College Update

Bursar, Andrew Ashton, and Academic Director, Stephen Rathbone, reflect on the year in which Radley celebrates its 175th anniversary. The College, its staff and pupils, continue to show resilience and ingenuity in the face of global challenges.

bursar’s report 2021-22

As we look to the future, it can be helpful to take a historical perspective. Today’s challenges may appear just that – challenges, but they have often been faced before. Covid-19, for example, may have seemed overwhelming at the time for society as a whole (it still is for some) but it was by no means the only global pandemic we have faced – Russian ’flu (1889), Spanish ’flu (1918) and Asian ’flu (1957) being but three examples out of many.

The invasion of Ukraine, a global energy crisis and burgeoning inflation are three dreadful situations that are impacting us all and we may feel powerless to make a difference. But we have been here before on each of these issues and more (war, energy security, food security, industrial action, cost of living crisis, etc.) and navigated our way through each of them. As Plato said, “our need will be the real creator”.

Radley is not unique among organisations that must face the headwinds of local, national, or global events. Each of the ones mentioned affect us all, whether as pupils, former pupils, parents or staff – we are all in it together! In most cases we cannot influence these events, but we can aim to anticipate them, we can build resilience against their worst impacts, and (uniquely as a school) we can use them as a crucible for education – and we can also look to the remarkable contributions made by Old Radleians and parents in many areas that support efforts to help improve society in response to them.

At present the price of utilities, and indeed the security and continuity of supply, are key topics. It is interesting to note that previous generations of leadership at Radley have worried about these issues, including when we relied on gas for lighting and coal for heating. So, what is our response? It is, as it has always been, to raise awareness, to leverage what we have got and to try and improve how we do things. With utilities, the first goal is always to minimise waste and to use less; so, insulation and energy efficient buildings are key. The next goal is to make the most of modern technology to do things in a more efficient way when technological development and economies allow. The move from coal to oil to gas to heat our buildings, and the use of modern building management systems to improve efficiency, have all been steps on this journey. Recent examples are the use of ground and air sourced heat pumps, and use of solar.

A further trick is to use what you have got. Radley owns land – much of it is farmland, but land that can be used in many ways. At present our plan is to deliver a 2MW solar farm on a field that has been identified with little agricultural value, and which can be landscaped appropriately to protect the aesthetic (always a key consideration for Radleians), and which, importantly, has the potential for appropriate connectivity both to the grid and the College’s power supply. As and when we can deliver this (using also the latest in storage and battery technology), we will have made a great step forward in ensuring security of supply (it will be our own electricity!) and removing our dependency on a resource that comes at a cost we cannot control.

Since the 1930s Radley College has possessed a ‘green belt’, including farmland. Over the years this land has proved a sound financial investment, and ensures that the campus continues to be a place of beauty.

Radley’s Sustainability Strategy includes a route map to decarbonisation, with the goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.

The Church Farm housing development in Radley village includes traditional materials, innovative technology, and green spaces that encourage biodiversity.

Sustainability Strategy

Our solar initiative is just one of a panoply of projects emerging in response to one of the greatest global crises we face – climate change. The College has launched a Sustainability Strategy with a bold goal to be carbon neutral, ideally through our own efforts and not through the purchase of offsets, by 2030. We are fortunate to have our own land, such that its husbandry can form part of this strategy, including through planting schemes and carbon sequestration initiatives.

As a school, and as a major landowner and employer in the local area, we have two other core responsibilities. First, to educate. It is our boys who will live through the consequences of society’s actions and who, in some cases, will benefit from a whole new range of job roles emerging through sustainability needs, and who will make a difference in the future. So, the more we can engage them through the curriculum and various initiatives in what we are doing, and through seeking their input too, the better.

Secondly, we have a duty in the local community to play our role responsibly and to influence. That is why, when we have sold land recently, we have been keen to sell to those who will develop responsibly. Pye Homes is currently developing former Radley College land into new houses in the village at a site known as Church Farm, and their approach is delivering homes that are 60% more efficient at reducing carbon emissions than standard new builds. All of their properties are electric vehicle charging point ready so homeowners can use the energy generated by their own solar panels during the day to charge their car overnight and the site will also have a higher-than-average biodiversity net gain and feature natural landscaping to encourage and protect local wildlife.

Returning to the central theme, there are so many challenges thrown at us all, ostensibly outside of our control. However, history shows us that these are nothing new, and that we can shape our own future in navigating through them. In addition, there is plenty in our strategic plan that can give us cause for hope in taking control of our own destiny and in educating Radleians to be informed and well-prepared global citizens.

Andrew Ashton Bursar

academic report 2021-22

The academic results were strong in 2022, particularly at A-level, reflecting the determination of boys to prove themselves after recent disruption. Of course, Covid-19 lockdowns had meant 6.2 had never sat GCSE exams, receiving instead Centre Assessed Grades. Their individual and collective industry and group discipline were impressive. Below, I also provide the 2019 results (the last time ‘proper’ exams were sat) by way of comparison. It is true that there is still an element of grade inflation – not to take away anything from boys’ achievements – and we will need to prepare for a tougher regime next year.

The headlines of A-level success were: • A* 47% (2019: 21%) • A*/A 76% (2019: 59.9%) • A*/A/B 92% (2019: 86.8%) • over a third of boys (37%) gained a full row of A* • Many previously average performers did extremely well and that must be testament to their sense of realism and ambition

GCSE headline results were pretty good too: • 21.23% boys gained between 13 and 9 grade 9s (2019: 17.8%) • 43.79% of (I)GCSE grades were 9 (2019: 58.32%) • 68.62% of (I)GCSE grades were 9/8 (2019: 61.1%) • 85.42% of (I)GCSE grades were 9/8/7 (2019: 81.82%)

Therefore, we have shown that despite the pause forced on us by unforeseen and radical circumstances, we can still prepare boys extremely well for examinations. Readers might have seen doomladen headlines predicting that huge numbers would lose out on their first choice of university. Much of that did not come to pass and certainly not at Radley. The vast majority of Radleians made their first choice and if they did not, their second or ‘insurance’ choice came through, or they found a happy alternative in UCAS Clearing. This year we won 10 places at Oxford (and this must be considered a good year) while Cambridge – where far fewer boys apply but high-quality Radley candidates sought places - sadly yielded no places for us. Beyond the Russell Group, Radleians are going to the London Film Academy, Point Blank Music School and the University of the Arts, London. At least seven are going to university abroad: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Boston College, Pomona College, University of Virginia, NYU Film School, University of Southern California and University of Amsterdam.

As exams recommenced this year following lockdown, many boys sat the first public exams of their academic careers.

Innovative thinking

With those results summarised for you, I now turn to the specific theme of innovation and technology, the special focus of this edition. It is very hard to write sensibly about the future. Indeed, if I have been influenced by anything in my reading in the past few years, it has been the notion of the ‘black swan’ event – the largely unforeseen occurrence which upends most (or even all) previous assumptions and prognostications. The ‘black swan’ thesis is laid out brilliantly in the eponymous book by Naseem Nicholas Taleb. So, while it is now very easy to repeat mantras regarding artificial intelligence, robotics and other disruptive technologies, no one can really know what lies around the corner. Covid-19 and the UkraineRussia War remind us that the concept of steady and largely uninterrupted progress is perhaps a luxury we became too used to in recent decades.

Getting boys to think about the way in which apparently random events can throw everything upside down - or at least send everything in a direction very different from the one most people assumed - has been helped by excellent talks on, for example: the unsettled Taiwan issue (by Professor Christopher Coker of the LSE); the unforeseen negative consequences for political stability of the Internet (Professor Philip Howard of the Oxford Internet Institute); and developments in AI by Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt of Jesus College, Oxford, who is also Chairman of the Open Data Institute (which he co-founded with Sir Tim Berners-Lee).

In the past decade the school has invested time, money and focus on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), although we prefer to use the acronym STREAM, which adds R for reading and (w)riting and A for art. STREAM allows for the self-evident point that the role of art and design in scientific and technological advance has been seminal. One has only, for example, to look at the diagrams and drawings of Leonardo da Vinci to see the fusion of disciplines. One also might observe the beauty of line and form - as well as function - in the products of Apple. The aesthetic of a mobile phone may draw or repel customers as effectively as anything else. Indeed, we have repeatedly stressed the importance of interdisciplinary thinking within the school and beyond it.

Sir Nigel Shadbolt speaks to a crowded auditorium as part of Festival 175.

Art and Design play a crucial role in technological and scientific advances, and the links between academic disciplines are highlighted at Radley by widening the focus of ‘STEM’ to include them.

Boys compete in the Vex Robotics Competition

In recent times we have made enormous advances in robotics and other coding activity, taking part in national competitions, with great success, given our relative inexperience. We have also recently introduced Computer Science at GCSE. Readers may ask why we took so long to do this. The answer is: we wanted courses to be of sufficient rigour and value to make the experience worthwhile. Based in the Design department, we also have a so-called MakerSpace, which houses laser printers and other equipment which underlines a commitment to cutting-edge technology. Also in Design is a phenomenally powerful laser cutter. It cost a lot of money, but we are getting excellent value from it! Visitors would probably also perhaps be surprised to see how much is now completed via computer-aided design (CAD). In some cases, tangible items do not need to be produced for parts of the courses, although here there is still a very wholesome emphasis on ‘making stuff’, which results in some impressive projects.

All these points made, my dream would be to greatly expand the workspace for the ideation and realisation of clever ideas dreamed up by Radleians. Given that Radley sits within the technologically bubbling Thames Valley area, with close proximity to Oxford, Reading and other areas of innovation, it is high time we made a sustained effort to engage more concretely with the external world of technological innovation, scientific research and commercial application of these ideas. So, we aim to create much closer and active links with local business and research centres to allow boys to take part in organically developing projects. And central to all of this, as one might hope, are growing relationships with other local schools - state and independent - in the ‘OX14’ partnership, carefully coordinated and fostered by our new Partnerships team. Closely allied with all this, we are seeking to provide seed funding for projects which would sponsor innovative concepts from ideation all the way through to production of prototypes. I have been working closely with the Foundation on these matters. We soon hope to be able to launch a proper entrepreneurship scheme which will ally with good ideas generated within the Design Engineering, Art, Science and other departments. I should also add that Radley has a longstanding record of success with the so-called Arkwright Scholarships – highly prestigious awards made for first-class innovation.

Indeed, Radley has a fine and very long history of ground-breaking research and development, as Clare Sargent, College Archivist, makes clear in her recent history of the school, Untold Stories. Of course, the school has produced some first-class minds in this area. One thinks of, for example: Eric Bruce (1871) who invented the electric balloon-signalling system so important to the Army in the Boer War and WWI; James Tingling (1915) who worked with Frank Whittle on the jet engine; and Charles Howard, 20th Earl of Suffolk (1921), whose work on explosives culminated in crucial research on ‘heavy water’ and contributed to the Manhattan Project in WWII. Today, and in future, as the profile of Radley entrants broadens due to developments in the admissions system, we are assured of a widening pool of ideas and influences. This should help to make Radley even more reflective and creative.

Yet this report ends on an even broader and hopefully inspiring note.

Radley continues to champion free speech. Perhaps the biggest single influence in terms of visitors was by Dr. Frank Luntz, the American pollster, political influencer and commentator who raved about us. We are very proud of what Frank said about Radley and its ethos in a speech at the Centre for Policy Studies:

‘Thanks to schools in the UK, and the US as well, we are raising a generation that does not understand or appreciate that we have a duty to disagree. That the more certain you are in the virtue of your beliefs, the more necessary it is to listen to those who challenge them – and to do so with mutual respect. It’s why I wear this tie, the Radley tie. I taught there earlier this month, and I found not a shred of wokeism or populism. Instead, I found serious students, taught by serious teachers, engaged in serious study, that will eventually make them serious adults that can seriously contribute to society. There are some in this society who believe schools like that should not exist. Having studied education on both sides of the Atlantic, I think precisely the opposite. I ask those in attendance here today: what can be done to ensure that every student in every school receives a Radley education.’

Yet what meant even more to us was how Dr. Luntz was able to ignite so much fertile discussion and give Radleians an opportunity to express themselves in a way we have never seen before. He will return in September. There will be inroads for Radley and Radleians into the US Congress and other eminent places, as a result of this connection. And who knows where all these links and networks may lead?

Stephen Rathbone Academic Director

WELCOME TO RADLEY: THE NEW FACE OF ADMISSIONS

Sophie Langdale became Director of Admissions and Communications at Radley in January 2020. Having run admissions at Magdalen College School, Oxford, and Wycombe Abbey and with a previous journalistic background, she was well placed to take on the role. Combine that with the fact that her father, uncle, brother, and son are all Old Radleians, and it was, in her words, ‘the perfect job’. She tells us about the evolution of admissions in independent schools through the lens of her family and shares some amusing stories from her career.

There weren’t many schools that would have appealed after fourteen years of running admissions departments at Magdalen and Wycombe, but Radley was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. Multiple generations of my family are Old Radleians: my uncle, Tony McGarrigle (1950, C), my father, Colin McGarrigle (1955, C), brother, Giles McGarrigle (1983, D), and son, Paddy Langdale (2013, A) have all walked the halls of Radley over the last 70 years, and I’m proud to have joined them – although they all did so in a slightly shorter heel. And, on the subject of footwear, I had big boots to fill, following the legacy of Harry and Vanessa Hammond who had achieved so much in their years at the admissions helm.

Admissions has evolved considerably over the years – and particularly at Radley. Under Dennis Silk’s wardenship, his secretary Mary Hutchinson looked after admissions single-handed. Today I manage a team of six and we work a six-day week. The stream of open days, visits and events is relentless, and my team do a fantastic job to manage such a busy load. Occasionally, in the middle of a hectic week, I imagine my 13-year-old father boarding the train at York to start his first term at Radley, having never previously visited the school! Applicants today will likely have visited two or three times before applying, then once again for the assessment day and interview and then several post-offer familiarisation visits along with an induction day (the Warden’s Welcome) before joining us.

Of course, as a parent, I have been on the other side of the coin. When Paddy was born, he was swiftly added to the Radley List, and we were an easy sell – no other schools considered. Now, a family might be looking at five or six options – co-ed and single sex, boarding and day – possibly in different countries. Some will see us as the perfect choice (and rightly so!); others might have their hearts set on another school before realising we are a better fit. We work hard for every boy; all whilst delivering first-class customer service. In Paddy’s day – and certainly my father and brother’s – boys weren’t interviewed and just took the dreaded Common Entrance in their final summer term. Today, all applicants (some six hundred of them for each year) sit the ISEB pre-test three years in advance and have a half hour interview. Not only does this help us to understand their academic potential, it also allows us to gain a glimpse of their character and their ‘fit’ for Radley. This process is a major undertaking, but one that is immensely enjoyable for all those involved.

Like my father, Giles has no memory of visiting Radley before joining as a Shell in 1983: “I can’t recall any formal or real admissions process, other than sitting the Common Entrance in a rather dilapidated art room at prep school. I certainly couldn’t tell you who the Director of Admissions was at the time, such was the impact they made.” Whilst this is a view I sympathise with from

Sophie’s father, Colin McGarrigle (1955, C), top row, second from the left, pictured here with the OR Hockey team, the Galleons, in the 1960s.

A & H Social Shells laser gaming during their second week at Radley. Paddy, Sophie’s son, is the tall blondhaired boy on the far right.

my own time at school, I’d like to think that parents and boys today value the work my team and I do to support them through the application process.

My son, Paddy, who was Senior Prefect here, sees things in a similar way. He knows that things have changed and must continue to do so, especially in the way we present ourselves (‘marketing’ is not a word used at Radley!). “Places like Radley have so many traditions that we ORs know and love, but they’re alien to the outside world. Through social media, it is possible to ‘lift the lid’ on much of what we all care so deeply about – the prominence and value of Chapel, the joy of boarding and the deep respect between boys and dons.” I have no doubt that many of you might shudder at the thought of Radley’s growing presence on Instagram or TikTok. However, the vista has changed; we are in a competitive market and should not fear innovation. Staying true to Radley’s traditions whilst effectively communicating our modernity is always a careful balancing act. I think of it quite simply: we will always celebrate and respect tradition here, but we must do so whilst facing forwards.

A good example of this is the development of our admissions processes over the past seven years. The Radley List, that many of you will know and love, remains in good heart. Approximately 60% of our boys come through this route, although we do assess and interview candidates now to ensure we are the right school for them. Our Open Entry system (an evolution of the Warden’s List) is more popular than ever. Last year we received 350 applications for just 60 places. These include international candidates from all over the world who bring so much global perspective to Radley. And increasingly – all the more so in these economic climes – families need a helping hand with our fees. In addition to fully funded places, we offer significant financial support to middle income earners who might need some level of support. This could be anywhere from 10-20% through to those who might need 75% or above. We care deeply about enabling talent and making Radley accessible to families from all walks of life, which includes supporting the sons, grandsons and great grandsons of Old Radleians. In my conversations with Old Radleians, both as part of the admissions process and at College events, two things always stand out: the vivid memories that Radley instils and the deep, loyal friendships that endure throughout the years. Dad still dines out on the story of his Head of Social, the renowned Peter Cook (1951, C), imitating his deaf Tutor, affectionately known as Tonk and his great friend John Fuller-Sessions (1953, A) agreeing to a U-Turn on a narrow stretch of river to retrieve his pipe. Most heartening of all, Giles’ mates from D Social are still his dearest friends, many of them have been best men at each other’s weddings, or godparents to each other’s children. If there’s ever an indicator of how special Radley is, it’s this.

It isn’t all serious in admissions. We enjoy meeting many Old Radleian families and the unique stories they bring. However, I cannot miss this opportunity to share some of the most entertaining emails I have received:

• Dear Mrs Langdale, there is always an eternal debate as to what to attribute success – nature or nurture. Gideon, our son is fortunate because he has been amply served by both.

• Boris showed significant enthusiasm at this year’s Christmas play, bringing the character of a mouse into far greater prominence than is typical in ‘Babushka’.

• Mrs Langdale, I have consulted the train schedule just now. It appears we could arrive at 10am on the morning of the 25th. In fact, we are flexible to suit your incontinence.

Whilst these might amuse you, I hope they help to illustrate the importance prospective parents place on finding the right school for their son. Helping families to navigate this process is a unique honour, and doing so at Radley is a privilege. When I got this job, my father, brother, and son all said the same thing to me: “Don’t mess it up”. Numbers at the school are the highest in its history and, fingers crossed, no mess ups yet ...

vales 2021-22

Andrew Cunningham

Sean Connery’s was made of wool, Roger Moore’s linen, Daniel Craig’s silk, but regardless of the material, The Dr wears his Ivory Dinner Jacket with a panache to match any international man of espionage, although his love of a good gossip would render him hopeless as a spy. It is only a pity that he is more often found volunteering at the Remove Play as barman, than patron at Whites ordering a Vesper Martini. And this sums up the Doc. Elegant, sophisticated, graceful – ever the gentlemen. The first to volunteer to help drive a team to Tonbridge or cover an invigilation – he is an old school ‘school master’: putting others before himself is in his DNA.

‘Old Man’ Cunningham, as DCKE liked to refer to him, came to Radley in 2008 which turned out to be a vintage year for Radley recruitment. As a nipper he attended St Paul’s so knows a thing or two about the competition. He then fled to Aberdeen for a staggering five years for his initial degree – too much fun was obviously had there, since Scottish universities normally stretch to a mere 4 – and then off to Exeter for his Doctorate on Thomas Hardy, a fellow romantic writer.

A career in Advertising followed and then a post for the Observer. He soon saw the light and moved into teaching with careers at several leading public schools, as well as Charterhouse and Uppingham. Unlike many of the Common Room he also dared to venture into the dangerous realms of a girl’s school, where he rose to the lofty heights of head of sixth form – oh Dr Cunningham – but it was all too much for his ticker and he retreated to the safe bastion of an all-boys, all boarding public school: Radley.

At some point along the way, probably in the early hours of a summer’s morning over a Cognac and Cuban, he met a certain David Edwards at Uppingham, and a lifelong love of mischief, teaching and entertaining quickly blossomed with a remarkably similarly aligned ethos on school-mastering. On one occasion in the distant past, he was called upon to be a ‘pimp’ with Liz Murtagh in the H Social Cultural evening, which he did with rather more gusto than was necessary for the script or the audience, but AC never does anything by halves!

Ever the all-rounder, Doc has nominally overseen many a gentlemen’s XI or XV. A measure of the man was a few weeks ago when the 4th XI cricket match was cancelled, and Doc put on a 6-a-side game at 2 hours’ notice instead. Many colleagues might have taken the Saturday off, especially as it was near the end of term, but Doc always puts the boys first. Having only a rudimentary knowledge of the Laws of ‘Rugger’ did not curb his enthusiasm and passion for coaching the seniors. The sudden reversal of fortune experienced by 6th formers, recovering from the disappointment that Messrs Greed, Wood and Lawson have overlooked their talent yet again, is profound. But heartbreak quickly turns to elation as the dejected masses find a warm berth in XVs known as Stonewall, Foamwall or even Brickwall under AC and Knoxy.

It is hard to put into words the Cunningham effect in the classroom, particularly as it tends to mature in the 6th form. I think it is fair to say that the Dr doesn’t relish teaching the lower school, who does? Smelly, squeaky, sniffly – perhaps their palates aren’t developed enough for the juicy morsels on offer in E2. Or, it is just the case that the Doctor hasn’t fully recovered from his de-toxing early morning run to Boars Hill and back, resplendent in Baggy ‘70’s shorts, thick rugger socks, shirt and flowing silver locks all a bounce in the wind. He just needs a white silk scarf and he wouldn’t look out of place as he passes the Spitfire at Lodge Hill – scrambled for the next attack by the Boshe.

On the Social Prayers merry-go-round, he is something of a guru, having delivered more morals than a priest and more words of advice than a nun. I’ve seen most of them from the front seat, and it is as part of the H team that I will miss him immensely. H Social has been his home from home for 14 years. He has left an indelible mark on every boys’ time in the house, as well as many unanswered questions about cocoa bills and cellar depletion at a rate that even John Shuckborough, from Oxford Wine, struggles to keep up with.

There is often a certain feverishness in the air during prep time once the boys know Doc C is on for cocoa and a ‘storming of the bastille-esque’ charge for the cocoa room on the stroke of 9pm. Piles of chocolate and crisps are devoured in seconds and then the freeloaders drift off, leaving the room for the coterie of Cunningham acolytes – ready to metaphorically devour the real goodies of cocoa – convivial conversation and debate led by Andrew on all manner of topics which might on occasion encompass the delights of a good claret or Bordeaux (purely theoretical rather than practical).

Andrew is the kindest, most thoughtful colleague one could wish for. He is unwaveringly polite and gentlemanly in his conduct and his enthusiasm for the boys is infectious. He campaigns hard for the underdog and always spots a diamond in the rough. He has a talent for providing a haven for those chaps who find it harder to fit in, or who do not easily get on with other dons. I have rarely heard him complain, except on behalf of others. In H social he has been the thread that has kept us linked to a (in)glorious past of his dear friends Dr Jim Summerly and David Edwards, and the high jinxes and escapades that ensued.

Though he is retiring, Doc embodies a youthful enthusiasm and charm which is infectious and puts many of us who are a few years, or even decades, younger than him, to shame. To quote Hamlet again, a line we often say to each other as the last few boys depart for their rooms after a wonderful evening of entertainment in the cocoa room:

Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

We raise our glasses to the Doc, to his retirement, to the lasting legacy he leaves here, and to friendship.

GHSM

James Schofield

James (Skozza) Schofield arrived at Radley in September 2010, moving from academic life in Oxford to a career in school-mastering. As an undergraduate, he didn’t just get a first. He got the top first in his year across the whole of Oxford University out of anyone taking finals in Mathematics. He followed this with a few years of academic research, holding the position of junior lecturer. So, by the time he arrived at Radley he was entitled to use the title of Dr Schofield. He had submitted his thesis, earnt his doctorate and was readily teaching undergraduates how to pass finals – quite a step from teaching Shells how to pass the Warden’s Algebra Test! One of James’s greatest gifts was an ability to slip seamlessly between the two. He could pitch the right level for the struggling Remove just as easily as help a third-year undergraduate who was aiming for a first.

Another of James’s strengths was throwing himself into the extracurricular life of the college. His own main sport was bicycling, but this didn’t prevent him from approaching rugby, soccer and athletics as an enthusiastic amateur. He took a team, or helped with athletics, in every one of his 36 terms at Radley.

Bicycling took him all over Europe during his holidays. He was one of those annoying people you drive behind in your car as you cross the Alps who bicycles a bit too quickly for you to overtake, but too slowly for you to make progress at your desired rate. As a soccer player what he lacked in talent he made up for in enthusiasm, both in coaching and on the pitch in staff football. And as a spectator he was very proud to be a season ticket holder at Bournemouth. He tried never to miss a home match.

Pastorally, James contributed fully to the College, both as a Sixth Form Form Master and also, in his earlier years, for a short time as livingin Sub-Tutor in G Social. Any boy lucky enough to be in James’s form was guaranteed excellent UCAS advice. In December James would be in one of a number of Oxford Colleges, reading personal statements, and conducting interviews. So, he knew what made a good candidate. Indeed, during almost all of his time at Radley, he kept his hand in, teaching University undergraduates one afternoon per week.

As JWS’s Head of Department I knew that James would do anything that was asked of him, and always do it well. The same applied to his whole College approach. In recent years this became a bit of a frustration. As more and more was demanded, and as someone who refused to cut corners, he found it harder to deliver work of the quality that he required of himself. James never missed a deadline. He marked all the Warden’s Algebra Tests for all the Shells, each term, and the results were always out by the next day, usually at about 5am in the morning. He just worked through the night. I asked individuals for words to describe James. ‘Clever’, ‘hard working’, ‘conscientious’, ‘decent’, ‘nice person’, ‘kind’, ‘excellent colleague’ are some of them. After twelve years working with James, I can endorse them all. He leaves with our very best wishes as he moves to Winchester College in September. I consider myself very fortunate to have been James’s Head of Department for those twelve years.

GW

David Wilson

David arrived at Radley from St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, St Andrews, where he was the incumbent. During his time at St Andrews, David had completed a doctorate on theology and art in the Oxford Movement, and he was thus perfectly attuned to the beautiful environment he was coming to. As a priest, David had an instinctive sense of how a service ought to operate, and he imbued complex occasions with an aura of calm, which was often remarked upon by visiting diocesan clergy. He poured himself into the creation of services for large scale set-piece occasions, such as the service for the dedication of the new Chancel in Chapel (for which there was no template). Invariably these occasions attained the perfect balance of liturgy, symbolism, hymnody and creative congregational input. He instituted traditional, yet innovative services, such as the outdoor service of Rogation with its red tractors, which gave a wellreceived variety to the worshipping life of the Radley community. He formed a warm partnership with the Precentor and Succentor, and is recognised by the wider Radley community as a ‘safe pair of hands’ to preside over life events in Chapel.

David has always been popular among his team of sacristans, which has continued to grow in later years. Whether it was the introduction of a sacristans’ tie, or regular BBQs, David knew how to engage boys in the life of Chapel. The respect that head sacristans held for David arose partly because he had taught them and prepared them so well for GCSE Religious Studies. As a rule of thumb, he finished the syllabus early and excellent results were obtained. With his tall military bearing David had a friendly yet paternal mien, and boys were keen not to disappoint him. Following in his father’s footsteps (an army officer with the Parachute Regiment), David also served as a reserve army chaplain. He was regarded by the RaChD as a model army chaplain, and he leveraged his contacts to obtain a range of speakers for Radley’s Remembrance Sunday services. He also arranged some memorable visiting preachers outside of the military sphere – a fascinating lunch with a Coptic Archbishop, who arrived in a borrowed Tesla to tell us about the persecuted church, will live long in the memory of staff and boys.

David’s contribution to Radley extended beyond Chapel. David played golf and cricket for the staff teams, and coached an unbeaten Midgets rugby side. He raised money himself for charity and encouraged boys to do the same. The illustrated book of Durham Cathedral in his office showed him to be a passionate northerner. David remains a Research Fellow at St John’s College, and his son, James, followed his steps to Durham, as his first-choice university, to read Theology.

David leaves Chapel in good heart. Confirmation numbers are high. The boys sing heartily and appreciate the opportunity for quiet reflection after a busy day. This is in no small measure due to David’s calm leadership over the past decade, and Chigwell School will now benefit from his wealth of experience. As he and Elaine move closer to London, this will allow them to spend more time with their daughter, Catherine, and their son, James. We wish them all the very best of futures.

PJT

Andy Bishop

It was the summer of 2016 when Beryl and Norman Haggett finally decided to call it a day. They had been very special to Radley over many years. Experienced prep schoolteachers, they understood the step from prep school to senior school, and were ideal in looking after the weaker mathematicians in the lower school, and covering the SEN provision. Replacing them seemed an impossible ask. But, by some extraordinary turn of fate, it happened to be the case that their retirement coincided with Andy Bishop’s decision to leave Summer Fields. Andy and Jane arrived at Summer Fields as houseparents in 1990. He then worked his way to Head of Maths, Deputy Head of School, and Senior Master. He had reached the stage where he still wanted some input into boarding school life, but not on a full-time basis. The match was perfect for Radley, and for the last six years Andy has taught Shell 7 and offered 1-1 support in central hours for any boy in the lower school who just needs a bit of extra help. Radley was very lucky to find someone with Andy’s skills, patience, and experience to fill this vital role.

Of course, as with all good schoolmasters, it is not just the classroom that fills the days. Andy is a regular participant in Common Room Cricket and Common Room Hockey, and he was also Master i/c Real Tennis. Away from Radley he edits the PG Wodehouse Society Magazine. Now, six years after leaving Summer Fields, he has decided that the time really has come to retire. Well, I say that, but he will continue to run Eton Fives at Summer Fields. At least Jane will see a bit more of him. Andy has served Radley with distinction and minimum fuss over the last six years. It was our good fortune that he came our way in September 2016. Always the gentleman, and the consummate professional, he leaves with our very best wishes for the future.

GW

Eliza Gearing

Eliza joined Radley fresh from St Anne’s, Oxford, in September 2018, and brought youthful energy and enthusiasm to the Classics Department, where she stepped into the shoes, and classroom, of SAH. As she moved in, she told us she had found her Finals term exhausting. A few months later as the Christmas holiday began, she confessed that she now really knew the meaning of hard work!

This situation arose out of her willingness to get stuck into the various dimensions of a full boarding school. She taught a full timetable of Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation, and right from the start was an enthusiastic coach in the Boat Club. She also settled nicely into E Social, as Sub-Tutor and Form Master with Removes and Shells. This concatenation led to a great weekend in early May, where her busy Monday to Friday was rounded off with 20 hours at regattas on the Saturday and Sunday, with a Leavers’ Dinner in between! In E, her openness and naturally sympathetic nature were a real boon for boys who wanted a bit more emotional support than the average Radleian, and their gratitude to her was clear to see.

Eliza was 22 and with no formal teaching experience when she arrived. Four years on, she has not only acquired detailed knowledge across our three subjects, but also become adept in classroom management and, thanks to lockdown falling in the middle of her tenure, the technology demanded by remote and mixed teaching. She also acquired a grade of outstanding in her on-the-job PGCE, and it was a real pleasure to observe her at work, on occasion calmly juggling iPad, PC and projector and simultaneously maintaining the focus and enthusiasm of most of a classroom plus several boys on different continents.

Although by nature a fairly low-key individual, Eliza also enjoyed socialising with Common Room, and on occasion could be coaxed into showing off her considerable piano-playing ability in various extravaganzas with the Music Department. She made some good friends, not least with other dog owners with whom she walked the ever-lively Timi, the Romanian rescue dog with whom she arrived. Most importantly, she arrived EJHL and leaves EJG, thereby having created yet another Gearing email address for the Common Room directory. It is no surprise that having married a South African she is leaving our shores for adventure. Should she be back in this country when we have a vacancy for a Classicist, she will be very welcome to apply. In the meantime, we wish her well for her exciting future beyond the College, and thank her for her contribution to it over the last four years.

IKC

Anneliese Davies

Anneliese joined us in 2018. She came for interview and immediately impressed with her brilliantly smooth Spanish. She loves singing and once she told me that, at school, the equivalent of Partsong was her night. That musical ear must be behind her near native speaker accent in Spanish. Another impressive bit of her CV was the fact that Anneliese also speaks Chinese. It is not an easy combination to find so we were thrilled!

However, I think it is safe to say that Spanish is her first love. She is a dedicated Hispanist, not only is she a huge fan of Latin music but she is very disciplined in regularly listening to the radio and tv in Spanish. Her passion for the language was palpable from the beginning. Anneliese quickly progressed in the department and was appointed Head of Spanish. Unfortunately, her first year at the post was the second year of the pandemic and she had to deal with the tricky and stressful time of TAGs while being heavily pregnant with her twins Jago and Amaia.

Anneliese also contributed to several areas of school life. She coached M4 rugby for two years and she threw herself into the sport, she would lead sessions and learn new techniques to teach them ably. Her enthusiasm as a coach was brilliant and during her time only two matches were lost. In addition to this, Anneliese was MiC of Polo which she revitalised and ran smoothly and efficiently. She participated in a plethora of the school’s activities, for instance, she ran the muddy steeplechase with the boys, and she was a regular at the staff Touch Rugby.

While she was a live-in Sub-Tutor in L social, she was a constant source of positivity and fun in the Social. She used to run yoga sessions on Sunday mornings for the boys and would pamper them with sweets and chocolate as she did the rounds during duty. One student said “Mrs Davies was a brilliantly kind Sub-Tutor who would always have time to chat with anyone. Her cocoas were the highlight of any week in social, whether we would all be chatting the evening away, playing with the ever-adorable Inca or singing Spanish and English songs together (if badly!). Me Rehúso by Danny Ocean was a particular fan favourite, of course.”

It is clear that Anneliese made her mark while at Radley. We wish her, Jamie, Amaia and Jago all the best in their exciting new adventure in Kuala Lumpur.

GCD

Sean Ramsden

All the adverts went out as normal for a teaching position in all the normal places, but as a department we posted the vacancy on Facebook and Twitter to see if we could tap into the various groups that exist. Within hours I had a message from Sean, and it all looked promising, so whilst passing this information on, I was asked to see if I could arrange for him to come for an interview. After a few hastily arranged meetings, Sean was offered the job in a record 48 hours from it first being advertised – unheard of, especially for a DT teacher.

When Sean started in September 2020, he was given the full range of year groups. It wasn’t an easy time to arrive as we were teaching in the workshop, but everything was seriously restricted because of the covid bubble system. However, Sean stepped up to this and made it engaging and fun for all he taught, despite not being able to carry out any meaningful practical work. He very quickly found his feet and settled into college life, becoming a well-respected and knowledgeable teacher, Shell Form Master and J Social Sub-Tutor. In his second year at Radley, he was appointed Head of Academic Support and took on the mammoth task of ensuring all the access arrangements were in place for the boys, something that I know he is deeply passionate about. If that wasn’t enough, Sean still continued in the design department teaching a Vth form GCSE set and his favourite Shell 7 class, that have benefitted greatly from his friendly, approachable manner.

Prior to Sean getting the job at Radley he was months away from emigrating to Australia to start a new life in the surf and sun, but as covid took a grip this was all put on hold. Only in the last 6 months or so, the situation has improved, and the plan is now finally going to be a reality. So, in the middle of July Sean and his partner will be moving to Sydney, so we say farewell and thank him for everything he has done. Ironically, it won’t be long before Sean will meet up with a Radley connection again, however this time it will be in Sydney with our very own antipodean BRK.

RJ

Jenny Lemke-Jeremy

Jenny joined Radley in September 2021, when she began preparations for a maternity cover role in the modern languages department. She was already known to Andria Pancrazi, who had met her while she was working as a Lektorin at the University of Oxford and, in many ways, she knew what to expect when walking through the doors of David Rae Smith. It was a good match, especially as she was already a qualified secondary school teacher with plenty of experience in getting students to speak the target language.

There is no doubt that Jenny has been a warm and friendly presence in the classroom for boys learning German and French. She was also an incredibly popular and supportive Shell Form Master in L Social. She thought carefully about how to tackle early morning lessons, motivating pupils with games and varied activities, and made herself available at all times of the day to practise conversation skills. Boys looked forward to her classes and were keen to meet her high expectations. Casual chats were always entertaining, covering topics as varied as Reunification and the complicated digestive tract of her pet rabbit. More important, Jenny was keen to contribute to the department, going so far as to set up an online exchange with a partner school for girls in Münster. More visible perhaps were the regular treats that would appear in the languages office at the end of a long week, usually ‘Made in Germany’ – natürlich.

After a year in secondary education, Jenny is setting off to Bonn with her wife Kate to begin a job at a bilingual primary school. We wish her every success and lots of fun in this new endeavour. We also thank her greatly for her generosity, good humour, flexibility and hard work.

OJA

Mell Devlin

“You must be a triage nurse, a councillor, a fire-fighter, a chef, a home economics expert, a police officer, a taxi driver, injury guru, personal shopper, full-time housekeeper… but, most of all… a best friend.” - Mell Devlin on being a PHM, June 2022

The numbers tell only some of the story of one of Radley’s most esteemed, B-est loved, and longest-serving PHMs. Over the course of 44 terms, 200 boys have benefited from Mell’s meticulous care; she has covered 3,000 miles doing rounds of social; she has flipped over 13,000 burgers on the BBQ (her ‘braai’); she has baked over 900 birthday cakes; grated 1.5 tonnes of cheddar for her legendary cheese-on-toast; and she has worked tirelessly with two Tutors, five residential Sub-Tutors, dozens of non-residential ‘subbies’, Med Centre nurses, cleaners and caretakers and gardeners.

Therefore, it is little wonder that all corners of the College were queuing up to express their gratitude in the final weeks of her extraordinary tenure. She attended a Council dinner, an OR reunion, a CR dinner and a Med Centre soiree; was invited to share her wisdom and sagacity from the CR fender; she gave a fabulous final Social Prayers in her B-eloved social; indeed, the accolades from past and present pupils and parents continue to pour in as this vale goes to print.

It seems right to share some of these sentiments here – adding my own Hear! Hear! to each.

A member of CR said: “Whenever I met Mell she was always downto-earth, had a great sense of humour, and genuinely cared for every boy – somehow she understands and can empathise with the teenage brain!”

A past B Social Pup said: “Mrs D was the unsung hero of B. I don’t know how you put up with us for 5 years, but you made our time all the more happy, hilarious, and memorable.” The current Pup said: “You are like a second mother to each of us - the beating heart of Social, ensuring boys have the tools to thrive and B won’t be the same without you.”

Some parents of both current and recent OR pupils said: “We are unconditional fans of Mrs D, who is loved by the boys and always on hand to provide care, confidence, and cake!” and “Mrs D is by far the best second mum you could ask for to look after your sons.”

What it says on one of her Bob Marley posters in the Cocoa Room about her much-missed homeland: “Mash it up in Zimbabwe.”

And the boys’ Beatles-themed tribute to Mell in my first and last Cultural Evening with her:

“…Let it B, let it B, let it B, let it B, There’s only one answer, Mrs D. Mrs D! Mrs D! Mrs D! Mrs D! Whisper words of wisdom, Mrs D…”

But perhaps it is the unsaid and unseen that reveal the most about Mell: that she produces an annual photobook for the gardeners celebrating their wonderful work or the fact that she takes gifts to the JR and MIU each term to thank them for their care of the boys, to name just two of the multitude of her quiet acts of kindness…

I will simply end this pen portrait for a great colleague, a great PHM, and a great friend with Mell’s favourite catchphrase-pre-fix that so often lit up her face - and the room with it. It encapsulates her decade and a half of loyal, level-headed service to the College and more than anything it embodies her ability to combine a remarkable sense of perspective and a wonderful sense of fun. Quite simply: “I laugh…!” We will all miss you enormously Mell. Thank you. Good luck in the future; but of course, never goodBye…

CESM

Yvonne Marsh-Wilson

The saying goes “still waters run deep” and since Yvonne started with us in the Medical Centre back in 2015, we have learnt that this is very much the case. With a calm and measured approach, Yvonne was always on the go. With a wonderful sense of humour, coupled with exceptional timing, she could render you laughing so hard, or simply speechless, without missing a beat.

Yvonne is the epitome of what a Nurse should be – caring and compassionate, along with being a true lady. As such a gentle and softly spoken character, I often wondered whether this lulled some pupils into thinking that they should maybe see her to ask for a rest when feeling a bit weary of the school day. Funnily enough, we’ve seen many a pupil depart Yvonne’s room with the words “go out and give it a go” ringing in their ears. Caring? Yes. A soft touch? No! A trusted colleague who always went the extra mile to help others with shift swaps, or to fill a gap when someone was off sick. A wonderful mentor who helped new nurses settle in and learn the ropes of school nursing, an absolute team player.

The pandemic was a time for Yvonne to shine and come into her own. Her organisation is second to none and her workstation for the mass Covid lateral flow testing clinics was a joy to behold. When she would leave for a break, or until the next session, she would always joke (at least I think it was a joke…) that we were not to touch her work bench. We teased that we might, but none of us did and we all followed her example as best we could.

The hashtag “what would Yvonne do” will live on for years to come. Yvonne will leave a big hole in the Medical Centre team and will be hugely missed. Our loss is very much someone else’s gain. We wish her and David, along with Catherine and James, all the very best in their new endeavours.

AMG

Debbie Myles

Debbie Myles joined F Social in 2018, under Christian San José, and swiftly won the endearment of boys and parents alike. An experienced pastoral hand, she knew the importance of a friendly welcome and the corridors of F echoed with her cheerful engagements, interspersed with the regular beat of her flip-flops. She also knew the power of food in keeping the boys happy and she sustained her legendary Sunday night cocoas with delights ranging from macaroni cheese to chocolate fondues and various delights from the deep fat fryer. The 6.2 were always fiercely loyal, no doubt in part thanks to the timely leftovers she would return with after dinner with Stuart on her night off. Others spoke of the hand-made cakes she would leave outside her door, or the attention and food parcels she would flood them with when illness struck.

Debbie loved sharing her experiences with the boys, returning jubilantly from a Deacon Blue concert to regale the senior boys before bed. The boys loved her fantastic sense of humour (matched by Stuart’s dry wit) and her kindness, amazed by how her smile survived repeated trips to hospital, or another central demand for lateral flow tests. They knew she was always there for them, and she would help with kind ear, bacon sandwiches and her American Cockers, Argo and Effie (also regulars on the Saturday afternoon touchlines). Debbie maintained strong personal relations with others across the support staff too and will be missed. I am grateful for the patient way in which she helped steer me in my first year as Tutor, especially with the challenges of Covid outbreaks. She will have deserved a wonderful summer in a copper bath in her house in France. Our loss is certainly Shrewsbury’s gain.

TCHN

Abbie Brand

Abbie arrived into E Social last September to take on the role of PHM – the social’s first new PHM for 11 years. She had a boarding school background with her father being the current Bursar of St Mary’s Ascot, and she had attended the school herself as a student. Her previous jobs had included time on the prison service graduate scheme – so life in a boarding house held no fears.

It was clear from day one that not only was she incredibly hard working, but also one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. The boys warmed to her immediately, and her calm, kind persona only served to strengthen E Social as a community. Her first term was punctuated by the ongoing admin around the Covid pandemic, and at Christmas time we calculated she had chased up something in the region of 2000 lateral flow test results. The house has run incredibly smoothly under her watch, but – more importantly – she has been a confidante to the boys, as well as great fun throughout. We wish her (and Aidan) the best of luck as she moves onto a different career path.

We may have only had her for one year, but her impact will be long felt. Upon announcing she would be leaving in July a 6.2 boy went straight to her flat to thank her for all her hard work, and say that he felt sorry that future E Social boys who wouldn’t have her as their PHM. She has also – in a short space of time – become a great friend to many of us in the Radley community, and we all look forward to seeing her back at Radley in the not so distant future.

TCL

Emma Lovell

Emma joined D Social as PHM following nearly a decade as a Boutique Shop Manager in Kirkby Lonsdale. Her innate style was immediately obvious in her appearance, her extremely neat and tidy dog (Sheba) and the minimalist approach to furnishing the PHM flat, which always seemed immaculate. She did, therefore, have a fairly low threshold for boys who didn’t possess quite the same standards, with some quite testing characters on this front making her rather unnerved. Shells were offered bribes of a Haribo prize to keep their rooms in order, and it proved to be amazing what they will do for a gummy bear. Though Emma’s dog has very short legs, it quickly became apparent that she has some stamina, and very happily accepted the challenge of long walks to the Boathouse and back in the hope of catching a snippet of Boat Club action. Emma has been a loyal supporter of boys in their matches and is always keen to find out how those she has missed have gone. Similarly, she has fully immersed herself into the Radley Music Scene, avidly supporting boys in concerts whenever possible.

Emma has driven boys to Blackbird Leys once a week (and often more, indeed) to facilitate a Radley Readers’ Partnership with Orchard Meadow and Pegasus Primary Schools, and she also helped with the Radley Village Flower Show.

Emma has been very caring towards the boys in D Social over this year. While it has only been a relatively short stint, she has had an impact on the lives of many of the boys, often giving sage and calm advice to boys in a fluster over something or other. And all this in a time where she has been finding her feet herself. Unfortunately, just as she has found them, circumstances have taken her away from Radley; we wish her the very best for her future and she leaves with our grateful thanks for her year of dedicated service to the Social.

HC

Romy Catmull

Recruiting late into the summer term can induce a touch of anxiety, however it was clear upon Romy’s arrival for interview last June that the history department need not have worried: we would be the fortunate beneficiaries of a highly talented Graduate in Residence. A graduate of Oxford and Sciences Po, with a stint studying in Beijing and recent completion of the Graduate Diploma in Law also behind her, Romy has taken to teaching like a true natural. Despite being asked to teach entirely new material, she has mastered the A Level and iGCSE course content with ease, generously providing grateful colleagues with a range of expert resources and delivering lessons that were, from the off, engaging and crammed with insight. It has been Romy’s unstinting patience and dedication to her pupils that has been the most notable feature of her year at Radley, however. Whether it be the extra revision sessions that she held ahead of exams, the hand-written postcards to acknowledge boys’ achievements, or the superb evening extension sessions she delivered to keen 6.1 historians, the number of boys she has impacted positively upon in the relatively short time that she has spent with us is mightily impressive.

Romy’s charisma and enthusiasm have made her a popular figure beyond the classroom. She has relished the opportunity to play a full role pastorally as a sub-tutor in G Social, dispensing wise advice and kindly support in equal measure. And her natural eloquence has helped her to propel the Radley debating scene to even greater heights, whilst also underpinning her status as a prized signing on the Social Prayers circuit. Her co-coaching of the basketball team led to a number of victories on court, and MEW has repeatedly been at pains to emphasise just how integral she was to the team’s successes. Whilst we are very sorry to see Romy leave, we wish her well as she turns her attention to a career in corporate law with Arnold Porter’s international arbitration team. Suffice to say the teaching profession would be strengthened greatly should she ever wish to return to the classroom in future.

TJD

David Clarós Morales

David joined the MFL department as the Spanish assistant in 2020. He came from Barcelona after his brother Ferrán and close friend Marc had been in his position as well.

It has been wonderful having David in the department. His great sense of humour, accompanied by his constant willingness to help and support in any way he could, has made him a well-esteemed member of the department who will be missed in the DRS office.

In the words of some of the boys, ‘everyone always had fun with him and he always found time for every single student’ and ‘his extensive football (and specifically Barca) knowledge always made for fun discussions’. Our linguists benefitted hugely, not only from his expertise in football but also from his approachable personality and his first-hand knowledge of Spanish culture and the political challenges the country faces.

His influence was not limited to DRS, however. He is a keen sportsman who has been an essential member of the racket sports and football clubs. In tennis, he has helped with Shell and Senior II coaching. In football, he coached the 3rds this year with Stephen Giddens and planned most sessions to perfection, pushing the boys to their skill limits with his activities.

His calm but sharp wit will leave a lasting mark in MFL, but we hope he does not forget us and he comes to visit us again in the future. I and everyone else in the department are grateful to him for everything he has done for us and our linguists. As Tom Way said about him: ‘Muchas gracias por toda tu ayuda durante los últimos dos años. Disfruto muchísimo que me enseñes’

¡Suerte David y mil gracias por todo!

MMC

Tereza Horacek

Tereza has been the Graduate Assistant in the Art Department this year 2021-22 and, I say this unreservedly, has been a tremendous hit with both the boys and staff. She has done a huge amount to help the department, boost its creativity with her fresh ideas and energy, and help guide boys with their work.

As many of you will know, Tereza is a considerably talented artist and has painted an excellent portrait of one of our College Founders as well as creating a mural in the new Radley housing development. However, on top of these enviable skills, Tereza has also demonstrated an approachable and easy manner with the boys, giving them her time to benefit from her valuable advice, support, and wealth of knowledge of contemporary artists. Around the department, I have been tremendously grateful for all of her help in its day to day running; from hanging art exhibitions and covering lessons to accompanying the many departmental trips to galleries, museums, falconries and public gardens.

Her energy and enthusiasm saw her become Master in Charge of Fives and, despite not knowing how to play at the start, she quickly learnt how to organise and master the sport and put together excellent match day programmes that were greatly enjoyed by the boys. She even coped admirably in her first match play where she had to play with and against identical twins. Utterly dependable and great company, she brightened and enlightened our lives. Tereza will be greatly missed across College. We wish her well in her new post of Teacher of Art at Magdalen College School and hope that this is not goodbye but À bientôt.

RT

Kaia Sherry

When I interviewed Kaia Sherry for the role of Cook Fellow in spring 2021, it was obvious that she was right for the role. I had already been deeply impressed by Kaia’s rich curriculum vitae, which was full of highly relevant internships in student journalism and community work at UCLA – from where Kaia graduated in 2021, with a BA in English and French.

I was also intrigued by her heritage. She told me all about her Cambodian family and the murderous horrors they had suffered under the Khmer Rouge. Even though she was of course delighted that the family had been able to escape to the West, things had been difficult for that immigrant community within the USA. I could see therefore that Kaia would be perfect at continuing the Cook Fellow tradition of importing into Radley the optimism and energy which so many Americans possess, but that her own experiences and background would bring something special.

Kaia has been an extraordinarily positive member of the English Department. Mr Nash describes her as ‘human Berocca’. The time she has taken over individuals learning English has been exemplary. She brought perspectives to the study of literature and culture at Radley which were entirely unique: witness her talk to the Shell and Remove on ‘Necropolitics and Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’’, which Mr Nash describes as ‘one of the most thrilling and inscrutable things I’ve ever witnessed’.

This is the Cook Fellowship in action as intended, whereby fresh faces with powerful and original intellects inform the boys

in ways which are essential in educational provision. The other Cook Fellow for this academic year, Connor Thune, speaks with warmth on how Kaia helped him discover the etymological origins of his own Norwegian family surname – another example of Kaia’s endless drive for academic exploration, combined with kindness. As she leaves Radley, Kaia should know that she has been a tremendous success and has fulfilled all the goals I hoped for, and much more. We wish her all the best for her time at Oxford University, where she will be studying for a Master’s degree.

SR

Connor Thune

Pretty much everything happened online in 2021 in one form or another, and true to form, via a Zoom call both Connor and myself along with BRK got chatting design. Then just as if we were right back in the thick of online teaching he started to share his screen and proceeded to show a handful of impressive looking projects and started to explain his design thoughts behind them – something that would be hugely transferable to what we do in the Design Engineering department.

So, at the beginning of September Connor arrived ready to get stuck into a whole range of classes across all the years. He threw himself into the Shell projects and became the in-house MIG welding guru, who must have helped nearly all 150 shells complete their projects! But where he really came into his own was with the GCSE and A-level candidates, by providing advice and 1-2-1 support on our CAD software, ensuring they were capable of accessing many of the advanced features on offer. In addition, he challenged many of the students to think differently and consider alternative solutions to their design problems.

Connor wasn’t just to be found in the Design engineering department, he also contributed to Colts 3XI football and sixth form Lacrosse sessions, where he concentrated his effort on coaching the goal keepers. He also enjoyed the friendships he developed during his time here and was a key member of the annual common room trip to Dublin, which I know certainly made an impression on him.

Connor departs back to the US with all our good wishes to finish off his studies at Columbus College of Art and Design.

RJ

Maddy Trépanier

In my second year of teaching, my fierce HoD was infuriated by a teacher saying something was ‘a bit academic for our kids’. ‘Teachers ARE academics’, she retorted, red-faced. Well, that was a wonderful aspiration, but not really true of that school. Maddy is without question, and in the very best sense of the word, an academic.

From an old Canadian family of ice-merchants, daughter of two superb academics herself, she has brought the fire of enthusiasm and the ice of her stratospheric standards to the English Department over the past 7 months. I do not think that a Shakespeare class has ever been better prepared than her Hamlet group in 6.2: to see a boy, not amongst the stars of the year, avidly discussing Kristeva’s theory of the Abject in relation to Hamlet and Gertrude whilst queuing for chicken nuggets, was inspirational. A valued member of K Social, Maddy’s Cocoa discussions became legendary among the boys, many of whom were introduced to social theories and political analyses which opened their eyes to wilder shores than those they had yet known. Her timekeeping did not always match her enthusiasm – I once watched her buttonholed by Tessa after having forgotten to go to the Cultural Evening and punished in the nicest way by submitting to a full run-through of every item on that illustrious programme. Nevertheless, her commitment to the boys in the round was unquestionable, and everyone she encountered was improved by the meeting.

I had the bright idea, months ago, of putting on a celebration of Shakespeare in Arcadia. A week before the performance, I was still writing the script. With 48 hours to go, Maddy, an experienced and successful director, took (somewhat frustrated) charge. By the night, we had an energised cast, bunting, lanterns, costumes, and a superb medley of Shakespeare taking in a dozen plays in the last frenetic, hilarious 15 minutes of the play. She is a force of nature, a hilarious gossip, a brilliant close critic, and, I hope I may say, a wonderful friend. We will miss her hugely, but wish her well in whatever corner of human achievement she pursues.

DJTS

Annette Zschau

Our German assistant piqued curiosity in her first week. Boys were uncertain whether to use du or Sie in conversation with this highly qualified professional from Bavaria, and most were unable to get their tongues around her surname, having learnt to pronounce ‘z’ as an affricate and ‘sch’ as a sibilant. Fortunately, the Italian ‘ciao’ was close enough. And there was her yellow rucksack. What could be inside? Sweets? Games?

After almost a full year of online sessions with Louisa Karnbrock, boys were excited to have conversation lessons in person again. Annette was friendly, patient and demanding. Her chosen environment was a spare classroom rather than the foyer, where her charges may have been distracted by discussions in French happening at the same time. Everyone involved was so engrossed that most sessions overran – one small step to combat national stereotypes in the department. Boys returned to class with copious notes and bespoke phrases such as ‘Sorry, I’m absolutely shattered because I had to go to S&C at the crack of dawn.’

Our native speakers were pleasantly surprised to discover that Annette happens to be an expert in economics, which resulted in many sessions dedicated to technical topics. They were also ejected from regular lessons once a week to study a short literary masterpiece with her, leaving their remaining solitary classmate to get on with the business of language acquisition. All Sixth Formers were impressed by Annette’s knowledge about their chosen research projects and appreciated her thorough interrogation skills.

Annette visited Radley just one day a week and often continued to work remotely with students around the world late into the evening. We thank her for supporting the boys and wish her all the best: Tschau, Frau Zschau!

OJA