4-4) is a tribute to this. Playing to win was always important, but this never stood in the way of enjoyment and sportsmanship; this was a group that Radley could be proud of for more than just their unbeaten record.’
RESULTS 13 Jan
Charterhouse
4 - 4
D
20 Jan
Eton
2 - 1
W
27 Jan
Cheltenham
6 - 3
W
3 Feb
Marlborough
2 - 0
W
4 Feb
Henry Box
2 – 2
D
4 Feb
Magdalen
6 – 1
W
4 Feb
Abingdon
4 - 1
W
6 Feb
Bradfield
3 - 2
W
24 Feb
MCS
2 - 1
W
25 Feb
Galleons
5 - 4
W
3 Mar
St Edward’s
4 - 2
W
10 Mar
Wellington
3 - 3
D
17 Mar
Abingdon
5 - 1
W
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the new Socials I
t is nearly a century since Radley last opened a new Social (H, in 1909) and now – in 2008 – two more will be added. The idea of a 9th Social has been debated for at least a decade; with the present 8 Socials full to bursting, a new Social was seen as a means of reducing pressure on current boarding accommodation. Yet while one new Social might not have made a significant difference in numbers to each Social, two new Socials could dramatically reduce the size of all, in fact down to a complement of 65. The aim was most definitely not to expand the size of Radley by adding on 130 more boys. The main reason for building Socials J and K is that accommodation and pastoral care for all boys at Radley will be enhanced. The new Socials will be built to a very high
Mark Hindley Tutor of J Social
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specification, designed by David Welbourne their predecessors, and the new Socials will who was the architect of the Queen’s Court, the unquestionably help them by reducing the David Rae Smith Building, the new Pavilion number of boys in their care. Smaller units will and the new Theatre. He won the competition give boys greater opportunity to represent their to design these new Socials with imaginative Socials and to have responsibility within them. proposals which were sensitive to Radley’s The new Socials are very well placed in the other buildings and to its campus environment. campus, set back from the main drive, Chestnut Quite as important as the quality and beauty of Avenue, and close to all the teaching areas as well the new Socials’ accommodation is the other as the New Theatre and Music School. David half of the plan, the commitment to use the Welbourne’s design will create a pleasing profile reduction in boy numbers in the old Socials as to visitors as they drive up to Memorial Arch. an opportunity to improve their facilities, too. Building work started in April 2007, with a Much of the rationale for creating completion date in the following Summer term, new Socials has been to do with the desire in plenty of time for the opening in September to improve the care of all Radleians. The 2008. The Tutors’ houses already exist, J being pressures on Tutors have grown inexorably the original Orchard House and K the Bursar’s over the years with new generations of house, and the Tutors have been appointed. parents quite rightly more involved than Mark Hindley, who has taught English at Radley since 1999, has been a sub-tutor in H Social, coach of successful rugby, hockey and cricket teams, and latterly Head of Careers, will be the first Tutor of J Social. He is married with three small children. Niall Murphy, who joined Radley straight from Cambridge in 1993, is the current Head of History. He used to be residential sub-tutor of H Social, and is another successful games coach – rugby, hockey and athletics. He is married with a baby daughter. Parents’ most frequently asked question is how the full complement of boys in J and K will be created for September 2008. Already the lists Niall Murphy of Shell boys starting in J and K that September Tutor of K Social have closed, and demand is strong for subsequent
r a dl e i a n s
Harry Hall (Shell) Ludgrove, B Social
H
years; the twin attractions of new Tutors and new buildings have worked their spell. As far as the more senior years in the new Socials are concerned, we have some experience of what has happened in comparable schools when a new house has been opened. Boys will be asked to say if they would like to change Socials and be pioneers in a new community. Some may wish to join younger brothers destined for J and K; some might be attracted by the fact that they have particularly enjoyed being taught or coached by one of the new Tutors; and others might wish to join friends from different Socials. Experience elsewhere suggests that, far from new boarding houses being refuges for those who don’t enjoy their current dispensations, they will attract boys with a variety of talents and for a host of different reasons. Of course boys are fiercely loyal to their Socials, but a sense of excitement about shaping a whole new community will for some boys be a strong counter-balance. There will, of course, be detailed discussion of each individual transfer request, between the current and the new Tutor. For Radley as a whole, then, this is a very exciting venture. Very few schools are confidently expanding their boarding accommodation for boys. That we are doing so reflects our conviction that for the foreseeable future we remain committed to a full boarding, single sex Radley, providing boys with the very best facilities in which to live and learn.
aving read past editions of the Radley Newsletter I noticed the fact that most boys tend to write about either Music, Art and Drama and the successes they have enjoyed in them in their times at Radley and I was worried I may not quite live up to expectations. Then I realised that these were simply the strengths in which they have excelled since they’ve been at Radley and how Radley opened these opportunities for them. Being only a ‘Shell’ I didn’t think I would have too much to write about or say but when I look back on my first year I realise just how much has happened in such a short space of time, how successful everything has been and how lucky we all are to have it this way. I came to Radley knowing that Sporting and Academic fronts were my two main attributes and that there are times for both of these. This is one of my favourite things about Radley; that it is easy to stay on top of your work and still enjoy everything else there is to offer without ever becoming weighed down in work. The academic challenge pushes you but never to an extent where you don’t enjoy it or can’t cope, and the sports field offers the perfect balance with competition which everyone enjoys but with all the fun required also. Over my first year I have tried and experienced many new things; it is a big change from Prep school but you settle in pretty quickly and there are all types of new things to try and to occupy you. The other thing about Radley I thoroughly enjoy is the boarding and Social aspect. I have been boarding for about 6 years now and at Prep school and towards the end
I found it quite boring but here I never really find myself bored and am constantly occupied whether it is with work or sports. I also really like the Social aspect because it always seems to be buzzing, and I never really find there are many mishaps so everyone is always happy and having fun. Everyone bonds really well and there are a fair few social activities and competitions which everyone always finds good fun as well and keeps us all occupied. So far at Radley I have been lucky enough to have huge success in my sports alongside my team mates. I enjoyed two thoroughly successful seasons in both rugby and hockey (both for Midgets 1), and in both teams we lost just the one game which was fantastic. Aside from sports and work, Radley has opened many new doors for me and offered me many new options (such as drama and new sports even) and accompanying all of that it has also bought along some great friends. I just hope my remaining years bring as much fun and success as this first one.
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Radley Achievemen Academic
200
Devonshire (Twyford, a), Humphrey Maddan (Aldro, c) and Alex Welch (Dragon, 4 In Summer 2007 Radley’s A level candidates a), solved an engineering problem posed achieved a record 89.45% A/B grades, coming by RAF Benson; it has been adopted in the 32nd in the Times Top 1000 schools. 56 boys RAF’s entire fleet of Puma helicopters. achieved 3 A grades or more. 7 got 5 A grades 4George Ulmann was selected as a UK and 2 boys 6 A grades. Peter Gwynn (West representative at the International Summer Hill Park, d) and Michael Shephard (Aldro, School for Young Physicists in Canada. d) scored in the top ten marks nationally for Further Maths A level, Arthur Voelcker Sculpture in Hyde Park, and won 3rd prize in the (Sherborne, d), Tobin Chew (Moulsford, Roche Court Articulation Prize. d) and Sebastian Lomas (Crosfields, h) 4Asa Bennett (Dragon, c) and Jamie Randell scored in the top ten for A level Design and (Summer Fields, c) were placed 2nd in a strong Technology, and Alex Chadwick (Cothill, h) Oxford Area Classical Association Reading scored in the top five for A Level Electronics. Competition, and Jamie Mason (Dragon, a) and 4The GCSE results were good; 80.5% of exams Jamie Macfarlane (Ludgrove, a) were 3rd in Senior were graded A or A* and Radley was placed Greek dialogue. in the top 50 schools nationally in the GCSE 4The Radley Chronicle, boy-run and boy-edited, league tables. Charles Cutteridge (Highgate has now published 21 issues in 2 years, and 140+ Junior, d) gained one of the top ten marks boys have contributed. It continues to achieve 4Metlink, centred on Radley’s Geography nationally in GCSE Spanish and Authur high standards of journalism. Department, continues to expand, and has Sawbridge (Hall Grove, e) in GCSE English. 4Declamations was judged by Charles Edwards national and international partners. 4Mark Crawford (Dragon, c) won the Martin 4In the Physics Olympiad, Rory van Esq. The Sixth Form competitions were quite Wills Memorial Award for creative writing. Zwanenberg (Moulsford, g) won a gold medal. outstanding. The competition winners were: Ed Chalk (6.2, Cothill, c); Jamie Randall (6.1, Summer 4The Engineering Education Scheme team, 4Delaval Knight (Cothill, d) gave a talk on Fields, c); Edward Lindsell (5, Mowden Hall, f); Sergeant Jagger’s World War One Memorial George Ulmann (St Faith’s, f), Harry
Activities 4The Wednesday Afternoon Activities Scheme continues to flourish, and the Community Partnerships Programme has seen all 5th Formers visiting hospitals, working in Primary Schools or – in the case of two concert parties of musicians - visiting, and performing to, 25 different Residential Homes in the Oxford area. 4A group of 6.1s have run another holiday club in Moreni, Romania (this year with Headington School) and 6.2s have helped build two more houses in Kerala. 4There has been a good deal of enterprising – and exhausting – activity by boys and dons for Charity. Over £100,000 has so far been raised this year, but the sponsored walk which has been postponed to September will yield more. George Lines (Edge Grove, b), with his two
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O.R. brothers, raised £11,000 for the Juvenile 4There has once again been a large range of Diabetes Research Foundation by running expeditions and visits in 2006/7: Biologists and the London Marathon; £7,128 was raised for Geographers in 6.1 had successful Gower field the Stroke Association on the gruelling Bob trips, and the Geographers completed a hectic Graham run led by Paul Fernandez; Ollie programme of visits to Big Pit, Blaenavan, Studland, Arnott (Edgeborough, h) was especially Barton and Hurst Castle. The sportsmen ventured resourceful in raising sponsorship for this. abroad, oarsmen and hockey players, to Spain, The Sky Dive led by Mick Wright and carried rugby players to Italy and this summer to NZ. out by Alex Wise (Sandroyd, c), Tom Walton Linguists went to Kitzbühel, Barcelona, Paris. (Swanbourne House, d) and Francis ForbesThe musicians visited Prague, the Shells occupied Edwards (St Piran’s, c) raised £2,000 for the Normandy on the annual History trip, the classicists DofE Millennium Fund. The school year ended visited Greece and the tennis players South Africa. with two impressive fundraising efforts for the 4Paul Fernandez ran the Ridgeway Race which University College London Hospital Charities: covers the 85 miles of the Ridgeway from Ivinghoe Tim Morris (Succentor) raised £11,400 in his Beacon to Avebury in 15 hours and 16 minutes. marathon playing of the complete organ works He came second, which is now his National Trail of Bach and Angus McChesney (Tutor of F Running ranking. Social) raised over £50,000 by swimming the 4Tom Whitehead (Cothill, d) won a prestigious channel. Bulkeley-Evans HMC Scholarship to support a gap year project in Uganda. 4The CCF has had a good year: Humphrey Maddan (Aldro, c), Will Stinton (Sandroyd, b) and Dominic Jerram (Sandroyd, f) joined Cameron Gubbins (Elstree, c), Jamie Bromfield (Cothill, a) and David Pumphrey (Northcote, b) as Army Scholars. We have also had 4 boys on Gliding Scholarships, Freddie Tapner (Ludgrove, f), Francis ForbesEdwards (St Prian’s, c), Alex Locke (Dragon, d), George Nye (Dragon, e). John Wylie, in his 36th year as a CCF Officer was awarded the Lord Lieutenant’s Meritorious Service Certificate at a special ceremony. It has also been a celebratory
ts and Activities in
06/7
Arts
4There has been much outstanding Drama this year; the tone was set by a strong Shell Haddon Cup Competition. Rob Lowe’s inaugural College Play in November, ‘A Few Good Men’, was highly professional, and the Theatre Studies exam pieces of 6.1 (Piano Man) and 6.2 (Bent) were quite Joshua Rencher (R, Abingdon, d); Sam Nugee exceptional. Much young talent emerged (S, The Hall School, h). in the Remove Play (Oliver Twist) and 4Once again there have been many distinguished the Shell Play (Lord of the Flies). A large visiting speakers to Radley, a number as part of number of Social Plays of varying degrees the 6.2 Lecture Cycle, now approaching its 20th of seriousness were performed. Ollie Mann year: Lord Garden; Lord Moynihan; Simon (Bilton Grange, d)was selected for the Wolfson (OR); Margaret Gilmore; Roderick National Youth Theatre. Swanston; Robert Hardy; Tom Bower. 4The 6.2 Conference with St Helen’s and St Katharine’s was excellent, a day long exploration of ‘Nothing but the Truth’, a topic focused on spin, lies and deceit. Craig Brown the parodist; Craig Murray, former UK ambassador; Tom Holder a leader of ProTest; and Ann Widdecombe, trenchant and fearsome crusader for honesty and straightforwardness in Politics, all spoke. year for Radley’s DofE Award team, for the Duke of Edinburgh himself awarded Radley a Certificate of Thanks at Buckingham Palace for all that the College and Radleians had done for the scheme; Radley was one of only two schools in the East of England to be recognised like this. This year Oliver Hunter (Farleigh, c), Tobin Chew (Moulsford, d), Jamie Bromfield (Cothill, a), Tom Walton Swanbourne House, d), Tom Whitehead (Cothill, d), Ben James (Wellesley House, h), James Tilney (Oratory Prep, f), Sebastian Lomas (Crosfields, h), Charlie Vey (Edgeborough, h), Peter Blakeney (St Hugh’s) and Will Woolsey (Hall Grove, h), achieved Gold Awards, 37 boys the Silver Award and 20 the Bronze.
4Two strong exhibitions of GCSE and A level work were the culmination of a busy year for the Art Department. Oliver Williams (Dragon, b) had a self portrait drawing exhibited at Tate Modern as part of the Times Drawing Competition and was placed amongst the Finalists. Artistin-Residence Lee-Anne Hampson held a most successful exhibition ‘All About Me’ in the Theatre Foyer, much of it reflecting her travels in Mexico and Papua New Guinea. 4It has been another exceptionally busy Musical year. The Chapel Choir performed the Fauré Requiem on Remembrance Sunday and the Choral Society of over 140 performers from Radley and the local community sang English choral classics; Alex Rose (Thomas’s, c) sang the tenor solo in Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical songs. There were several showpiece musical events: 130 boy performers were involved in a hugely ambitious concert in St John’s Smith Square with an audience of over 500. The Warden’s Music this term was
rich and various. May Day Madrigals were performed from Mansion roof for the 6th successive year (see front cover). Choral Evensong was sung in New College. The Piano Extravaganza saw 71 college pianists performing hits from the Musicals. The richness and depth of music at Radley is well illustrated too by the number of solo Leaving Recitals performed by this year’s 6.2 (8 in all) and by the quality of the internal music competitions especially Wharton Piano (headed by Johnny Williams (Westbourne House, h), Greg Williams (Norman Court, c) and Jamie Brown (Caldicott, d)) and Ferguson Singing (an unprecedented 14 finalists, won by Ed Chalk (Cothill, c)). Most Socials hosted cultural evenings for parents and friends. The Dons presented a Charity Revue in March to an audience of 330, and the cast of ‘West Side Story’ gave a brilliant performance of the music which had verve and dash in a June sneak preview of November’s drama.
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Sport 4Much good Rugby was played. The 1st XV won 6 lost 5 and had good victories against Sherborne, Oundle, Bedford, Harrow. The real strength lies in JC 1st XV (won 10/11) and Midgets 1st XV (won 10/11). The 6th XV, Stonewall 2nds, remained unbeaten and unbowed. Nick Wood OR (Abberley Hall, h) played for England Saxons and was selected for a full international v. South Africa before injury robbed him of his cap. 4The Hockey was very strong. The 1st XI was unbeaten and there were wins over an otherwise unbeaten Eton XI, 2-0, Cheltenham 6-2, as well as hard fought away draws v. Wellington (3-3) and Charterhouse (4-4) were highlights. It was a really cohesive, spirited team. The top Midgets and JCs sides won the great majority of their games, as did the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th XIs. 4The Rowers have also had a good year. The 1st VIII came 2nd in the Schools Head, 3rd in the National Schools Championship VIIIs, won at Bedford Regatta and ended the season reaching the semi-finals of the Princess Elizabeth Cup at Henley. J15.2 won gold at National
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Schools. Captain of Boats Tom Taylour (Dragon, e) represented GB Juniors at the Munich International Regatta. Tom Parker OR (Pilgrims’, h) and Ollie Moore OR (St Hugh’s, e) both rowed for Great Britain during the course of the season. 4And there has been much good Cricket played. All matches were won v. St Edward’s and Bradfield, 15/16 won v. Marlborough, 12/14 v Winchester. The 1st XI had good wins v. Charterhouse, St Edward’s, Bradfield, Marlborough, the latter by 1 wicket. The Midgets 1st XI has been especially strong; JC XI won nearly all its matches as has Midgets 2 which have won 8, drawn 2 of their 10 matches. 4The Soccer teams improved steadily after a slow start and finished the Lent Term strongly. 4There has been good Sailing, and Sam Petty won the BSDRA Prism Trophy for the 2nd year running as part of a Radley Team which won Silver at the Midlands Championships. 4Edmund Parsons (Winchester House, h) is part of the Young England Polo team’s trip to Kenya this July. 4Thomas Windsor Clive took part in the final GB Equestrian trials in May.
4The Steeplechase winners were Archie Vey (Senior), Henry Tufnell (Inter), Oscar Richards (Junior). 4Mark Hubbard, Radley’s Master-inCharge of Rackets won the World Rackets Doubles Championship. The 1st pair had a good season beating Wellington, Charterhouse and Clifton. The Shells rackets players look especially promising. 4The tennis players won the Oxist League Senior and Junior in 2007 and the Real Tennis players were 3rd in the National Schools. 4The Countryside Centre at Radley had a remarkable success at the Ardingly Show where Whiplash the beagle became champion doghound.
Greek Trips
C
lassics at Radley remains strong with about sixty boys in each of the two GCSE years studying Latin, sixty taking Classical Civilisation and about 5 taking Greek. At A level, in any one year, between 6 and 10 boys take Latin, around 12 study Classical Civilisation and about 3 take Greek. Radleians have for many years been fortunate in the variety of opportunities available to them for travelling to lands near and far, but few destinations, if any, can claim to have been as regularly visited as Greece. Dons have led trips to the major sites of Attica, central Greece and the Peloponnese since at least the 1960s, with Hamish Aird, former Sub Warden, the man to tell of those halcyon days when a few drachmas took you a very long way. Even in the late 1970s one could put together a 17 day trip for comfortably under £300 – a great contrast with today’s trips in terms of length and pace, but probably on a par in terms of value for money. It is the phrase “good value” – in every sense – that sums up for me the Greek trips that I have been associated with since 1991. Boys undoubtedly come back from their week in Greece with a greatly enhanced appreciation of the culture of that country (both its
ancient and modern aspects), packing in a remarkable variety of visits and experiences whilst benefiting from infrastructure and accommodation that improves with each visit. There may not necessarily be a directly beneficial impact on exam marks for all participants, but that would be to miss the point of such trips; the Greek trip has always felt like a greatly civilising occasion, with a relaxed atmosphere prevailing and boys more than playing their part in developing a tradition of finding the right balance between purposeful study and winding down after the rigours of the Lent Term. Each trip invariably throws up its major characters, with opportunities available for taking centre stage at venues as diverse as the ancient theatre of Epidaurus and the nearby, but culturally miles away, Gorilla Club in Tolon. In a world where teenagers can become a little blasé about new cultural experiences due to the ease of modern travel it is very warming that walking up onto the Acropolis or entering the site at Delphi still seems to generate the same “wow” factor that I remember very well from my own 1979 visit. The Greek trip is an excellent example of Radley at its best, with intellectual curiosity on the part of the boys matched by the passion of the accompanying dons, and an atmosphere of harmony, close co-operation and good humour prevailing, and another Greek trip is scheduled for March 2009. Paul Gamble, Head of Classics
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9
I
n the earliest days of Radley College
Art was taught by a visiting tutor in a classroom block known as the
slums. This was replaced by a corrugated
iron roofed classroom which was on the present Art Department site. Finally, the Sewell Centre, which houses both the Art Department and the Design Department, was opened in 1979 by Sir Patrick Nairne. The Art Department has studios for painting, sculpture, ceramics, digital film and printmaking. It also has a darkroom for photography as well as a History of Art library and seminar room. These facilities have enabled the Art Department to produce work of high quality and a key feature of Radley has been the decision to try and fulfil Sewell’s founding aesthetic vision for Radley by colonising public spaces, corridors and foyers with high quality paintings and installations created by Radley pupils.
Art at Radley New York, New York by Oliver Cooke
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A number of Radleians have moved on to Art College and careers in the Art World. There are Old Radleians running the National Portrait Gallery and Modern Art Oxford. Others are dealers in Bond Street, and auction houses, as well as full time practising fine artists. When I arrived at Radley in 1990 I was astonished by the calibre of work being produced by the boys. Many of them have become extremely successful over the years. Both Hamish and Alastair Mackie (Munt House, F Social), who I taught in the early 1990’s, have gone on to establish themselves as prominent figures on the UK art scene. Hamish has become known for his sculpted bronze work. He also created the lifesize sculpture of St. Peter which is sited next to Clock Tower. Alastair went on to study art at the City and Guilds London Art School after leaving Radley. His work is now highly sought after in the contemporary art world and he numbers the Saatchis as one of his many patrons. Oliver Cooke (Dragon, E Social), who left Radley to pursue a career in Architecture at Cambridge, continues to astonish me with the power, vitality and freshness of his work. It was no surprise to me that, after inviting him back to Radley to exhibit his work, a large number of his paintings were quickly snapped up by members of Common Room. Mick and Janie Wright, dons respectively teaching Biology and French, acquired an evening cityscape of New York that continues to give them enormous pleasure. When I spoke to the Wrights about their painting they talked of the tremendous power and, at the same time, tenderness that exists within the work. It is interesting that after the dreadful events of September 11th they now look upon the work in a slightly different manner as they have noticed that a single candle seems to have taken over the middle ground of the composition, in their minds offering a future of hope and resurrection. Charlie Langton (Pinewood, G Social) is another successful Radley artist. Christ’s ascension featured in his work while at Radley when he painted
Charlie Langton painting a portrait of David Margesson, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire
an astonishing rendition of Salvador Dali’s crucifixion which presently hangs in the foyer of the new theatre. Upon leaving Radley, Charlie attended the Charles H. Cecil Florence Academy of Art where he honed his artistic skills. He has since been awarded numerous commissions. Recently, Charlie returned to the Art Department and undertook a series of studies from life of Radley’s legendary cricket coach, Bert Robinson. The finished bronze of Bert is a magnificent sculpture, capturing every detail of his face in the fine tradition of the most gifted and able of Renaissance masters. Charlie recently spoke to Luke Gibson, 6.1 Art Historian about his time here at Radley and how he embarked on art as a career choice. He told Luke how ‘he was not apprehensive going into a reasonably narrow career field, as it was what he had always wanted to do’. He described his experiences at Edinburgh College of Art as enjoyable; however, the facilities he found lacking. Charlie contrasted them directly with the beautiful working conditions he had experienced at Radley. He stated
that ‘the teaching at Radley was fantastic and there was always equipment available’. Gaining recognition as an artist requires luck, skill and a lot of hard work. And, Charlie is blessed with all of these and I am certain he will continue to excel in all of his undertakings.
c on t i nu e d ov e rl e a f
Mixed Media by Authur Laidlaw and Sebastian Inglis-Jones
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Art at radley c onti nue d from page 1 1
With the future development of the Old Gym theatre site there are certainly exciting times ahead for the exhibition of Radley artistic talent, both past and present. Sadly there is not enough space here to describe the many talented boys who have passed through the doors of the Sewell Centre. In this year’s Remove set, Oliver Williams (Winchester House, F Social) beat thousands of other aspiring artists to have his observational pencil
“Oh so lively” by Tom Evetts
portrait selected to hang in the Tate Modern. Many of the the 6.1 artists, Rory Ford (Kirkstone House, F Social), Tom Evetts (Summer Fields, E Social), Henry Franks (Dragon, G Social) and others continue to astound me with the breadth, scale and accomplishment of their work. Every year I look forward to next year’s end of year show with renewed interest and excitement. Ian Ellis, Head of Art
Charlie Langton’s bust of Bert Robinson
Gorilla by Henry Franks
Website: www.radley.org.uk . Admissions enquiries: 01235 543174 . admissions@radley.org.uk 12
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