7 minute read
Introduction from the Development Director, Chairman, & Editor
As Development Director, I work closely with both the Radleian Society and the Radley Foundation, and I am also a member of the Radley College Management Team. I have the unique position of being fully integrated into life at the College, while also connecting to life beyond Radley outside of our glorious 800-acre campus. I am incredibly fortunate to have one foot inside the ‘Radley bubble’ but it is also of vital importance for me to have one foot in the ‘real world’!
In recent years, the role, influence and impact of the Radleian Society has expanded significantly and is more important to Radley College than ever before. The strength and vibrancy of the Radley community has been built upon generations of ORs and parents who have invested time, money, and commitment. My work in the Development Office is to ensure that our founding ethos remains at the heart of our work, but also that we continue to be relevant and to evolve within a modern and changing world. It is a huge privilege to be entrusted with these responsibilities.
Over the last twelve months, the focus of the Radleian Society has been on increasing opportunities for social connections, business and entrepreneurship, and careers and networking. It has been wonderful to watch how each stream of activity does not occur in isolation but adds value to our overall mission, and it has been exciting to see how our work progressively intersects and adds real benefit for the boys while still at school. The Radley community is becoming an essential component in preparing current Radleians for the world of work.
Our work in the Foundation fully aligns with the College’s strategic vision of increasing funding for boys to attend Radley who would otherwise be unable to do so, and to help support improving facilities and broadening educational enrichment. We are delighted that so many areas within the College are now benefitting from philanthropic support from across the Radley community, and that small gifts to specific departments are making a tremendous difference.
Following recent retirements, the Warden has restructured the College Management Team, so my focus now includes working closely with the newly appointed Head of Sixth Form, Tim Lawson, and more closely with the Head of Futures, Dan Pullen. This new alignment allows for a more seamless transition from sixth form to university and into work. There is now greater support for boys and recent leavers as they enter a more competitive and more challenging work environment, and from what we have experienced this year, there is tremendous willingness from ORs and parents to help.
The first step in keeping the Radley community connected is through effective communication, and I do hope that you will enjoy reading this edition of the Old Radleian. Thank you to all who have contributed to this publication, and to those who have shared their news.
We can only accomplish our work in the Development Office with the help and support of many volunteers who serve on committees, speak at events, and provide expert advice. I would like to thank the Radleian Society Committee members, those who run the OR Sports Clubs and Groups, the Radley Foundation Trustees, and the Radleian Society (Hong Kong) for their tremendous support for all of our endeavours.
Elisabeth Anderson Development Director
Radley Melodies
As a fundraiser, I love hearing stories from the many ORs I meet. There is a great wealth of memories and experiences that each of you holds, weaving the fascinating tapestry of Radley’s rich history. I hear stories of Bigside, the stage, Socials, the Library, Dining Hall – all displaying the great breadth of experience across the community. Everyone has a unique Radley story to share.
But if there is one thing that almost every Old Radleian I meet holds dear, it is the deeply cherished memory of singing in Chapel. It is a moving and, dare I say, spiritual experience for all, regardless of one’s own faith. It is also one of the best things about any OR reunion here at Radley.
A love of music is lifelong. I think of the late David Bastyan (1959, D) who, when losing his hearing, retained a passion for music, reciting and replaying music in his mind. When he sadly passed in 2009, he left the majority of his estate to establish a music scholarship in his name. So far, ten young musicians have come to Radley thanks to David’s generosity.
I am so lucky to walk around Radley today and experience the wealth of musical opportunities on offer to all Radleians. There are 14,000 music lessons each year. There is the brilliant jazz band. There are numerous a cappella groups. There are regular – and very popular –open mic nights. And of course, there is singing in Chapel.
Music at Radley builds on a strong heritage. Our first precentor, Edwin Monk, was one of the four men at that historic meeting in the Turl in March 1847. Making music was at the heart of Radley’s founding. Today, this spirit is embodied in our Music School and our fantastic colleagues who thread music into daily life at Radley, led by Precentor Sam Gladstone.
The Music School is certainly an ‘historical’ building. Built in the 1920s, it is now only just able to support all that goes on. It is rapidly becoming unfit for purpose. So, we look ahead. In line with our ambitious vision for Radley music, the refurbishment and expansion of the Music School will commence in summer 2024 and will ensure the building is able to accommodate our wide-reaching music aspirations.
The plan is to expand the existing structure, rather than starting from scratch. Just a glance at the wonderful architect’s impressions here will give you a sense of just how tremendously impactful the space will be: a refurbished Silk Hall, which will retain its original structure; a brandnew recital room to provide additional performance space; a dedicated rehearsal room for the choristers and visiting partner schools; a new recording and mixing studio. Architects’ impressions are only half the story, as we learned from the recent Chapel extension. It is when these spaces are filled with Radleians, filled with life, and filled with music that the true brilliance of this project will be realised.
I am thrilled that I will be able to speak to so many of you over the coming months about the Music School expansion, and I very much hope you will be able to support it in any way you can. If you would like to find out more sooner, please do be in touch with me at hrc.cosh@radley.org.uk or call +44 (0) 1235 548 547. I would love to hear from you.
But for now, I am here, in my office at the top of Mansion. The angelic voices of the Choristers are floating up from downstairs where they are practising. A boy is scratching at a cello in nearby E Social. My colleague is blasting a recording of the Milligan cup across the room from me. A cantankerous cacophony playing all at once – one that encapsulates the great variety of music that is enjoyed at Radley. It is inspiring.
I hope that as an OR, wherever you may be in the world, you still hear those Radley melodies in your thoughts. Let them play on!
