Radleian - Winter 2022

RADLEIAN

Boys planting 750 trees on the edge of the golf course to create a 175th anniversary copse.

FROM THE WARDEN

It is easy to look at the world at the moment and be downhearted. There are challenges for all of us; not just the obvious economic and political ones but elements of rapid change and social upheaval that are impacting the way we live and think. In the world of independent schools, there are particular issues, some of which threaten our very independence if not our existence. It may be an overused phrase, but we live in challenging times.

There are two possible responses: the first is to hunker down and enjoy life in ‘the bubble’. It is very tempting; we can all too easily hide away from reality in 750 acres of Oxfordshire countryside. It is, however, patently the wrong approach. We must acknowledge the challenges and teach Radleians to have the core values, the right mindset, and the requisite tools to face up to them.

It is an intellectual task. All too often, modern education is scared of disagreement and of exposing people to new or controversial ideas. We prevent debate and we create echo chambers; we feed our own prejudice and submit to the algorithms. I hope not at Radley. It is good to see debating thriving under new leadership, to engage with boys in proper discussions over dinner or in Cocoa, to see high numbers at talks from visiting speakers and to hear questions asked at the end of those talks which reflect both curiosity and insight. There is little that is more important.

It is a practical task. We need to see boys out of their comfort zone, exposed to the world beyond Radley. I am deeply proud of the developing partnership programme which sees boys involved in a whole variety of activities which make a practical difference and, as they do so, gives them a real sense of perspective. At times it is simple; the act of planting a tree in our massive expansion of woodland is a reminder of one of the greatest challenges.

It is a moral task. As we encourage boys to think about the malign influence of Andrew Tate and yet not in a way such as to deny the real concerns teenage boys have about identity and purpose; as we listen to Jess Phillips MP tell us painful truths about violence in society against women; as we yet again have the privilege of our annual Holocaust Conference with survivors visiting to give the boys an unforgettable experience (and know that such opportunities will not last much longer); as we have in Chapel a living and regular reminder that there is more to life than the material… we are, I trust, building core values that underpin each and every Radleian’s approach to life.

We sometimes, quite rightly, simply enjoy the privilege of a Radley education. But as we read this and every magazine, bulletin, and social media feed, it is worth asking what each activity contributes to the main objective... to teach boys to think, to help them begin to address the challenges we face and to do so in a way that has moral purpose. I hope we meet that test.

John Moule Warden

SWEENEY TODD

This year’s College Musical was Sondheim’s infamous creation, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. A cast and crew of our boys performed alongside pupils from Didcot Girls’ School. Senior Prefect, Jack (6.2, A Social), reports from a soldout Theatre.

As the cast emerged from the wings, I was stunned by the gothic makeup and steam-punk concept of the costumes that added a dark tone to an already tragic plot. The small details such as Sweeney’s bleached hair, distinctive moustaches, and metallic costume textures added to the quirky look of the characters and helped to create an impressive and imitating foundation for the cast to build on. At face value the setting seemed simplistic, with one large central cube structure and enclosing stairs, yet the crew’s rotation of the staging, revealed a different location on each side, adding to the pace of the plot. Above all, I marvelled at the use of the barber’s chair; with the slick trap door adding a touch of comedy to the storyline. The consistently ominous lighting was the finishing touch in building the morose picture of a polluted and dismal Fleet Street.

In terms of the actors, I was truly impressed; Miss Buse nailed the casting. Max (6.2, L Social) who portrayed Todd,

expertly conveyed the mental convulsion of a psychotic yet brokenhearted protagonist, all while singing beautifully. Erin stole the show as Mrs Lovett; the passion she threw into the role and expressions she added, most notably during the song A Little Priest, were superb. Max and Erin were an effective pairing, with Erin’s warm, timid-hearted Lovett juxtaposing the harsh, pathos-filled nature of Max’s Todd. Joe (6.1, G Social) as Anthony Hope was equally impressive, perfecting the anguish of a star-struck lover and successfully navigating the romantic scenes that came with the role. The cast created refreshingly light moments in scenes throughout the musical, most notably through the eccentric Italian, Adolfo Pirelli, played by Colby (6.2, K Social) who put his heart and soul into perfecting the accent and comedic elements of the character.

Unsurprisingly, the music was exceptional. The orchestra, comprised of Radleians and professional musicians, provided the perfect accompaniment and really brought the musical to life, joining together with the cast to create a truly epic soundscape. When I first saw the long list of songs in the programme and realised the number of lines the actors must have had to learn for their performance, I wondered whether the music might decline as the cast became

more fatigued. But I was very pleased this was not the case at all, and the music was consistently breathtaking throughout. In fact, the cast’s performance of Johanna was so good it has now been permanently added to my Spotify playlist!

The movement and pace of the musical kept the audience on edge. A dramatic increase in action and intensity in the scandalous scene of Poor Thing was effective in contributing to the tension of the plot, almost breaking down the fourth wall by such immersive action. With lots of new elements to the tale being crammed into the last few scenes, the cast did a fantastic job in bringing the climax of the story to a clear end, with one final twist to the plot in tow.

This review would not be complete without mention of the interval snacks – pies and drinks that mimicked the cooking of Mrs Lovett. Such touches like this came together to make a thoroughly delightful evening and I must take my hat off to the Drama Department for curating a truly magical evening. I congratulate Miss Buse and her team, alongside Mr Gladstone and the Music Department for all the hard work they put in to creating such a powerful and entertaining piece.

ACADEMIC PRIORITY TIME: IN FOCUS

Shells and Removes have been using their Monday evenings to fine tune their scholarly ambitions thanks to our reinvigorated Academic Priority Time (APT) sessions. A carousel of activities delivered by staff – in addition to talks by visiting speakers — allows boys to explore unique and interesting topics within the sphere of academic subjects, but beyond the confines of the examination syllabus.

During the Michaelmas term, our youngest boys explored Cryptic Crosswords with Mr Swain, Crystal Building with Head of Geology, Mr Bedford and the Thucydides and the Russo-Ukraine conflict with Messrs Taylor and Lord. Their practical engineering ability was put to the test in an Engineering Challenge with Mr Pullen, and Mr Wood explored the choices facing military and strategy leaders during World War 2 in The Armchair General. The Removes considered Ancient and Modern Gender and Sexuality with Mr Campbell, looked at War Photography from across the ages with Mr Greed and took part in Chemistry workshops with Dr Lebedeva, a former research scientist.

Mr Rathbone, Academic Director, has been particularly impressed by the boys’ willingness to get involved and explore new areas of study: “Academic Priority Time exists to show that the primary purpose of the school — academic learning — can take forms beyond the standard classroom lesson. Extension work stretches the brain and feeds enthusiasms. It may also create different and exciting dynamics whereby teachers and other academic staff create activities which develop in the boys a love of topics and themes way beyond the all-too-evident constraints of the curriculum. This is vital for developing habits of independent study and general knowledge which will be crucial for application to the best universities. It is also, most importantly, a great deal of fun.”

“APT allows boys to attend talks by outside speakers from a range of fields and our guestlist is rather impressive. My experience is that we can write to almost anybody — bar perhaps the President of the United States or the Pope — and they will come and address the boys. APT is also a time for more advanced language learning, scientific experiments, art and design work, robotics, computing and discussion fora, such as subject reading groups and Symposium. When boys make a good use of it, APT works as a wonderful complement to classroom learning.”

Team Dynamics

Thucydides and the Russo-Ukraine conflict

Covered Passage Timeline

War Photography

Animal Society

JESSPHILLI

We have a long-held view that boys should be exposed to the widest range of ideas and perspectives through our external speaker programme –which includes people from across the political spectrum. On 1st December 2022, Jess Phillips, the high-profile Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley gave a talk to boys, staff and our friends from the OX14 partnership on the role of men in violence against women. Fellow Brummie, Hamza (6.2, H Social) shares his thoughts on the evening.

On the day of Jess Phillips’ visit, there was a slight apprehension in the air around the College. Her topic was likely to provoke difficult conversations and self-reflection, certainly no bad thing. However, her talk took place in the week Labour had ramped up its criticisms of independent schools, so a full theatre was guaranteed.

Prior to her presentation, I joined a handful of students who were invited to dine with Jess in the newly refurbished Shop. Jess’ arrival did not go unnoticed, her strong brummie accent sliced through the room and it was clear that a fantastic night lay ahead. During dinner, the conversation ranged from contemporary Labour and Conservative politics to the restless efforts of her Yardley constituency and Birmingham City Council to tackle the apparently pressing issue of bees! Our eagerness was undeniable, leading to a quip or two

being exchanged over the hearty dinner. Interacting with an MP was a fantastic opportunity, especially one who was from and represented my city of Birmingham. It goes without saying that everyone around the table found Jess’ character, conversation, and confidence at dinner to be incredibly impressive.

As the evening progressed, there came the point where many boys, staff and pupils from partner schools assembled in the Theatre to see Jess throw us a curveball on her challenging topic of choice. Jess began by providing some context to the harrowing issue of domestic violence and abuse towards women, followed by a response to modern media coverage and support mechanisms that promoted awareness and action. The audience was attentive to Jess’ views which was clearly reflected in preparation for the Q&A. Jess’ fiery passion and energy echoed that of the Theatre’s atmosphere as she answered questions head-on and it was clear many boys were impressed by her forthright manner.

Jess welcomed questions on any topic, and it wasn’t long before she was tackling questions about Labour policy and contemporary issues such as industrial action and NHS reform. Her force, flair and composure in the face of difficult questioning was stunning. By the close of the evening, her ability to inspire thought and awareness about an issue close to her

heart was greatly valued by everyone who was present. The Warden summed up her visit brilliantly: “Politicians get a bad rep because they don’t always answer questions and they don’t speak their mind, so we rarely know what they think. It’s safe to say that Jess Phillips is a politician who answers questions, speaks her mind and, as such, we definitely know what she thinks.”

From start to finish, Jess Phillips’ evening at Radley was a great experience to be involved in, and certainly one where I was able to grasp and appreciate the political ideas and personality of a Birmingham MP.

PS

It’s safe to say that Jess Phillips is a politician who answers questions, and speaks her mind...

ACTIVE OXFORDSHIRE PARTNERSHIP: IN FOCUS

We are proud to announce a threeyear strategic partnership with Active Oxfordshire, designed to help hundreds of young people facing disadvantage to become more active. Pete Bennett, Head of Sport Partnerships, tells us more about this exciting and important work.

Active Oxfordshire and Radley College have been working together since 2018, helping local children and young people learn to swim, ride a bike, and develop new skills such as rowing. This became even more critical because of the COVID-19 pandemic when children across the county missed out on swimming lessons as leisure centres and schools were closed. Radley College partnered with The Oxford Academy to provide catch up swimming lessons, and from there a new Oxford Academy Rowing Partnership was

formed. This innovative collaboration introduced local children to rowing, with their headteacher reporting: “In every metric — attendance, achievement points, negative points, and academic progress — all pupils on the rowing programme have improved.” Participants also reported a greater feeling of self-belief and happiness.

Many parents will have generously donated to our bike collection days for Ready Set Go, a campaign led by the Oxford Hub and part-funded by Active Oxfordshire. This work enables Active Oxfordshire and their partners to provide bikes to those in the greatest need, mainly focused in the Blackbird Leys area of Oxford. These bikes have enabled children and their families to become more active and mobile. Recipients have included families residing in areas of high deprivation,

refugees, and asylum seekers, with many of those supported sharing their stories with our boys.

This new three-year partnership will build on the fantastic work that has already taken place and comes at a critically important time. In Oxfordshire’s most affluent areas 80% of children can swim by the time they finish primary school, but this falls to less than 10% in our county’s most deprived areas. This partnership will challenge these major health inequalities so that more children can live an active life. We are incredibly proud to be involved and our boys will be making a meaningful contribution to a key issue of our time. I am confident that they will get just as much out of it as they put in; allowing them to better empathise with those who have very different lives to their own.

We’re delighted to be entering into this three-year partnership with our friends at Radley College. Thanks to their support, hundreds more children and young people in Oxfordshire can now swim, ride a bike and enjoy rowing. We know that only half of children in our county are doing enough activity to protect their health and wellbeing, and with the cost-of-living crisis causing so much concern, this situation could get significantly worse. Our partnership will make sure that children can still enjoy being active and we’re looking forward to reaching many more children and young people over the next three years.

~ Josh Lenthall Chief Executive of Active Oxfordshire

SENIOR APPOINTMENTS

We are pleased to announce three changes to our Senior Management Team. With the planned retirement of two Radley stalwarts – Steve Rathbone in August 2023 and Ben Holden in August 2024 – the Warden has taken the opportunity to restructure his senior team to better fit the evolving needs of the College.

Jonathan Porter has been appointed Deputy Head (Academic) from September 2023. Jonathan started his teaching career through the Teach First programme and was a founding member of staff at Michaela in Wembley, North West London, the top school in the country for academic progress. He became Head of Humanities and Deputy Head before leaving to pursue further study. Jonathan went to school at Oundle, where he was Head Boy, and read Theology at Cambridge. We are looking forward to welcoming Jonathan, his wife Claire, and their son Matthew to the Radley community.

John Moule commented: “I am delighted to announce Jonathan’s appointment. I know that he is looking forward to working in a very different environment with very different demands, bringing a wealth of ideas, experience, and energy to his new role. Niall and Harry are well known to all of us, and I have no doubt they will continue to be excellent advocates for Radley in the years ahead.”

Jonathan Porter

Niall Murphy

Niall Murphy has been appointed Sub-Warden from September 2024. In his new role, Niall will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the College and will act as the champion of our ethos amongst boys, staff, and the wider community. Mr Murphy, who is currently Senior Master (Co-Curricular), joined the Common Room in September 1993 after reading History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He has been Head of History, Resident Sub-Tutor and was the first Tutor of K Social. A keen sportsman who represented Cambridge at rugby and hockey, Niall is a popular figure amongst boys and parents. In addition to his work at Radley, he is a Governor of Elstree School. Niall is married to Ros, and they have two children, Niamh (6.2, C Social) and Fintan (R, L Social).

Harry Crump

The responsibility for our co-curricular programme will now sit with Harry Crump, who has been appointed Deputy Head (Co-Curricular) from September 2023. Harry read Law at The University of Edinburgh and English Literature at The Open University. He came to Radley in 2004 and became Tutor of D Social in 2011. Harry teaches English, coaches hockey, tennis, basketball, croquet and lacrosse, and plays violin in the College orchestra. He is married to Hattie, who teaches at a local prep school, and they have three children, Dora, Arthur and Wilf.

GABRIELI ROAR

Our Music Department pulled out all the stops for the biggest partnership event we have ever staged. ROAR was a collaboration with the internationally renowned Gabrieli Consort and Players, a choir and period instrument ensemble which has youth engagement as one of its strategic pillars. A choir of 1,000 young people led by Radley College and featuring children from across Abingdon, Didcot, Birmingham, and Coventry gave a spectacular performance of Michael Praetorius’ music. Sam (S, J Social), one of the soloists of the night, tells us more.

On 5th December 2022, the 100 strong Radley Chapel Choir and hundreds of children from across Oxfordshire, Coventry and Birmingham convened in Coventry Cathedral to partake in a concert celebrating the 400th anniversary of the death of Michael Praetorius. Praetorius was a German composer and organist who lived from 1571 to 1621 and is considered one of the most versatile composers of his age. The concert was arranged by the Gabrieli Consort and Players, and it was the largest of eight concerts that took place in the ROAR series across the UK.

Musical Director Paul McCreesh stated that this was the biggest choir he had ever conducted. In fact, due to the choir’s vast size, I counted several conductors dotted around the monstrous and modern Coventry Cathedral. Built alongside the ruins of the old cathedral that was destroyed in WWII, the large expansive space resulted in phenomenally powerful acoustics. I enjoyed watching the professional musicians at work; they had a true mastery over their unique, period instruments. The sackbut and cornetto playing was particularly amazing. The grand finale, In Dulci Jubilo was incredible; the sound of a 1,000 strong choir at full voice with an ensemble of fanfare trumpets is something I’ll never forget.

Although it was an incredibly long day, I really enjoyed it. I was fortunate to be one of four Radleians who sung a solo in Quem Pastores Laudavere. I found it quite daunting, but I can’t even imagine how scary it was for Ethan (S, G Social) who started the whole concert off with a solo plainsong verse. In just my first term at Radley, this was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to see what else is yet to come.

MY RADLEY

Ahallmark of Radley is our strong sense of community spirit, part of which is rooted in the constancy and purpose of our staff. More than 500 people work at Radley, many of whom go about their jobs to a very high standard but away from the spotlight. My Radley was designed to change this and give people who work tirelessly to ensure the smooth operation of the College for our boys, the recognition they deserve.

The first edition of My Radley featured Pat Clarke, our longest-serving employee, being interviewed by Iain Campbell, himself a veteran of 25 years. Pat was 16 when he arrived at the College in 1966. After discovering a lack of vacancies at Abingdon School he was directed to Radley, where long-serving Head Groundsman Harold Smithson was looking for a new colleague. Pat spoke to Iain with great affection for the College, about his time under four Head Groundsmen and five Wardens and the boys who don’t seem so very different to the ones he encountered when he arrived. Iain commented that Pat was “one of many very committed College employees who quietly get on with their jobs to a very high standard — allowing things to function smoothly.”

Inspired by Iain’s interview, we set about looking for those operational staff who did just that – beginning with someone who literally works behind the scenes — Lianne Oakley-Rowland, who has been Radley’s Costume Designer extraordinaire since 2005. Lianne described the creative process of designing costumes with huge passion, the productions she was most proud of and, tellingly, what she felt was a key aspect of her role: “It’s important to me to ensure all cast members are happy with what they’re wearing because fundamentally I’m their advocate. I need them to feel

confident to perform on stage in front of hundreds of people.”

Part of the value of My Radley is this glimpse into the roles of our colleagues, as well as a greater understanding of their life away from work: Lianne spoke of juggling her life as mum to her oneyear-old son with long hours on production nights. When we interviewed Hazel Gearing, Reprographics Assistant, she spoke with pride of her four sons who all raced for Radley at Henley Royal Regatta; Sarah Barrett, Domestic Cleaner in B Social spoke movingly of her brain tumour diagnosis, the importance of her supportive colleagues in B Social and coming to work to maintain a sense of normality in her life. It’s been fascinating to find out more from Head of Exams, Jo Bailey, about her desire to “make the atmosphere around exams more supportive”, Jon Buzzard about the changes the IT team have seen since he joined in 1981, Tom Lubski on his responsibilities taking receipt of the Catering Department’s daily deliveries, and Di Stone on watching boys go from “timid Shells to confident 6.2s” from her perspective as a nurse in the Medical Centre. Recently we have come full circle, interviewing Iain Campbell himself on life as a don, living at Radley and bringing up his family here.

As part of the project, everyone featured has been photographed professionally in their work environment, which has resulted in a wonderful documentation of their personalities as well as their day-to-day life at the College. My Radley has brought out the innate regard for Radley amongst staff involved and we hope it has helped to increase mutual understanding and respect within the staff community. It’s not easy to put yourself ‘out there’ in this manner, but we are grateful to all those who have been involved so far in this rewarding project.

Jo Bailey

Pat Clarke

Di Stone

Tom Lubski

Iain Campbell

Hazel Gearing

Lianne Oakley-Rowland

Sarah Barrett

RADLEY THROUGH A LENS

The spirit of Radley is much discussed, but never defined, so to round off our rather extended 175th anniversary celebrations, we invited boys and staff to sum up what Radley means to them in a photograph or a collection of photographs for a competition. Keen staff photographers, Andria Pancrazi and Charlie McKegney, took the lead as judges.

Following the success of lockdown photography competitions, we knew there were incredibly talented photographers at Radley. It certainly wasn’t a surprise to receive more than fifty submissions and see the quality of the composition. However, there had to be some winners!

First place went to Sophie Torrance, Engagement Officer in the Development Office, with Sprained Ankle. Sophie said: “My commute to Radley often takes me via Cheesers to Lodge Hill, and on an early autumn evening I was walking home when I came across three young Radleians coming in the opposite direction. They looked like they were returning from a cross country run, and the boy in the middle was being supported on either side by his friends, while he limped along with a painful ankle. It was lovely to see them express patience and altruism at a young age. The golden autumn colour, and the deep blue of the sky, inspired me to take a photo as I passed them.”

Second place was awarded to Warren (6.2, E Social). His action photo of a rugby match on an autumn day showcased our sporting excellence. The calm and composure of the Radleian pictured whilst being tackled by the opposition showcased a team that was clearly on top! Oliver (V, H Social) took the bronze medal with a beautifully framed photo of Clocktower with a pink sky behind. There were honourable mentions for Alex (6.1, G Social), Steven Giddens, C Social Tutor, and Adam King, Head of Grounds. All the photos are available on Radley’s Flickr account.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who took part.

1st: Sophie Torrance

2nd: Warren (6.2, E Social)

3rd: Oliver (V, H Social)

Academia is founded upon the core principles of asking questions and challenging perspectives. In pursuit of this, Hyunjo (6.1, J Social) planned and delivered TEDxYouth@ RadleyCollege. TEDx events are designed to stimulate conversation and debate, and the programme curated by Hyunjo certainly achieved that. He reflects on a fantastic day.

My motivation for organising this event was to help build a platform for students and speakers to connect, with the hope of kickstarting discussions that would lead to the spread of intellectual vitality in our community. I arrived at the theme ‘Event Horizon’, as it best demonstrated the idea of the ‘point of no return’. In a society where every decision we make has a profound impact on future generations, I wanted everyone to be able to pause for a moment and think deeply about the issues that really mattered.

Therefore, it was an honour to have an array of distinguished speakers take the time to visit the College in support of my vision. An audience of more than 150 students from Radley and schools in the OX14 Learning Partnership had the opportunity to hear Dr John Zerilli explore the increasing relevance of

TEDx YOUTH

artificial intelligence, Professor John Morton consider what quantum computers will be made of in the future, and Professor Amy Dickman from the University of Oxford divulge into an intriguing topic called ‘Warriors, Wildlife, and Women’. The audience were invited to explore the complexities of preventing disasters with Professor Ilan Kelman, and the underrated physicality of virtual reality with Amy Sheldrake, as well as turning a black hole white with Lewis Raymond Taylor.

A unique element of the day was current boys and Old Radleians on the stage to discuss what made them tick. Aleksandre (6.2, B Social) shared his experiences of becoming a published author and talked about his book The Unique: A Minecraft Novel, and entrepreneur Sam Tucker OR (2014, K Social) chose to speak about the future of work post COVID-19. To see the attendees and speakers debating and bouncing ideas off each other gave me a sense of fulfilment and purpose that I have never felt before.

TEDxYouth events are organised by students, for students with the support of adult mentors. This conference could not have come to fruition without the collective effort of dons and boys,

in particular Charlie

and members of the Senior

Challenging perspectives and learning from others are the core themes of our partnership work. TEDx enabled us to achieve both whilst enjoying a fascinating and inspiring day in the process.

McKegney, the Partnerships Team

Management Team.

Christmas Lunch

The cold December frost that had characterised the Steeplechase provided the perfect excuse for boys to don their Christmas jumpers for the rest of the day, in support of Oxfordshire Youth. Having seen the important work they do in support of young people across the county first hand, Mateo (V, K Social), Arthur, William and Ed (all V, J Social) were inspired to pioneer this year’s appeal raising £1,150. These jumpers gave an extra splash of colour to Christmas lunch, kindly provided by our fantastic catering team. The atmosphere was full of energy as boys and staff tucked into turkey, pulled crackers and rolled their eyes at sub-par jokes.

A RA

Aflurry of snow during the last week of Michaelmas Term created the perfect backdrop for our Christmas celebrations. Boys were in fine voice during our carol services, gave their all on the Steeplechase course and enjoyed a hearty Christmas lunch before heading home for the holidays.

A Radley Christmas would be incomplete without an abundance of musical opportunities throughout December. From the high-octane Winter Jam to more intimate lunchtime performances as well as the sold-out Christmas Concert, there was something for everybody to enjoy. The Carol Services, which are open to parents and members of our local community, were a wonderful celebration of the festive season with Peter Taylor (Chaplain for Partnerships and Charities) leading an evocative service.

Christmas Advent Trail

Tim Lawson (E Social Tutor) and his wife, Lel helped to put the spirit of Christmas in houses across our campus during Advent. Throughout December, resident staff were encouraged to create and display a Christmas scene in their front windows on their allotted night, creating a ‘living’ advent calendar. This proved incredibly popular, with families and boys seeking out the windows each evening. Their initiative raised more than £1,745 for the Oxford Hospitals Charity, who fundraise for medical equipment and research in the local area.

DLEY CHRISTMAS

Steeplechase

The buzz of the festive season continued to whirl around the College as boys prepared to take on the annual Steeplechase. Boys were undeterred by the winter weather, especially the 6.2s who turned up at the start-line sporting some ‘fetching’ fancy dress. Descriptions of their costumes are wisely omitted from The Radleian, but they certainly didn’t look warm…

For the first time in some years, the course records were broken. The Inters (Remove and Fifths) course record now belongs to Will (R, K Social) with a time of 20m 28s, and Max (6.2, D Social) shaved an impressive 1m 30s from the Seniors record with 23m 30s. Overall, F Social placed third, G Social came second and the Steeplechase trophy returned to D.

THE COUNTRYSIDE

From little acorns mature large oak trees, and so it feels for our growing Countryside Centre. While the Radley College Beagles have been around since 1941, the range of countryside activities available at Radley has gone through something of a major transition in recent times with the construction of a brand new and bespoke Countryside Centre in 2018. With the employment of a centre assistant in 2021 and a Countryside Partnerships Director in 2022, the centre is now increasingly expanding its internal offer to Radley boys, while also contributing significantly to the College’s growing partnership work with primary and secondary schools, charities, and the local community. Charlie Herbert, Simon Timbrell and Thomas Wye tell us more.

CENTRE: IN FOCUS

Internally, the Michaelmas Term saw the start of the inaugural Shell Countryside Centre Programme — which sees all firstyear boys spend up to six Wednesday afternoons undertaking a variety of countryside activities, from an introduction to hunting, shooting, and fishing through to farm visits, bushcraft and woodland skills, air rifle shooting and an introduction to animal husbandry. Concurrently, the centre continues to support older year groups through the CCF. Over time, our aim is to develop a through-school continuum of countryside activities and events, with the centre playing an increasingly important role in the fabric of Radley life, delivering classleading countryside, conservation and environmental education, training, and personal development opportunities.

Externally, our nascent partnering efforts have seen a broad range of innovative pilot programmes this term. Our core partnership offer focuses on the delivery of countryside alternative provision for small numbers of local secondary school children who might otherwise face temporary or permanent exclusion from mainstream education. After two successful six-week pilots, 2023 will see the launch of an 11-week alternative provision programme with one of our key partner schools. It will take time to really measure the longterm impact of this work, but initial results suggest that well-tailored countryside centre programmes, delivered in a mutually beneficial, trusted, and meaningful partnership, can have a hugely positive and inspirational effect on all participants.

Another interesting development has been our work with Headway Oxfordshire – a wonderful local charity supporting the rehabilitation of adult brain injury survivors. It is medically proven that neuroplasticity requires stimulus in a safe environment, and it has been hugely satisfying to work with a small group of brain injury survivors this term – feeding and caring for our livestock, lighting campfires with a flint and steel, and shooting air rifles. The initial results of a five-week pilot with a small group certainly demonstrated the value of the centre in supporting the mental and physical rehabilitation of participants, with at least one commenting how it had boosted her wellbeing and enabled her to challenge herself in an unfamiliar environment. Given the results, 2023 will see the programme rolled out more formally. Other partnership initiatives have included a weekly Junior Farmers’ Programme with a local primary school, and several one-off events with other long-term or potential partners.

Of course, the day-to-day rhythm of the Countryside Centre has continued around all these activities. 2022 has seen the breeding of eighteen beagle puppies and ten lambs, the arrival (and subsequent departure) of four Oxford Sandy weaners and a very well-attended annual Radley College Beagles Puppy Show at the start of Festival 175. Legal hunting continues to be a popular sports choice for a small but enthusiastic group of Radleians, with successful trips to Dartmoor and Shropshire. In recent months our three Joint Masters (6.1 and 6.2 boys) were

congratulated also on their excellent showing of Radley hounds at both the Royal Three Counties and Wales and Border Counties Hound Shows, with a total of four 1st places, four 2nd places, one 3rd place and four 4th places –a terrific achievement from the only school pack to enter these prestigious hound shows, and a great credit to the Joint Masters, Kennel Huntsman and Master in Charge of Beagling. We remain hugely grateful to the beagling committee, ORs and parents whose support we are so reliant on.

All in all, it is a busy and exciting time in the evolution of the Countryside Centre.

A STROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE

Our boys returned from the Christmas holidays to be greeted by a new installation in Covered Passage. A colourful timeline documenting the life of Radley College from 1847 until the present day stretches from the Library to Hall and shares stories from our illustrious history. We spoke to Clare Sargent, College Archivist, who curated the project to find out more.

How did the project come about?

Something along these lines was first suggested about five years ago. The decor of Covered Passage was becoming very tired, and it was no longer the primary hub for notices. The notice boards along it weren’t being kept up to date which gave a very sorry feel to a key thoroughfare in the school. We also had nowhere that told the school’s story. So redesigning Covered Passage became a priority as part of Radley 175.

How did you decide what to include and, most importantly, what to leave out?

The design morphed as we worked on it. Originally, the timeline was just one part of a more complex layout which focussed on the current four pillars — People, Place, Purpose, Partnerships — but as we worked on it, it became clear there was so much that could go into the timeline, and that the timeline itself told the continuing story of those four pillars, that we jettisoned the original plans to give

ourselves something which was more fun and less ‘corporate.’

When I wrote ‘Untold Stories’ we had to cut the word count significantly. Five complete chapters were turned into five timelines — which became one of the methods of storytelling within the book. This meant that a lot of the groundwork on dates and significant school events had already been done. I began by researching lists of significant world events and matching them to what was happening in the school at the time — events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the escalation of the Cold War in the 1960s or the slow development of information technology and computers from the 1970s onwards that really impacts how we live, learn, and teach in 2023. Even the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 impacts us because it allowed the Bowyer family to move to Italy and to put the Mansion up for rent: without that we wouldn’t be here as Radley College at all.

Gradually, those world events were removed from the timeline itself, but they influenced what was chosen from school history. I also wanted to make sure this was the story of the entire community — men, women, boys, girls, athletes, scholars, poets, scientists, gardeners. Many people suggested names and events — too many to fit in — and some influential people didn’t make the final cut!

Do you have a favourite period/section?

I love the landscape history. I’ve worked a lot on Capability Brown in the 1770s and the work of the Natural History Society in 1906 and 1912, so I included trees and biodiversity. You can trace the story of College Oak as it keeps appearing as a constant in the timeline.

Who is the most interesting person in Radley’s history?

That depends on who you talk to. Interesting people are not necessarily the household names. Among the sportsmen I would say Theo Cook, Captain of the England Fencing Team in 1906 and an early developer of the Modern Olympic Games. On the arts side, Harold Monro, poet and creator of the Poetry Bookshop in Bloomsbury — where TS Eliot, Ezra Pound and Wilfred Owen all stayed or gave their earliest poetry readings. Among the scientists, Charles Howard, Earl of Suffolk and Berkshire, rescued Europe’s only supply of heavy water from Paris as the Germans entered the city in WW2 — disrupting their nuclear programme.

What are your future plans for the installation?

Watch out for the QR codes which will link an online version of the timeline to articles about specific events and people. The next project will do the same for the grounds.

NEWS

Power in Partnership

Artists in the Fifths took part in a collaboration with students from Broadway Academy. Together, they explored different religions and cultures, and created Mendhiinspired pastel drawings.

Radley Records Release

Physicists go Global

Congratulations to Hyunjo (6.1, J Social) and Roger (6.2, J Social) who took part in the International Young Physicists’ Tournament in Romania. They presented practical research on experimental problems and defended their work through questioning from other teams — akin to peer review in science journals.

Bebras Computing Challenge

Congratulations to Kaden (S, K Social) who achieved a perfect score of 200 in the Bebras Computing Challenge, a national computer science competition. Impressively, a quarter of the Radleians who took part achieved a Gold award, putting them in the top 10% nationally.

ESU Public Speaking

Congratulations to Mikolaj (V, G), Harkirat (V, L) and Blake (V, A) who have reached the regional final of the ESU Public Speaking Competition.

Nothing Ever Happened, the first release from Radley Records, our in-house record label, was played on BBC Music Introducing in October. Congratulations to Angus (2017, F Social), Louis (2017, F Social), Morgan (2017, F Social), Rohan (6.2, K Social) and Tolu (R, F Social).

The Richard Greed Cup

The Richard Greed Cup is a new award for the 6.2 boy who has epitomised the values of Radley Rugby’s ‘gentleman warrior’ ethos throughout their time at the College: humility, hard work and resilience. Congratulations to Nick (6.2, F Social) who was the inaugural winner.

£10 Business Challenge

Medical Lecture Competition

Congratulations to Warren (6.2, E Social) who won the Medical Lecture Competition. His lecture on the diagnosis and treatment of strokes was the unanimous choice of the judges, helping him to overcome stiff competition from Wycombe Abbey and Harrow.

Movember Heros

Sixth Form boys raised £8,059 for Movember, a charity supporting men’s health. Radley was the third highest fundraising school in the UK and Maths don, Chris Mason, was the highest individual fundraiser in a UK school. Congratulations to them all and thank you to those who donated.

Current Remove and Fifth boys took part in the £10 Business Challenge in the Summer term. They were encouraged to use their entrepreneurial skills to grow the money in aid of good causes. £16,422 was raised in total, with three boys raising more than £2,000 each. Special congratulations to Mace (R, A Social) who was able to donate £4,720.89 to a small charity in Thailand.

Chapel Awards

The extension of Chapel has won a plethora of awards in recent months. Most recently, the project was crowned ‘Supreme Winner’ at The Brick Awards – one of the most coveted accolades in the construction sector. Congratulations to Purcell, Edgars, Campbell Reith, Hoare Lee, Ridge & Partners, Northcot Bricks and all the subcontractors who brought the project to life.

Distinction for Geoffrey

Geoffrey (6.1, D Social) achieved an exceptional distinction (48/50) in his ABRSM Level 4 Diploma for the violin, a performance-focused qualification for musicians working beyond Grade 8 level. He is now an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music.

Marvellous Maths

Congratulations to Kelvin (R, C Social) who qualified for the second round of the British Mathematical Olympiad. This is only open to the top 100 school-age mathematicians in the country. The competition is targeted at Sixth Form students, so the fact Kevin has achieved this as a Remove is remarkable.

Opening of Shop

We were very pleased to announce the opening of Shop at the beginning of the academic year. Boys speak positively about the formal lunches each Social now has there on a rotational basis: a significant enhancement of our catering capabilities as well as a logistical necessity.

Skiing Success

The Last Adventure

After months of hard work, The Last Adventure was premiered in December. Congratulations to Arthur (6.2, E Social) who scripted and directed the production with a cast of actors from beyond Radley in the main roles, as well as some familiar faces.

VEX Robotics Championships

Congratulations to Freddie (6.1, K Social) who was awarded 2nd place in the Giant Slalom at the Independent Schools’ Skiing Championships. The competition was held in Sestriere, Italy and 241 boys competed in this category, highlighting the magnitude of this achievement. Freddie was awarded half colours for sport in recognition of his performance.

RAF Air Cadet Pilot Scholarship

Congratulations to Freddie (6.1, E Social) who completed his Royal Air Force Air Cadet Pilot Scheme over Michaelmas Leave-Away. The scholarship programme is designed for young people interested in a career as a pilot and takes place at RAF University Air Squadrons across the country.

Congratulations to Henry (6.1, J Social), Borys (6.2, F Social), Sam, Luke, and Leo (all 6.2, J Social) for reaching the National finals of the VEX Robotics UK National Championships with their robot, 84899A ‘Allen’.

Oxford and US College Offers

We are thrilled for the 12 boys who received offers from Oxbridge in January. Congratulations to Antonio (B), Daniel (F), Edmund (E), Gareth (C), Henry (H, 2017), Inha (F), Jack (A), Justin (G), Russell (C), Tom (H, 2017), Tom (F, 2017) and Will (B). Congratulations are also in order for Henry (H) and Hylton (K, 2017) for receiving early action acceptance to Harvard and Stanford respectively.

2022 LEAVERS’ DESTINATIONS

Other UK Destinations

UWE Bristol (1)

Cardiff Metropolitan University (1)

University of Essex (1)

University of Kent (1)

Lancaster University (1)

Loughborough University (2)

University of Nottingham (1)

Newcastle University (14)

Oxford Brookes University (6)

University of Plymouth (1)

Royal Agriculture University (1)

University of Birmingham (1)

University of Southampton (2)

University of Edinburgh (5)

Durham University (8)

University of Manchester (1)

University of Warwick (3)

Oxford University (9)

University of Bristol (9)

University of Exeter (7)

University of Strathclyde (1)

USA Destinations

University of North Carolina (1)

Harvard College (1)

Pomona College (1)

University of Virginia (1)

New York University (NYU) (1)

Other Destinations

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (1)

University of Bocconi, Milan (1)

University of the Arts London (1)

University College London (4)

Imperial College London (3)

LSE (1)

London Film Academy (1)