Bursar's Bulletin, Michaelmas Term 2023

BURSAR’S BULLETIN

We start a new year at Radley with a week of brilliant sunshine and warmth. The College campus looks great and ready to welcome everyone back, and the many who are coming to Radley for the first time.

The College is a busy and vibrant place, and this Bulletin shines a light on that including what has been going on this summer, what is new, what Radley means to different people. Having mentioned the sunshine it is ironic perhaps that the article below refers to Music Flood Week. Those who have been involved before will testify that this is sure to be a busy, vibrant and energising week of music bringing the whole community together — and my thanks to the Music department and many others for all they do in the community, with this being one initiative of many that really adds value not just to Radleians, but to our whole community.

As we start a new year, it is a good time to reflect on how much change there has been. This edition includes a round up of staff news and also shines a spotlight on the Laundry and its new premises in Abingdon. The Laundry team are one of many teams that does so much for Radley, but operates a little behind the scenes, and so it is nice to be able to share some insights into their world — and my thanks for all they do for us.

There is so much more in here, so do take some time to read through and perhaps learn about some of the people at Radley and their stories, and some of the activities you are less familiar with. I wish everyone a successful term.

Get involved in Music Flood Week 2023

Music Flood Week is an annual week of music, organised by Radley College’s Music department in partnership with Abingdon Music Centre and Oxfordshire Music Education Partnership, focussing on pupils in years 3-6. It aims to fill schools with music and inspire children – and their teachers – to make music a core part of their lives for the rest of the year.

Music Flood Week 2023 will draw together songs and musical experiences inspired by some of the wonderful folk traditions in the UK. We are delighted that local folk band Moonaroon and Samba specialists Valeu Brazilian Arts will be in residence for the week.

The culmination will be a massed celebration in Abingdon Market Place with hundreds of children from schools in the Music Flood partnership joining with our guests. Expect drumming, dancing and lots of singing!

Staff are welcome to attend all events – look out for emails with more information. If you would like to help during the week, please email partnerships@radley.org.uk – we would love to hear from you!

When in doubt, go to the library

Amanda Stead Librarian

I’m excited to take over as Librarian this term, supported by Deputy Librarian, Beth Ash and Assistant Librarian, Simona Shaw.

The Library is open to all who live or work at Radley and it operates the same borrowing regulations and opening hours for all users. We are open from 8:00 — 21:30 on weekdays during term-time and from 8:00 –13:00 on Saturdays (closed during Chapel and Social Prayers).

Families are welcome whenever the library is open but children under 11 must be accompanied. Your ID/EPOS card is also your membership card for the Library.

The Library team is always delighted to welcome staff members and happy to guide, advise and assist. Look out for a couple of events later this term – a ‘Books & Bakes’ event for staff and the annual pop-up shop from our local independent bookshop, Mostly Books.

Before then, perhaps we can tempt you with these recently published books currently on our shelves:

Summer News

Radley to Romania

Andrew and I had a great cycling trip to Romania. I doubt we’ll ever do anything quite so long again but it was an amazing experience.

There were challenges along the way. The first half was plagued by punctures. On the first day in Germany our pump stopped working and we had resigned ourselves to walking 40km to the nearest bike shop but an incredibly kind retired policeman saw we were in trouble and went off to buy us a new pump. Most of the Airbnbs we stayed in were amazing. The exception was Vienna, which was more like the ex-Communist propaganda camps that we used to use for the Radley – Romania trips in the 1990s. We put our luggage and bikes in the room before going out to dinner. But when we came back the door combination wouldn’t work and it took several hours for the owners to come and let us in (with a hammer!).

One of the nice things about cycling is that you see lots of wildlife on the way such as quite a few deer, an eagle and some storks. But we just missed one. A few hours after cycling along a country road in Romania our phones sounded with a government alert message, like the one the UK tested a few months ago. The message said that a wild bear had been sighted on the road that we had just cycled down and that people should stay indoors! Would have been great to see but on balance I’m glad we didn’t...

We have raised £1,810 so far for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored us. The Just Giving page is still open and it would be lovely to get the total over £2k!

Thanks everyone for your support.

Roger Shaw, Deputy Head (Systems)

With sustainability and affordability in mind, a call was put out to parents at the end of term asking for second hand uniform and sports kit.

The long-term aim is to gather enough stock to launch a viable second hand offer to new and current parents and this is certainly looking achievable as over a great number of items were donated at the end of term.

Over the summer new parents were able to make purchases and the funds raised will be donated to charity.

MY radley

Max arrived at Radley in 1989 following many years teaching physics in the state sector. Having been passionate about electronics since the age of seven, he also ran an electronics club for students and electronics courses for physics teachers. I asked Max what prompted his move to Radley.

I had been very happy in my previous school, but I was concerned about the changes I was seeing so I started to look for something new. I saw an advert in the TES for an electronics specialist at Radley College and the job description could almost have been written by me – everything it included was exactly what I’d always wanted to do. But I’d never been to a public school before and the idea was very daunting – I’d heard of Radley because of the BBC TV series (Public School, 1980). I didn’t think I’d get the job, but I thought at least it would be nice to have a look around. I was so nervous it took me a couple of attempts to actually drive through the gates for the interview!

Eventually I arrived at Warden Silk’s house, now L Social, to find it was exactly as it had been in the TV series and Warden Silk hadn’t changed at all. We sat down for a coffee and chatted for a while as I waited for the interview to begin. Oddly, there was no interview, and we went for a tour of the school. I was introduced to Charlie Millward, Head of Physics at the time. I showed him some of the electronics projects I’d developed, and he introduced me to the Head of Design. We had a casual lunch, and then went back to the Warden’s house for a cup of tea and another chat, but still no interview. Of course, that was the clever thing – it had all been an interview but I’d been completely off-guard the whole time. I didn’t realise until afterwards that fourteen other people had applied for the job and it was a real shock when I received the call offering me the position!

How did you come to establish the Radley Video Unit?

When I arrived, the electronics lab had just been built and there was a fund of £20,000 to equip DT for video. I was asked if I knew anything about video and whether I could help determine what to buy. I’ve been interested in film all my life – I made my first film in 1969 – so being asked to help spend that money was quite an opportunity! £20,000 was a lot of money in 1989, but it bought a lot less video equipment than it would now. We purchased an editing suite and one or two cameras and started filming, and within a year I’d made the first Glimpses of Radley film. Following that I made a longer film to commemorate Warden Silk’s retirement in 1991.

What makes Radley a special place for you?

Radley is a very innovative place – I’ve always enjoyed trying new equipment and finding better ways of doing things. To help with electronics teaching we created a network of

computers (which were built by two students during the summer holiday) and used them to teach electronic circuitry. There’s always been one or two very clever boys who have been able to make things happen, often putting us way ahead of other schools.

In terms of teaching, Radley tends to get it the right way round I think – if a teacher has a passion for a subject, they are likely to be good at teaching it and inspiring students so I find the dons here very knowledgeable and engaged in their subjects. And of course, it’s a beautiful space to be in.

Can you pick a highlight from your career?

My book Electronics in Practice was published in 1986, which was a highlight – I still remember getting the first copy through the post. Since then, I’ve published other textbooks and articles in electronics magazines, including a magazine series which then became a book and ended up (thanks to a very bright boy called Philip Clayton), as an interactive circuit designing system. Philip created this in the new language of HTML – and spent a year on the project. We put it on a CD ROM and sold it to lots of other schools.

Tell us a bit about the Video Unit’s day-to-day work.

We have several strands but the part I enjoy the most is the creative and technical side of film-making, especially exploring the latest equipment. One of the greatest things is being able to talk with boys about film-making and new and innovative products on the market – there’s always a group of boys who are just as interested in these things as I am. We all enjoy working on the promotional films, such as the Radley Tour videos, and we also film at other schools. The money we make from these is used to buy equipment and cameras. Feature films, like Arthur Davie-Thornhill’s (E, 6.2) recent film The Last Adventure are a real highlight.

Have you been involved in a Social over the years?

Yes, E Social. There was a group of Removes who did electronics and they took me under their wing and asked me to be a sub-tutor in E Social in 1990. The boys later confessed that their ulterior motive was to get me to mend their broken headphones! Mike Hopkins, who was E Social Tutor at the time was really the one who made me feel at home at Radley. He was an extraordinary man and a wonderful Tutor.

What does the future hold?

The greatest excitement at present is the new building being constructed, and the prospect of at last having a proper home in an ideal location for the Video Unit.

Staff News

A Warm Welcome

to staff who have joined us since April 2023:

Eva Alfonso, French Language Assistant

Callum Alger, VMT (Organ)

Nina Baker, Costume Assistant

Tim Baldwin, Teacher of Design & Technology

Viktor Bijelovic, VMT (Piano)

Charlotte Brennand, VMT (Piano)

Carlito Carvalho, Kitchen Porter

Wei Chen, Teacher of Mandarin

Anna Coates, PHM J Social

Ewan Collett, Leisure Assistant

Reuben Cooke, Leisure Assistant

Ben Davies, VMT (Singing)

Liz Dickens, Accompanist in Residence

Ishan Dirks, Teacher of English / Sub-Tutor H

Julio Dos Santos Cerqueira, Kitchen Porter

George English, VMT Drums & Percussion

Millie Felix, Drama Graduate in Residence

Jim Fellows, Assistant Organist

Andrea Grashorn, German Language Assistant

Rebecca Griffith, Domestic Cleaner

Tina Harper, Domestic Cleaner

Duncan Harrop, Teacher of Spanish

Nick Holland, Teacher of Design & Technology

Katie Hounslow, Admissions Assistant

Holly Howlett, Reception Porter

Dr Ruth Tufnell has been awarded her Doctorate in Education after seven years of hard work.

Amanda Stead takes on the role of Librarian.

Emma Tamlyn moves from the Exams department to her new role as Electronics Technician, working with Diane Ritchie.

Rebecca Beattie takes on the role of Head of Spanish and continues as Head of Shells.

Kirstin Ashton, Gardener, passed her apprenticeship with distinction.

Ozgur Cavus takes on the role of Catering Manager.

Richard Jasper, VMT (Bagpipes)

Finnian Leigh, Leisure Assistant

Sophie Lockett, Head of Performance

Mary Martin, Teacher of Art & Design

Xola Matete, Teacher of Maths

Jo McHugh, PHM F Social

James Moore, Sports Centre Duty Manager

Rowan Northcott, Leisure Assistant

Laney Parker, PHM H Social

Rosie Pater, Leisure Assistant

Jonathan Porter, Deputy Head (Academic)

Corrine Rawlings, Domestic Cleaner

Euan Roach, Leisure Assistant

Nathan Samuda, Graduate Athletic Development Coach

Ouiza Sidhoum, Domestic Cleaner

Jinder Sidhu, Nurse

Zoe Sims, HR Officer

Mariusz Siwczak, Gardener

Stacy Spiers, Domestic Cleaner

Tamara Trigo Torrijos, Spanish Language Assistant

Rosie Turtle, Sailing Coach

Kiran Venugopal, Leisure Assistant

Michael Watkins, Countryside Centre Assistant (Cover)

Robin Weekes, Teacher of History

Kara Young, Counsellor

Louise Roques begins her new role as Music Administrator.

Iain Campbell takes on the Radley STEPS partnership and Declamations.

Tom Deasy starts his new role as Director of University Entrance.

Stuart Walter takes on Academic Priority Time (APT).

Bev Jane starts her new role as PA to SMT, working for Harry Crump (Deputy Head, Co-Curricular) and Niall Murphy (SubWarden Designate).

Tim Schmalz takes on the role of Head of History.

Molly Moran takes on the role of Head of Contemporary Music.

Fergus Taylor begins his new role as Head of Classics.

Tim Lawson takes on the role of Head of Sixth Form.

Sharon Leggate will now be PA for Jonny Porter (Deputy Head, Academic) and Roger Shaw (Deputy Head, Systems).

Kirstie Donald takes on the role of EAL Coordinator.

Sue Colmer will start her new role as Executive Assistant to Common Room when her current post in the Admissions team is filled.

Who’s Who in the new college Management structure?

Under the guidance of Council, the College management is made up of two key groups, the Senior Management Team (SMT) and the Bursary Leadership Team (BLT). The two combine and meet regularly as a College Management Team (CMT).

New Staff in Socials

We welcome the following to their new roles in Social.

A Social

Sub-Tutor: Harry Waine, Head of Athletic Development

C Social

Sub-Tutor: Alan Chandrachud, Head of Removes & Teacher of English

D Social

Tutor: Charlie McKegney, Teacher of Design Engineering

E Social

Tutor: Adam Jolly, Teacher of Biology

F Social

PHM: Jo McHugh

H Social

Tutor: Nick Wood, Master i/c Rugby

H Social

Sub-Tutor: Ishan Dirks, Teacher of English

Welcome to (below, L-R): Giuseppe, born in April, son of Nino Merola (Real Tennis Asst. Professional); Skye Catherine-Ann, born in June, daughter of Lucy Archer (Housekeeping); Poppy, born in June, daughter of Richard Grice (Director of Digital Strategy); Hermione, born in July, daughter of Mike Hills (Teacher of Maths) and Tabitha, born in August, daughter of Charlie McKegney (Tutor, D Social).

H Social

PHM: Laney Parker

J Social

PHM: Anna Coates

Warden Bursar Sub-Warden Sub-Warden Designate

Deputy Head (Academic)

Deputy Head (Pastoral) & DSL

Deputy Head (Systems)

Development Director

Deputy Head (Co-Curricular)

Director of Admissions & Communications

John Moule Andrew Ashton Ben Holden (until Sep 2024)

Niall Murphy (Sub-Warden from Sep 2024)

Jonathan Porter

Ed James (from April 2024)

Roger Shaw

Elisabeth Anderson

Harry Crump Sophie Langdale

Bursar

Andrew Ashton

HR Director

Sarah Ballard

Estates Bursar

David Anderson

Director of Finance

Julie Fletcher

The Laundry Team

Just as the summer holidays began, the Laundry Team packed up their washing powder, laundry sacks and pressing machines and moved to their new home in Abingdon. You’ll now find the team in their newly fitted-out premises on the corner of Audlett Drive and Thames View, but the process of keeping up with 2.5 million items per year hasn’t changed!

As you might imagine, Radley’s Laundry is a complex operation, requiring a great amount of skill and perfect timing to coordinate 10 staff members and 14+ machines to achieve the 24-hour return that is now relied upon.

The Laundry operates Monday - Friday, 7:00 - 16:00 all year round, sorting, washing, drying and then folding, finishing, packing and returning all the boys’ clothes, sports kit, towels and bedding as well as the Catering team’s uniforms. Items such as curtains are laundered on a regular basis and during the holidays, the team deal with the bedding and clothes from the Lets — this all adds up to an average of 2.5 million items every year!

Janet Whittaker is the Laundry Manager and has worked in the department since 2014. Laundry Deputy Manager, Sarah McKay, helps to manage the team of 10 based in the Laundry and Kevin Lyons and Saqab Tasib, the Laundry Caretakers, are responsible for collecting and transporting all clean and dirty laundry between Radley and the new building in Abingdon.

The Laundry team have spent the summer getting to know their new premises and the new machines — this has included determining the correct dosing for the new machines, Health & Safety checks and taking delivery of a new laundry van.

On a day-to-day basis, the team continuously and skilfully adjust the load weights, colours and detergent balances to ensure the washes from each Social are kept together. Every minute of the working day is needed to process the volume of laundry received. The team face the usual laundry challenges, but on an epic scale – rolled sleeves, items in pockets and over-crowded net bags, and of course the occasional deadly red sock!

The additional space and machines of the new Laundry mean that the team can keep up with the increasing levels of activity and continue to provide a 24-hour turn-around.

In due course, the original Laundry premises will become home to the whole Housekeeping team, which will in turn mean the Catering Team will move into the additional space in their current building.

FERAH has a background in banking and insurance and worked for many years as a medical secretary. She joined Radley Laundry in 2017. Away from work she is training in subliminal therapy methods and astrology. In her spare time she enjoys upcycling old furniture.

JILL has worked in Radley Laundry for four years and is married to Caretaker, Mike Dunsden. She enjoys the chat and laughs in the Laundry and away from work she likes socialising with friends, going out for meals or listening to live music.

MARY joined the Housekeeping department in 2002 and has worked in most areas of the College since then, joining the Laundry in 2015. She has some good memories from her time and was delighted to collect her long-service award in 2022.

SARAH started in the Laundry in 2013 and says she loves coming into work every day. Sarah has recently been appointed as Deputy Laundry Manager and is excited to take on more responsibility. Away from work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

SAQAB worked at the JR Hospital for 20 years before joining Radley Laundry in 2018. He enjoys spending time with his three children when he’s not at work.

JANET worked in various roles, including floristry, manufacturing and a civilian Police role, before starting at Radley Laundry in 2014. She is excited about the move to the new Laundry and is looking forward to the challenge of managing the team in their new environment.

JENNIE joined Radley in 2018 as a cover cleaner and moved to the Laundry in 2020. She enjoys working at the College, especially working with her colleagues in the Laundry team.

KEVIN began working in Housekeeping in 2019, prior to his move to Laundry which fits in well with his home life. Away from work Kevin enjoys football and fishing.

SANDY has worked in the Laundry for two and a half years — she loves the great team she works with and is really looking forward to the move to the new laundry. Away from work, Sandy loves long walks and a good jigsaw puzzle.

LUCY has a laundry and dry-cleaning background and has worked at Radley Laundry for three and a half years. Away from work she loves reading and doing Zumba.

Left to right: Janet Whittaker, Sarah McKay, Saqab Tasib, Kevin Lyons, Mary Lamb, Jennie Brown, Ferah Baba-Cavus, Lucy Wright and Jill Dunsden

All Welcome at our upcoming staff events!

Thank you to everyone who attended our recent Gardeners’ Question Time and Radley Zoo events, and to those who expressed an interest in future events. A host of ideas were suggested and we are in the process of pinning down dates and times for these. Watch this space – information and invitations to sign-up will be circulated soon!

Art Workshop: Lino Printing

Summer News

Wine Tasting and tour of the cellars Campus Tour with David Anderson

Artistic Medic

Ruth Tufnell, Head of Art, was delighted to deliver this beautiful piece of art to St Luke’s Hospital in Headington. The artwork was a collaboration between all 150 members of the Shells (Yr 9), who each created an individual butterfly which were then mounted together.

St Luke’s Hospital said, “A connection between generations is something we have long recognised as important here at St Luke’s. We are truly grateful to the students of Radley College –the artwork has already received high praise from our residents and patients.”

Staff QUIZ

Star Gazing in Radley’s Observatory

Books & Bakes in the Library

Countryside Centre Visits

New Year, New Website!

The College website has been redesigned to give it a fresher look and feel.

Unlike the previous website, this will give us total control over all aspects of the site ensuring it can grow with us. The Web Kitchen (a London-based design agency) have also built some bespoke functionality including an admissions journey planner, funding eligibility calculator, news/press centre and a more effective video gallery. Parents will be able to find all the information they need in the Parent Zone and there are microsites for the Sports Centre, Radleian Society, Employment and the Sewell Centre Gallery.

Please have a look around and share your thoughts via communications@radley.org.uk — feedback is encouraged! Thanks to everybody who played a part in its development.

Lets Celebrate Success

The 2022/23 academic year has been the busiest yet for the Commercial Team of Les Newell, Caitlin Baker and Emily Noel-D’Avila, with more commercial events taking place and more people staying at the College out of term-time than ever before.

The team is supported by all the operational departments in the College, without whom they could not offer the high level of service guests expect.

Three big residential lets were on site over the summer: Discovery Summer who hosted 600 students over five weeks, offering short courses and a ‘great British experience’; Eurosports Nike Camps, making use of all Radley’s wonderful sporting facilities for students aged 9—17 and the John Locke Institute, providing courses on philosophy, economics, history, psychology and law.

In addition to the residential lets, the College’s facilities are also used for non-residential bookings by organisations as diverse as UCARE (Urology Cancer Research and Education) and Oxford’s Razzamatazz Theatre School, and events such as the Oxfordshire Bridge Tournament, the English Music Festival and Radley Primary School’s Celebration Day

Here’s to another successful year of Lets for 2023/24!

Click on the cover image to the left or use the QR code to view the Commercial Events brochure 2022/23

15,928 total bed nights

Unbelievably efficient, incredibly helpful and welcoming. Having worked as Camp

Director in other venues this summer, I can safely say that Radley were streets ahead.

non-residential groups

9 32 9 “

residential groups

We felt welcome by the staff at Radley from day one.

charity events

EUROSPORT CAMP DIRECTOR

REAL TENNIS PLAYER

Not many workplaces can boast the number of family connections amongst its staff that Radley can. One of these family ties are siblings Anne Blagrove (Estates Administrator) and Jane O’Connell (HR Administrator). Jane and Anne were kind enough to sit down with me to share stories of their childhood and the roads that led them both to Radley.

Jane: I’m the middle child but I like to think that I’ve avoided middle-child syndrome.

Anne: I definitely have the classic signs of the youngest sibling! I was always the cry-baby, always being picked on. We have an older brother Mark, who is two years older than Jane, and then there’s an eight year age difference between Jane and me.

J: We had a great life before Anne came along, we called it ‘BA’ – Before Anne.

A: I used to get bossed around all the time, I was like a little slave!

J: Especially in the years when I was working and you were still at school. Every night I’d come home, get changed and go out again. I was a bit schizophrenic – sometimes I ‘allowed’ Anne to sit and chat to me while I got ready. Other times she would trot upstairs behind me and I’d get to my bedroom and shut the door in her face!

A: I enjoyed watching her get ready and do her make-up and I loved listening to her music. It’s why I love 80s music now.

J: We grew up in Surrey – a classic British childhood in 70s and 80s suburbia. When I left school I went to work in a bank – I think that’s where I got my love of admin and figures. I started in the machine room, putting in

details of all the transactions, racing to get everything processed and balanced before the end of the day. I did a variety of roles over the years but it wasn’t until my role became more salesfocused that I started to think about leaving as that didn’t appeal to me.

In 1989 I started work as an assistant at an independent financial advisor and I ended up staying until 2018! The company grew exponentially over the years and so did my role – I progressed to Head of Relationship Management for all our outsourced partnerships. By the time I’d reached this point, the company had had several changes of ownership and leadership, and each time I could feel the values becoming further removed from those of the original company. I became increasingly disillusioned. I’d always been good at absorbing the stress of long days and high-pressured situations, until suddenly I found I couldn’t. Once I’d made the decision to leave, I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner.

A: You had a break and were starting to think about what to do next, meanwhile I’d been keeping an eye out for anything that might interest you at Radley.

J: I’d been to the campus with you and thought how beautiful it was. I’d always found boarding schools fascinating, since reading Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers as a child!

A: Also, our Mum went to boarding school and we’d grown up listening to great stories about her school days.

J: Having not been for a job interview for so many years, I met with Jo Bailey who was looking for exam invigilators. I was so nervous and in preparation had read the entire JCQ regulations –Jo couldn’t believe it! Anne invited me to one of the Staff Quiz evenings and

I met the HR team who seemed like a fun bunch, so when the part-time Administrator job came up in HR I decided to go for it. Here I am four years later and about to go full-time!

A: A testament to how much you enjoy your job! I’d always wanted to be a teacher – I loved school and all my childhood games involved playing schools. I did my work experience in a school so the natural progression for me was to go to teacher training college.

In my final year of a Bachelor of Education in Oxford at Westminster College, it dawned on me that teaching was less about having fun with the children and more about assessments.

I wanted to get some office experience so I took a temporary Receptionist role at a construction consultancy while I thought more about what I could do next. I ended up staying there for two years and working my way up to Senior Secretary. Following that, I worked for Blackwell Publishing for eight years, where I managed the medical journals admin team. Looking for a change, I applied for the role of PA to the Foundation Director at Radley. The funny thing about that was when I got in the car after my second interview, I immediately sent a message to my Mum to tell her I thought it had gone really well … only to realise I had in fact sent it to my boss! So that saved explaining to him that I was leaving.

I worked for Foundation Director, Anthony Robinson, for two years before joining the Admissions Team – originally as Tash Cooper’s maternity leave cover. The three of us in the Admissions team worked closely with the Warden’s Secretary, Ali Goodfellow, becoming known by Andrew Reekes as the ‘Giggle Deck’.

After seven years of organising Admissions visits – about 170 each term – I was looking for a new challenge. As it happened, at that point in 2016 David Anderson was looking for a new assistant so I applied for that role and have been part of the Estates team ever since.

J: I always thought you were exaggerating the friendships you had at Radley until I started working here!

A: I think we’ve both made lifelong friends here.

J: Yes, and great relationships within our teams as well. Radley is a beautiful and inspiring environment. I love the opportunities we have as staff to attend concerts, use the library, explore the grounds – we’re very lucky.

A: Although we work in different teams we both really enjoy the cross-over we have at work. In the summer we work together on joiners, leavers, start dates and the great jigsaw puzzle that is summer house moves!

J: I’ve found it really helpful to understand how much is involved. Anne roped me in one summer to look at a house which had been used for years as shared accommodation.

A: I wanted a second opinion on what we could do with this property which had definitely seen better days, so we made it our project! We didn’t spend a lot of money but thought about what homely touches we could add – plants, lamps, artwork, rugs, cushions – to make it feel more inviting for graduates and language assistants who might be living away from home for the first time.

J: And building flat-pack furniture of course.

A: Yes, our favourite! It has definitely had a positive effect on the way the house is left, and it’s changed the way we set up multiple occupancy accommodation.

J: It was great to work together on a successful project but I don’t think we could work in the same office!

We’re too similar, we both like to be the one in control. And if Anne came up with a good suggestion I’d find it so annoying!

A: We’ve always been a close family but Jane moving to Oxfordshire in 1997 meant we spent more time together and our relationship evolved into more of a friendship. Since then we lived together for a few months, we’ve been on holiday together, enjoyed loads of ‘crafternoons’ and supported each other through difficult times. We even invented our own Sisters’ Day – each year we swap gifts and cards and spend the day together doing something nice.

J: We are aware that we’re very lucky we all get on so well.

A: It’s a testament to our parents, who have always had close relationships with their own siblings. We have this sense of loyalty as a family and have been able to get on and get through stuff. Mum and Dad have always been so supportive of us.

Summer News

Barnstorming

Works to Park End Barn have almost finished, securing the structure and making the building weathertight.

The scaffold has come down so from Kennington Road you can now see the elm boarding, new guttering and beautifully tiled roof — the road-side tiles were all individually taken off by hand, sorted and laid back onto the roof and still have the distinctive undulation of the original roof.

Internally, the barn is beginning to take shape. It is promising to be a light-filled space with the row of new roof lights and double height space. Work will continue to lay flooring and landscaping to the car parking area over the autumn and the delivery of new doors is eagerly awaited to finally keep out the pigeons!

Down on the Farm

The summer has been a busy period for the Countryside Centre, with the hounds showing extremely well at a number of important hound shows across the south of England, winning six 1st place rosettes, four 2nd places, three 3rd and four 4th places, as well as two Reserve Champion places –an excellent haul of rosettes and a reassuring continuous improvement on previous years.

With the boys away, and partnership activities much reduced over the holidays, the Centre staff have used the opportunity to stay on top of essential maintenance – developing the nascent Coronation Garden, completing the initial work on a new orchard paddock and bringing in a wide range of rare breed sheep and goats. The Centre now hosts several ‘at risk’ and ‘priority’ breeds of sheep including Castlemilk Moorit, Wensleydale, Lincoln Longwool, Oxford Down and Devon & Cornwall Longwool breeds, as well as a trio of young Bagot goat kids.

Late August has also seen the arrival of three Kune Kune weaners – our first pigs in almost twelve months. Given the recent livestock arrivals it was a real pleasure to host a number of Radley families for an open morning over the August Bank Holiday.

Centre Team: Charlie Herbert, Tom Wye, Michael Watkins

Partnerships: a year of inspiration

John Sparks Director of Partnerships

The numbers to the right give a snapshot of just some of the engagement over the last year of our partnerships programme.

When you can, I encourage you to take a few minutes to read just one of the stories from the first edition of Voices which was published at the end of the Summer Term. Each story gives a voice to one of our partners, providing an insight into the impact of the partnership activities that take place as part of normal life at Radley; week in, week out.

Follow the links below to read the report and keep up to date with all things partnerships this term.

Partnerships Overview booklet

Look out for postcards around the campus detailing partnership activities taking place in September and October.

Voices intro video

Voices report 2022/23

Countryside

Summer News

Iron Wills

Shop for Lunch

Operational Staff were treated to the traditional ‘Bursar’s Lunch’ at the beginning of the summer holidays, but in the new setting of Shop. For the majority of staff, this was their first experience of dining in Shop and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The lunches were spread over three days and staff sampled a delicious roast and choice of puddings.

The Catering team not only cooked a wonderful spread, but – as ever – served staff in their usual friendly and efficient manner. A huge thank you to the whole team for this memorable and enjoyable experience.

Upcoming

On August 20th, Enya and I raced in the Ironman Copenhagen. Raising money for my old state school’s boathouse project, in memory of my old coach and boss Robin Dowell who passed away in December last year.

The race itself was mostly enjoyable, we both surprised ourselves on the swim and the bike (3.8k and 180k respectively) but both got a bit unstuck in the marathon as we hit uncharted territory!

I finished with 10:55.27 and Enya finished with 14:47.04. Copenhagen itself was beautiful and we recommend it as a great city-break location!

Thank you so much to the whole community for overwhelming sponsorship and moral support! We are delighted to have almost hit £3,000. Anyone who wants to help tip us over the edge can still sponsor us using the QR code.

Exhibitions

at the Sewell Centre Gallery

Some exciting new exhibitions are scheduled for the term ahead, beginning with Things Being Various (top row) an exhibition of photography by Jil Orpen, paintings by Sue Munson and ceramics by Ros Perton — three artists who makes work which freezes a moment in time. All are welcome at the private view on Friday, 8 September.

Later in the term, look out for And the Earth Shall Melt Away, an exhibition of painting by Caroline Meynell and drawing by Claire Christie Sadler (bottom row, left and centre) about climate change, which will run from 26 September –13 October. This exhibition will be accompanied by a community project on the importance of trees in the regeneration of the planet. Local schools will be invited to take part in a collaborative artistic exhibition by making and decorating 3D card trees. The final installation will be on display in Spring 2024.

In November, the gallery will stage a retrospective of the work of Alan Franklin (bottom row, right). Peering Under Rocks will look back at Franklin’s creative journey from 1984 to the present day in a visually varied journey where ideas weave back and forth, explored through a range of materials in the form of sculptures and drawings, abstract and representational.

Harry Lyons, Assistant Boatman

Charities Timeline 22/23

As you can see from the timeline below, the 22/23 academic year was a busy one, with a total of £83,708.47 raised over the year.

The Michaelmas Term is an exciting one for Charities. A number have been out running over the holidays in preparation for the Oxfordshire Half Marathon, in support of local charity partner Oxfordshire Youth. Hard on its heels comes the Movember events, which see us raise money for men’s physical and mental health and the Remembrance weekend gives us an annual opportunity – by giving to The Royal British Legion – to look after those who have served their country. The Christmas Jumper Appeal and Carol Service collections enable us to play our part in helping the homeless, and charities both local and wider afield. As always, we remain ready to respond to emergency appeals for those in immediate distress.

Peter Taylor, Chaplain (Charities & Partnerships)

MY radley

Tash’s friendly and welcoming manner have put thousands of visiting boys and parents at ease over the 17 years since she joined in 2006. I asked Tash to cast her mind back to the early days when her time was split between Foundation and the newly-created Admissions department.

Initially I worked for two days in Foundation and three days in Admissions. Admissions as a department started in January 2006 – before that, Mary Hutchinson, the Warden’s Secretary, handled admissions, but of course it was a very different entity then. There were only eight Socials, no assessment days or open days, the Radley List was the primary route of entry and the Tutors would organise visits for parents themselves.

The new department had been set up by Liz Barker, wife of the then Senior Master, Charlie. It was a whole new world for both of us! The department became increasingly busy so within a year I started to work full-time in Admissions.

Tell us about life in the early days of the new department.

Liz and I worked well together, and in 2010 we were joined by Anne Blagrove who had also moved from Foundation. Anne enjoyed the administration side of the admissions process and I loved meeting parents and boys, so we were the perfect team! Initially we were all based in what is now Sophie Langdale’s office in Mansion. When Liz left in 2011, Vanessa Hammond took over as Registrar and Sophie joined as Director of Admissions and Communications in 2020.

So much has changed at Radley since 2006 but a lot of things haven’t changed at all. I love the sense of tradition but at the same time I find Radley a really creative place to work.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Chatting to the boys is definitely a highlight. I often sit with them while they wait for their interview and I love these conversations, we talk about so many varied subjects. You have to find the one thing that makes them light up. Having a ten-year-old son is very helpful!

On one occasion, I was sitting with a boy outside the Warden’s office who was nervously holding the essay he had written, ready to discuss it in his interview. Somehow it slipped out of his grasp and fell straight between the floorboards. I don’t know how he did it, the gaps are tiny

and believe me, whenever I tell this story, boys try to do the same thing and don’t manage it! Luckily we keep copies of the essays so all was well, but one day someone will come across that essay on endangered tigers somewhere under the floorboards in Mansion! All was not lost and the boy starts in Shells this year!

What do you think makes Radley special?

During my 17 years here, I’ve married and had two children and as much as I love being a wife and a mum, I’ve always felt that Radley is a place where I can be just Tash!

I’m privileged to remember the boys who came to visit when they were 10 years old who were nervous and shy and five years later see them grow into lovely young men. Meeting prospective parents and seeing the campus for the first time through their eyes is lovely, as is seeing a boys’ excitement when they walk into Hall or Chapel or see the possibilities in the Art and Design department.

As well as working with a really talented, fabulous and hard-working team in Admissions, I love working with the wider Radley team, especially with the Tutors past and present. We share this close-knit campus and everyone works together and supports each other.

While term-time is of course very busy, I enjoy the different rhythm of the holidays – I find my path crosses with people I often don’t see so much of during the rest of the year, and as a department we are able to be less reactive and have more time for planning. I often work on Saturdays and again, you see a different side of the College at the weekends.

What changes are you anticipating as we start the new term?

We have an Innovation Scholarship which is new for this year and will be very interesting. The Radley Keys Award, our re-branded funded place programme is also being launched and we are all very excited about it. Over the years that’s what I’ve found so amazing – every year has been different, with changes and improvements to processes and systems and growing the team to keep pace with the College’s development.

Can you describe Radley in three words?

Happy. Busy. Supportive.