N E W S L E T T E R - Radley College
N E W S L E T T E R - Radley College
N E W S L E T T E R - Radley College
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Radley</strong><br />
The<br />
N e w s l e t t e r<br />
The New Socials<br />
The Piano Extravaganza<br />
English at <strong>Radley</strong><br />
The Duke of Edinburgh’s<br />
Award Scheme
2 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER<br />
tHE
NEW sOCIALS<br />
The new school year saw the opening of two new socials,<br />
the first for 80 years at <strong>Radley</strong>. They are highly individual<br />
buildings, each designed for 65 boys, with large public<br />
spaces, well appointed study/bedrooms, and interesting<br />
modern interpretations of <strong>Radley</strong>’s traditional Shell<br />
accommodation, social hall and cubicle. Particular<br />
features are the unusual windows, the modern shapes of<br />
wall, stairwell metal work and the Arts and Crafts tile<br />
hanging and gabling which set the two buildings apart<br />
from most other boarding houses built elsewhere.<br />
The rolls of J and K Social were created across the last<br />
academic year by boys volunteering from the original<br />
socials and indicating a wish to be this pioneer corps.<br />
They have been joined by a new entry of Shell arriving at<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> and going straight into J and K. The reaction of<br />
boys to their new surroundings has been overwhelmingly<br />
positive, despite the fact that the builders and fitters<br />
worked right up to the last afternoon of the summer<br />
holidays to get K Social finished. The challenge now for<br />
Mark Hindley (Tutor of J Social), Niall Murphy (Tutor<br />
of K Social) the respective Heads of Social (Sam Gundle,<br />
Dragon and Guy Chalk, Cothill) and the house prefects is<br />
to forge distinctive house identities across this academic<br />
year.<br />
THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER 3
english at radley<br />
English is the one thing we all have in<br />
common - not the nationality, of course,<br />
but the language. English is the ocean upon<br />
which all the vessels of our daily business<br />
float; the currency of all our social and<br />
professional transactions; the lead with<br />
which we attempt to draw a coherent picture<br />
of our lives; and the central ingredient of<br />
much of the entertainment and the comedy<br />
which flavour those lives. It is for our<br />
waking lives as the water is to the fish. Most<br />
of us use it, like oxygen, all day long without<br />
thinking much about it.<br />
This is not an evangelical manifesto<br />
about the primacy of English – far from it. It<br />
is merely an acknowledgement that there is<br />
a lot of language about, and when it comes<br />
to language, the English Department at<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> is rather like a child in a big sandpit.<br />
Language, surely, is for playing with and<br />
moulding and flinging about.<br />
The Creative Writing Group meets every<br />
Wednesday evening to do just that. Under<br />
the secretaryship of Sebastian Inglis-Jones<br />
(Dulwich <strong>College</strong> Prep, E Social), it has been<br />
one of the most exciting developments of the<br />
last couple of years. There is a core of about<br />
twenty boys, who meet each week for an<br />
hour to do lots of that playing and moulding<br />
and flinging about. As well as having a lot of<br />
fun, the boys have produced two anthologies<br />
of their own writing: ‘Fleet of Foot’ came<br />
out in January 2008, ‘I Want to Wake Up’ in<br />
May, and the third anthology will be out in<br />
October. The development in their writing<br />
over this period has been phenomenal, as<br />
has been their enthusiasm and commitment.<br />
One of the joys of it, as well, has been<br />
the mix of boys who are involved, from<br />
Oxbridge candidates to Set 7 Removes. In<br />
the Singleton Library, where the writing<br />
sessions happen, issues of<br />
year group and academic<br />
clout do not feature at all.<br />
There is a wonderful sense<br />
of a ‘writers’ community’,<br />
and the boys are all very<br />
proud of their work and of<br />
each other. There are also,<br />
of course, annual Creative<br />
Writing prizes: this year’s<br />
winners were Oliver Mann<br />
(Bilton Grange, D Social),<br />
Chris Sworder (Westminster<br />
Under School, E Social),<br />
and Cern Hoh (Garden<br />
International School, Kuala,<br />
E Social).<br />
This project has been<br />
enhanced by two visiting<br />
poets. In January we hosted<br />
a poet-in-residence for a<br />
week. Michael Laskey is the<br />
founder and editor of Smiths<br />
Knoll poetry magazine, and<br />
the founder of the highly<br />
acclaimed Aldeburgh Poetry<br />
Festival, as well as being a<br />
poet or rare warmth and insight. Michael<br />
conducted workshops with boys, staff,<br />
spouses, classes, individuals, the Creative<br />
Writing Group, in classrooms, houses,<br />
Mansion, inspiring wherever he went. He<br />
concluded his week with a beguiling reading<br />
of his own work - poems of wit, precision,<br />
and depth, short vignettes and longer<br />
meditations, all delivered with acuteness,<br />
warmth, and plenty of laughter. The fruits of<br />
Michael’s work with us are still in evidence,<br />
on display in the corridors, the Creative<br />
Writing Group Anthologies, the Chronicle,<br />
and the Radleian.<br />
Alastair Fatemi performs at the Creative Writing Group’s first public reading<br />
Poet Laureate and OR Andrew Motion, who will be visiting<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> in April 2009<br />
In June we were visited by the poet<br />
Peter Carpenter, who has published four<br />
collections of poetry, is a lecturer and teacher,<br />
and the founder of the influential Worple<br />
Press. He conducted an inspiring session<br />
with the Creative Writing Group, and then,<br />
to a packed Blue Room, delivered a reading<br />
full of vivacity, wit, and intelligence. The<br />
boys have also been to see Simon Armitage,<br />
who delivered a reading in Oxford earlier in<br />
the year. In November, we will be enjoying<br />
our best coup yet: Peter Sansom, who is the<br />
acknowledged guru of creative writing in<br />
England at the moment, will be our poetin-residence<br />
for a week, and we are all very<br />
excited indeed about his visit.<br />
Language is not only an art form,<br />
however. It is also a vital functional tool, and<br />
among the most useful activities we organise<br />
are the three annual Inter-Social Debating<br />
competitions in the Shell, Remove, and 6th<br />
Form years. Intensely contested heats run<br />
throughout all three terms, culminating in<br />
Finals in the Silk Hall, where the <strong>College</strong>’s<br />
best orators battle for the laurels in front of<br />
loud and partisan crowds.<br />
Declamations is yet another large-scale<br />
event that involves the whole of <strong>College</strong>,<br />
and culminates in a huge and impressive<br />
Final. In the Lent Term, every boy in <strong>College</strong><br />
memorises and delivers a ‘Declamation’ of<br />
at least 250 words, in either prose or verse.<br />
Once again, heats run for several weeks,<br />
before 30 finalists are selected. These then<br />
perform in a four-hour orgy of literature on<br />
one Monday morning, in front of a full house<br />
A Mealing<br />
4 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER
and a distinguished visiting adjudicator. The<br />
Reprise, which is a ‘Declamations Greatest<br />
Hits’, takes place a couple of weeks later, and<br />
is always one of the highlights of the term.<br />
Other literary events have been<br />
numerous. There is a very active Literary<br />
Society, largely run by boys who are either<br />
Oxbridge candidates, or simply interested in<br />
extending their study of the subject. In the<br />
Lent Term, we welcomed Dr Sos Elstis, who<br />
spoke with a wonderfully informal charm<br />
about contemporary drama, and in October<br />
we will be visited by Dr Ralph Townsend.<br />
The boys also prepare and deliver papers of<br />
their own.<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> claims three very distinguished<br />
literary alumni. Andrew Motion (A Social,<br />
1966) was appointed to succeed Ted Hughes<br />
as Poet Laureate in 1999, and has filled this<br />
difficult post with an extraordinarily gifted<br />
sensitivity. Before him, Harold Monro (D<br />
Social, 1892) became not only a distinguished<br />
poet in his own right, but was also a<br />
champion of new poetry, and the founder of<br />
Poetry Review magazine, which celebrates<br />
its 100th birthday next year, and to which<br />
the <strong>College</strong> still subscribes. It is one of the<br />
most widely circulated poetry periodicals<br />
in the country, and <strong>Radley</strong> is very proud to<br />
claim a kinship with it. September 2008 will<br />
see the launch, in his honour, of the Monro<br />
Michael Laskey, Poet in Residence, leading a poetry workshop<br />
Lecture series, and the inaugural lecture, to<br />
be delivered by the Head of English, will,<br />
fittingly, be on ‘The State of Contemporary<br />
Poetry’. In a rather different category, Peter<br />
Cook (C Social, 1951) left <strong>Radley</strong> to make his<br />
name first with the Cambridge Footlights,<br />
and then on radio and television as one of<br />
the most brilliant satirists and comedians<br />
of the post-war period. His sister Elizabeth,<br />
interestingly, has become a poet of note in<br />
her own right.<br />
As well as all the events on campus, the<br />
Department also run a staggering number<br />
of theatre trips, both to local theatres in<br />
Oxford, and also to London. Just in the last<br />
few months, boys have seen some of the best<br />
theatre that has been available: Kevin Spacey<br />
and Jeff Goldblum in David Mamet’s ‘Speed<br />
the Plow’; Zoe Wanamaker in Tennessee<br />
Williams’ ‘The Rose Tattoo’; Jonathan<br />
Pryce in Mamet’s ‘Glengarry Glenross’;<br />
Tim Piggott-Smith in Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’;<br />
Sam West’s production of Patrick Marber’s<br />
‘Dealer’s Choice’; Patrick Stewart in<br />
‘Macbeth’ and ‘The Tempest’; and this is only<br />
the short end of a long list. The Shells and<br />
Removes are routinely taken to the Globe in<br />
the summer, and of course the Department<br />
proudly supports all the excellent in-house<br />
drama which takes place under the superb<br />
guidance of the Drama Department.<br />
From our bright, light, purpose-built<br />
space in the new David Rae Smith building,<br />
the boys and staff of the English Department<br />
continue to play with, and explore, the<br />
language which is both our bread and butter<br />
and our caviar.<br />
Peter Cook (left) as Doll Common in the <strong>College</strong> production of ‘The Alchemist’ by Ben Jonson, 1954<br />
Chris Ellot<br />
Head of English<br />
THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER 5
adley achievements<br />
Academic<br />
■ This year <strong>Radley</strong>, along with Eton,<br />
Winchester and St Paul’s, decided not<br />
to publish exam results until November,<br />
when appeals and remarks are completed.<br />
Nevertheless the raw results already show<br />
that the 2008 A Level candidates exceeded<br />
the previous record at A/B of 2007 (90.06%)<br />
and even more impressively 2 out of every 3<br />
A Level papers was an A grade. 65 out of the<br />
122 candidates achieved 3 A grades or more;<br />
9 boys attained 5 A grades and 2 managed<br />
6 A grades. A number of them gained<br />
marks in the top 10 for their respective<br />
subject nationally: Rory van Zwanenberg<br />
(Moulsford, g), Alex Rose (Thomas’s<br />
Clapham, c), Jonathan Lam (La Salle <strong>College</strong>,<br />
Hong Kong, b), Harry Devonshire (Twyford,<br />
a), Arthur Laidlaw (Dragon, h), James Curtis<br />
Hayward (Pilgrim’s, a) and Harry Kershaw<br />
(Twyford, d).<br />
■ At GCSE Radleians came close to the 81%<br />
A*/A of 2007; especially notable was that<br />
large numbers of 5th Formers got A grade<br />
in AS French, and gained top marks in AS<br />
Maths modules, exams designed for 6th<br />
Formers.<br />
■ The ISI Inspection of February 2008<br />
accorded <strong>Radley</strong> the highest accolade,<br />
‘outstanding’, in every category. It found<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> to be ‘markedly successful in the<br />
education it provides’, it commented on<br />
‘the outstanding quality of academic<br />
achievement’, that the pupils’ ‘learning was<br />
excellent’, and that they were ‘welcoming,<br />
polite, articulate, full of enthusiasm and<br />
commitment’. The quality of their pastoral<br />
care was ‘outstanding’, as was the teaching<br />
which was ‘inspirational’.<br />
The firework Gaudy in July capped a year<br />
of great achievement at <strong>Radley</strong>.<br />
biography of Blair; Tony Baldry MP on<br />
Conservative Prospects; Sir John Nott on<br />
the Falklands war 25 years on. Across the<br />
year, guest speakers came to speak to the<br />
societies run by individual departments;<br />
notable was Lord Hurd on his specialism,<br />
‘Sir Robert Peel’.<br />
■ The annual 6.2 Conference with The<br />
School of St Helen and St Katharine in<br />
November (now in its 11th year) was a<br />
noted success. The topic was ‘The Challenge<br />
of China’ and a group of distinguished<br />
China experts talked about Maoist legacy<br />
and history, and future trends.<br />
Activities<br />
■ The Wednesday Afternoon Activities<br />
scheme is well established. The 5th Formers<br />
continue to visit hospitals, teach in Primary<br />
Schools and deliver ‘Instant Muscle’ to<br />
elderly <strong>Radley</strong> Villagers. The Concert<br />
Parties visited over 20 residential homes<br />
Mrs J Gilbert<br />
across Oxford and Abingdon and hosted<br />
over 100 elderly local people in the Silk Hall<br />
concluding with rousing community singing<br />
led by Suzie-Louise Naylor.<br />
■ A good deal of Charitable Activity has<br />
gone on this year, most notably the school<br />
sponsored walk back in September; over<br />
600 walkers covered the 20 mile route for a<br />
range of charities raising well over £48,000<br />
in the process. Common Room has led<br />
the way – Angus McChesney swam the<br />
Channel in c.12 hours and raised £60,000<br />
for Leukaemia Research; Dr Tim Morris<br />
played all Bach’s Organ works in an 18<br />
hour marathon and raised over £15,000;<br />
the Warden and Mrs McPhail ran the<br />
Paris marathon and Harry Hammond<br />
the London marathon for charity. But the<br />
boys were not outdone: Freddie Tapner<br />
(Ludgrove, f), Hugo Walker (The Elms, b)<br />
and John Crisp (Dragon, f) helped raise<br />
£150,000 by taking part in a challenge to<br />
ski every piste in Meribel dressed in <strong>Radley</strong><br />
gowns. They succeeded and beat Eton.<br />
<strong>Radley</strong>’s charitable enterprises have raised<br />
£166,822 this year.<br />
■ There has once again been a broad<br />
range of expeditions: the Shells invaded<br />
Normandy for the 18th year running; the<br />
rugby players toured New Zealand before<br />
the season began; the cricketers toured<br />
South Africa; the elite crews trained at<br />
Bagnoles, in Spain. The musicians visited<br />
Berlin and Leipzig, the artists and a<br />
selection of Theatre Studies students visited<br />
New York, the linguists visited Barcelona<br />
and Paris. Meanwhile a host of theatre<br />
visits, field trips, exhibition visits took place<br />
across the year.<br />
■ It was the last Declamations for which<br />
Charles Hastings was at the helm. Arthur<br />
House OR judged it and it was a memorable<br />
morning. The 6.2 year group was especially<br />
strong and any of the finalists could<br />
have won. The winners were: Alex Rose<br />
(Thomas’s Clapham, c), 6.2; Hugo Walker<br />
(The Elms, b), 6.1; Alex Murison (Dragon,<br />
b), 5; Alex Donger (Dragon, j), R; Tommy<br />
Siman (Abingdon Prep, h), S.<br />
■ It has been an impressive year for<br />
visiting speakers. The 6.2 Lecture cycle saw<br />
OR parents speaking – Rory Tapner and<br />
George Bailey – parents, like Sam Laidlaw,<br />
Chairman of Centrica, on Energy policy,<br />
and a host of others on a wide range of<br />
subjects. Oliver James on his best seller<br />
‘Affluenza’; Charlie Mayfield OR on John<br />
Lewis; Dr Anthony Seldon on his acclaimed<br />
The sponsored walk<br />
6 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER
& activities in 2007/8<br />
Angus McChesney’s sponsored channel swim<br />
■ The CCF hosted a Biennial<br />
Inspection in October. The inspecting<br />
officers were much impressed by the<br />
enthusiasm and turnout of the boys,<br />
and the energy of the CCF officers. This<br />
was Richard Pollard’s last inspection,<br />
commander of the contingent for 23<br />
years; it was also John Wylie’s last after<br />
38 years of close involvement. George<br />
Stinton (Sandroyd, d) won the Royal<br />
Marines’ Commando Scholarship,<br />
Angus Dickson (Belhaven Hill, g) and<br />
Will Bromfield (Cothill, e) won Army<br />
Scholarships.<br />
■ There has been much ‘activity’ on the<br />
development front at <strong>Radley</strong>; As well<br />
as the two new Socials, a Real Tennis<br />
Court has been opened and the Sports<br />
Centre upgraded.<br />
■ Radleians once again built a house on<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> Road in Kerala.<br />
Arts<br />
■ The very highest standards of Drama<br />
have been set this year by Director<br />
Robert Lowe. ‘West Side Story’ was<br />
an exceptional production with<br />
exemplary teamwork (Robert Lowe’s<br />
direction; Stephen Clarke’s music; Matt<br />
Hawksworth’s choreography; Matt<br />
Barker’s technical management) and<br />
some outstanding performances, notably<br />
Alex Rose (Thomas’s Clapham, c) as<br />
Tony, Theo Whitworth (Aldro, c) as<br />
Riff, Fred Rowe (Cothill, a) as Bernardo.<br />
The ensemble acting, and freshness<br />
and precision of the dance, made for<br />
an electric production. Equally, two<br />
talented 6th Form Theatre Studies<br />
groups developed strong, compelling<br />
work for their examination pieces –<br />
‘Pillowman’ by 6.2 was memorable.<br />
The Removes put on an excellent<br />
‘Scarlet Pimpernel’, the Shells ‘With<br />
Intent’ (6.1s directed), and the dons a<br />
most professional performance, Reza’s<br />
‘Art’. The future is in safe hands – the<br />
Shells’ Haddon Cup was as good as it<br />
has ever been. Three Radleians have<br />
been selected for the National Youth<br />
Theatre: Rory Stallibrass (Milbourne<br />
Lodge, c) for the 3rd year; Ollie Mann<br />
(Bilton Grange, d); Max Bullen-Smith<br />
(Brambletye, e).<br />
■ The Art Department has had another<br />
good year. The boys’ art has colonised<br />
public spaces across the school and<br />
the new socials. A number of boys are<br />
studying Art abroad in their GAP years<br />
and Nick Bethell (Bramcote, c) has<br />
gained a place at Leith School of Art and<br />
Design. Old Radleian Charlie Langton<br />
(Pinewood, g) had a one man show of<br />
his equine work at Tryon Gallery. The<br />
department has hosted six exhibitions<br />
this academic year, most notably the<br />
‘Three Generations of Artists’ show of<br />
the Morris-Adams/Laidlaw family.<br />
■ Music is stronger at <strong>Radley</strong> than<br />
ever. The Chapel Choir, supported by<br />
our Choristers, sing a wide range of<br />
choral music each Sunday in Chapel<br />
and to a very high standard. Their<br />
Mozart Requiem on November 11th<br />
was memorable. Two boys – Greg<br />
Williams (Norman Court, c) and Rory<br />
Stallibrass (Milbourne Lodge, c) – won<br />
Choral Awards to Cambridge. At the<br />
top of the school there is a rich seam<br />
of talent; C Social’s part song singers<br />
were exceptional, as have been the<br />
pianists Greg Williams and Jamie Brown<br />
(Caldicott, d). Greg Williams and Rory<br />
Robinson (Twyford, f) have competed<br />
in the BBC Young Musician of the<br />
Year competition. Concert highlights<br />
were the Berlin/Leipzig Concert, the<br />
Warden’s Music (over 100 performers)<br />
and the Piano Extravaganza (7 pianos,<br />
up to 21 performers at a time, 70<br />
pianists in total). Winners of the Music<br />
Prizes were: Organ: Freddie Tapner<br />
(Ludgrove, f); Hudson String: Gregory<br />
Williams; Ferguson Singing: Theo<br />
Whitworth; Wharton Piano: Gregory<br />
Williams; Guitar: Alex Donger (Dragon,<br />
j); Woodwind Senior: Rory Robinson<br />
(Twyford, f); Woodwind Junior: Tom<br />
Bennett (Hall Grove, a); Brass Senior:<br />
Andrew Savill (King’s Hall, g); Brass<br />
Performance: Andrew Barrie (Horris<br />
Hill, e).<br />
Alaistair Hope-Morley in Kerala<br />
West Side Story<br />
THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER 7
Sport<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> continues to play its sport seriously<br />
but a central feature is that we turn out so<br />
many teams at weekends. In rugby, against<br />
Tonbridge and Harrow 22 XVs competed;<br />
in the Lent term there were sometimes 19<br />
Hockey XIs, 10 Soccer XIs and a number<br />
of rowing VIIIs competing at the same<br />
time. In the Summer Term up to 19<br />
Cricket XIs, 10 Rowing VIIIs, Tennis VIs<br />
and Athletics teams compete on the same<br />
Saturday afternoon. The new Real Tennis<br />
court makes the choice of sports still more<br />
diverse.<br />
■ Much good rugby was played; 70% of<br />
matches were won. The 1st XV was stricken<br />
with injury, but it still achieved a remarkable<br />
last gasp victory over Harrow when Tom<br />
Atkinson (Elstree, g) kicked a final minute<br />
50 metre penalty. The Colts, Junior Colts<br />
and Midgets 1st XVs (indeed Midgets 2nd<br />
and 3rd XVs as well) lost only a handful of<br />
matches between them. It was a source of<br />
pride, too, to see 2 recent ORs, Chris Lewis<br />
(Pinewood, h) and James Lumby (Caldicott,<br />
g) winning blues for Cambridge in the<br />
Varsity Match – James scored an impressive<br />
try to clinch the match.<br />
■ Hockey is arguably <strong>Radley</strong>’s strongest<br />
sport at present. The 1st XI lost once<br />
(following 2007’s unbeaten season) and<br />
showed great team work under Charlie<br />
Wood’s (Dragon, e) captaincy; the wins<br />
against strong Charterhouse, Marlborough<br />
and Bradfield teams were especially<br />
satisfying. Against Cheltenham, Bradfield<br />
and St Edward’s only one match was lost<br />
across the club.<br />
The new Real Tennis Court<br />
Nick Gubbins batting for the Midgets 1st XI<br />
■ Cricket has been strong especially in<br />
the bottom three years of the school; the<br />
1st XI has had its moments with good<br />
wins over Bradfield, Stowe, Marlborough<br />
and Abingdon and a century for Henry<br />
Mills (Harrodian, e) against Tonbridge,<br />
but the stars of the club have been Colts<br />
1st and 2nd XI and the Midgets sides<br />
from 1st XI down to 7th XI. A number<br />
of centuries have been recorded, notably<br />
5 100s by Nick Gubbins (Elstree, h) for<br />
Midgets 1st XI. It has been especially<br />
satisfying that 11 out of 15 matches<br />
against Harrow, 14 out of 16 against<br />
Marlborough, and all the matches against<br />
Abingdon, were won.<br />
■ RCBC continues to be strong. The 1st<br />
VIII just missed the medals at the National<br />
Schools (4th) but won at Bedford. J16A<br />
and J14A won Silver and Bronze at the<br />
National Schools. There has been depth at<br />
the top of the club reflected in a good 2nd<br />
VIII and at J15 level where 5 crews have<br />
competed. It was good to see Oli Moore<br />
(St Hugh’s, e) win his Oxford blue in a<br />
crushing win in the Boat Race. He and Tom<br />
Parker (Pilgrim’s, h) are in the GB squad.<br />
■ In Soccer the Junior Colts and Colts<br />
squads did especially well, and the 1st XI<br />
reached the Crusader Cup semi-finals.<br />
■ The Steeplechase took place for the first<br />
time in November: Archie Vey (Farleigh, b)<br />
won the Senior race in record time, Oscar<br />
Richards (St Ronan’s, h) won the Inter, and<br />
Theo Bromfield (Cothill, a) the Junior races.<br />
■ George Pitcher (Cothill, b), Kit Bicket<br />
(Maidwell, j), Josh Rencher (Abingdon, d),<br />
Guy Scott (Summer Fields, d), Jordan<br />
Reeve (Pinewood, d), Henry Barker (Aldro,<br />
d) and James Fournier (Ludgrove, f) all<br />
received RYA competent crew awards<br />
during a 5 day Easter cruise on the all Sail<br />
Pilot Cutter the Jolie Brise.<br />
■ The Real Tennis Team won the National<br />
Schools’ title as did the 2nd pair.<br />
■ Harry Collard (Summer Fields, f)<br />
competed in the British Skiing<br />
Championships.<br />
■ A number of <strong>Radley</strong> Beagles won best<br />
in class at the South of England Show.<br />
8 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER
the<br />
Duke of EdinbuRgh’s<br />
Award Scheme<br />
The Golden Year of celebrations for<br />
the 50th Anniversary of the Duke of<br />
Edinburgh will long remain in our<br />
memory and in the new <strong>Radley</strong> D. of E.<br />
Centre, we continue to admire with pride<br />
the Duke’s Certificate of Thanks that was<br />
presented to us at Buckingham Palace<br />
by Her Majesty the Queen. As ever, our<br />
Award Operating Authority has continued<br />
to go from strength to strength. We have<br />
always operated a softly softly approach<br />
without glitzy publicity campaigns but<br />
with participants usually signing up on a<br />
word-of-mouth basis. It is well known that<br />
the best D. of E. participant is the one who<br />
has a good understanding of the Award’s<br />
slogan “Make it make you make it”. He<br />
is someone who has the determination<br />
to tackle every challenge and to win<br />
through. He is focused and willing to<br />
show commitment. He has initiative, an<br />
awareness of others and is selfless with<br />
his time. This is what the Radleian D.of<br />
E. men are like for the most part and<br />
one has only to look through the list of<br />
achievements in all four sections of the<br />
Award to see evidence of their strength of<br />
character.<br />
The Service Section has been one of the<br />
most popular aspects of the Award. We<br />
have raised hundreds of pounds through<br />
our various charity (or what we call ‘Fun-<br />
Draising’) events including for example<br />
sky-diving, fun runs in Oxford, five-a-side<br />
football marathons, sponsored walks and<br />
cycle rides, cake sales in Covered Passage.<br />
We have also worked our magic at the local<br />
village Fête! Many of our participants are<br />
now first-class first-aiders thanks to the<br />
Award and our involvement with various<br />
community action projects in the Nuffield<br />
and JR hospitals has been most useful. The<br />
work of our D. of E. team has also been<br />
much appreciated at primary schools in the<br />
area, painting murals, teaching little people<br />
about computers, helping with games and<br />
setting up a library to name just a few of the<br />
recent missions.<br />
With all the wonderful facilities around<br />
them, Radleians could be tempted to try<br />
to ‘cruise’ through the Skills and Physical<br />
Recreation Sections of the Award. They<br />
are therefore encouraged where possible to<br />
try a new activity and it is really refreshing<br />
when a participant opts for something<br />
different like dulcimer-playing, conjuring,<br />
fishing or car-maintenance. We also now<br />
have some very promising chefs in our<br />
ranks!<br />
The Expedition Section has always<br />
been the most challenging aspect of the<br />
Award for Radleians, and I am sure that<br />
the song-line “When the going gets tough,<br />
the tough get going” has often reverberated<br />
in their ears whether they are heading up<br />
yet another tor in Dartmoor, doing battle<br />
with a recalcitrant tent with attitude in<br />
Cold Aston (cold by name, cold by nature)<br />
or going squelching along the footpath to<br />
Appleton Weir.<br />
The sun may have set on the Jubilee<br />
Year but a new era of challenges has<br />
dawned. From September 2008, the Award<br />
will be officially renamed ‘The D. of E.’ –<br />
and about time too, you may say! There<br />
will be brand new logos, for example, as<br />
well as up-dated section names and an<br />
‘e DofE’ management site that will help<br />
participants to complete their award<br />
electronically without the paperwork. We<br />
await the evolution with keen anticipation!<br />
Janie Wright<br />
i/c Duke of Edinburgh’s Award<br />
THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER 9
If you haven’t<br />
got the tune<br />
then PLAY<br />
QUIETLY!<br />
a few weeks and often talk of a year’s<br />
sabbatical, the adrenalin rush and<br />
excitement at the end of the concert<br />
inevitably finds us enthusiastically<br />
committing to yet another. Especially<br />
as, now entering its ninth year, the<br />
Extravaganza has become one of the most<br />
attended and talked about musical events<br />
in the year.<br />
There have been some wonderful<br />
moments. Outstanding <strong>Radley</strong> pianists<br />
such as Jonathan Bridcut (Pilgrim’s,<br />
G Social) (in the first ever Piano<br />
Extravaganza), James Hallinan (Lockers<br />
Park, D Social), James Fryer (Elstree, E<br />
Social), Jonny Williams (Westbourne<br />
House, H Social), Gregory Williams<br />
(Norman Court, C Social) and Jamie<br />
I suppose the blame might be put squarely<br />
on the shoulders of that most poetic<br />
of harpsichordists Sophie Yates, whose<br />
teaching and beautiful playing enhanced<br />
music at <strong>Radley</strong> in the late 90s. For some<br />
years <strong>Radley</strong> had put on concerts of<br />
duet, trio and multiple piano music, all<br />
commercially available and fun, but pieces<br />
for more than two pianos or pianists are<br />
sadly rare and limited to a few lollipops.<br />
Upon hearing one of these multiple-piano<br />
concerts however the lively grey cells of the<br />
then Precentor, John Madden, a composer<br />
and arranger of renown and talent, and<br />
myself began to work overtime. With the<br />
haunting melody of the Aria from the<br />
Goldberg Variations emanating from the<br />
fingers of Sophie we put two and two<br />
together and made 21 pianists, 7 pianos and<br />
a harpsichord.<br />
Thus the Extravaganza was born and<br />
the first original, arranged performance<br />
involving almost all the pianists at<br />
the school (dons, teachers and boys)<br />
became a reality; pianists at all levels of<br />
ability were enthusiastically conscripted,<br />
sorry, encouraged, to play in a complete<br />
performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.<br />
It began with a solitary harpsichord, the<br />
variations were for various combinations<br />
of pianists at two to six pianos and it<br />
culminated in a final Aria for 21 pianists,<br />
7 pianos and a harpsichord, gradually<br />
thinning out to leave the solo harpsichord.<br />
Never before had <strong>Radley</strong> heard anything<br />
like this, I still remember the final moving<br />
moments to this day, and it put us firmly<br />
on the Independent School musical map for<br />
keyboard playing and innovative musical<br />
programming.<br />
The birth of each Extravaganza is not<br />
a painless process however; the labour is<br />
long and intense. John Madden delivers his<br />
stunning and inspired arrangements after<br />
many weeks of work, just late enough for us<br />
to start panicking about learning our notes<br />
and focusing the minds of the boys who,<br />
with good will and careful organisation<br />
attend the myriad of rehearsals scheduled<br />
within the final two weeks, often at the<br />
most obscure times up to 10.30pm. The<br />
conscientious way nearly all attend is<br />
brilliant (albeit helped along by free Coke<br />
and crisps) but even so, what rehearsals<br />
we can fit in disappear too quickly with a<br />
blur of emails, reminders, sore backs (after<br />
moving the pianos around each night),<br />
intense and detailed ensemble coaching<br />
and the annual cry (now almost a motto<br />
of the event) ‘if you haven’t got the tune<br />
then please play quietly’.<br />
There is so little rehearsal time with<br />
the pianos all in one venue (usually 3 days,<br />
we simply can’t spare them from practice<br />
rooms for longer) but it may surprise<br />
most non-performers that the hardest<br />
part of all is learning to play piano or<br />
pianissimo in the context of the ensemble.<br />
It does not come easily to pianists, so<br />
used to playing on their own, the centre<br />
of attention, and not having to consider<br />
dynamic balance with other musicians.<br />
Equally, not being able to hear your own<br />
part beneath the sound of those who<br />
enthusiastically sing out their tune is quite<br />
tricky, almost like playing a silent piano.<br />
Added to this is the challenge of hearing<br />
the other pianists across the hall from you;<br />
even the ‘professionals’ amongst us have<br />
come unstuck here. The formula is simple<br />
(play the accompaniment really quietly<br />
and project the melody) but the ensemble<br />
and listening skills are subtle and complex<br />
especially for pianists who, for the most<br />
part, play in solitary confinement. The<br />
end result however is almost always fun,<br />
often accomplished and occasionally<br />
musically inspiring for players and<br />
audience alike.<br />
Whilst we live life ‘on the edge’ for<br />
10 THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER
Brown (Caldicott, D Social) together<br />
with the colourful playing of Adrian<br />
Pascu (Wirral Grammar, B Social)<br />
and the shoulder-dancing of Rory Van<br />
Zwanenberg (Moulsford, G Social) to<br />
name a few have all contributed to a sense<br />
of festival. They have also performed<br />
alongside the professionals on the staff<br />
in some very tricky and challenging<br />
arrangements, which have both excited<br />
and charmed the packed Silk Hall. More<br />
rewarding still however has been the<br />
playing of much less experienced pianists<br />
such as Angus Anderson (Cothill, B<br />
Social) who, with probably twice the<br />
work and commitment of those of us who<br />
make it our career, played in the 2007<br />
Extravaganza having only been learning<br />
the piano for 5 weeks!<br />
‘But playing the piano is such<br />
a solitary activity’ is the oft-heard<br />
comment from parents. Not at <strong>Radley</strong>;<br />
<strong>Radley</strong> is unique. Unique in my<br />
understanding, in having up to seven<br />
pianos to roll into one concert hall each<br />
year, certainly the only Independent<br />
School to put on an annual concert<br />
which consists entirely of pianists of all<br />
abilities performing in piano ensembles,<br />
and possibly the only school to reach the<br />
lofty heights of 21 pianists at 7 pianos.<br />
Unique in commissioning each year over<br />
50 minutes of music for piano ensembles<br />
and in involving up to 70 pianists of<br />
all abilities from pre-Grade 1 to the<br />
experienced professionals.<br />
Other schools have tried to copy but<br />
fallen at the first hurdle in a ‘never to be<br />
repeated’ single concert item, normally<br />
‘borrowed’ from us whilst, at <strong>Radley</strong>, and<br />
after a deep intake of breath, a quick run<br />
around the block and a few bribes we<br />
enthusiastically head towards our ninth<br />
and tenth extravaganzas. The thoughts are<br />
for something a little more Classical next<br />
year and the 10th celebration will be ‘The<br />
Best of...’<br />
After this, perhaps time for something<br />
new.....I wonder where we can get another<br />
10 pianos from??<br />
Anthony Williams<br />
Head of Instrumental Music<br />
THE RADLEIAN NEWSLETTER 11
adleians<br />
Fred Rowe (OR, ex Head of A Social)<br />
Cothill<br />
It is Sunday 6th July 2008, and I have just finished<br />
school. The evening Gaudy that I enjoyed last<br />
night was an incredible experience, and really<br />
summarised in one night everything that I have<br />
loved about this school. Staring out across <strong>College</strong><br />
Lake, watching the magnificent fireworks with<br />
a group of close friends I could not have been<br />
happier, despite the rain! It seems an awfully long<br />
time since I started 5 years ago, timidly entering<br />
into A Social for the first time.<br />
The scope of extra curricular activities has<br />
been phenomenal. I have been lucky enough<br />
be part of some great sports teams - including<br />
Mr Matthew’s celebrated unbeaten 3rd XV of<br />
the 2007 season. It was a real honour to captain<br />
a side with such fantastic spirit and although<br />
we were obviously not the finest rugby players<br />
in the school every single member of the team<br />
became dedicated to the team’s cause. Over the<br />
years I have also had the chance to perform in<br />
both the old and new theatres. A real highlight<br />
for me though has been the 2007 production<br />
of West Side Story, in which I had the privilege<br />
of playing a large role. It was amazing. The<br />
professional nature of the whole production was<br />
an opportunity that I doubt I will ever be lucky<br />
enough to experience again, and I am so thankful<br />
to all those involved.<br />
For the last year I have been head of A<br />
Social, which has been a real honour, and<br />
though it has at times been stressful, it has<br />
been a position that I have absolutely relished.<br />
It has helped me to see <strong>Radley</strong> <strong>College</strong> in<br />
its very best light, where all the year groups<br />
get along harmoniously. I have loved living<br />
in A Social. The atmosphere has suited me<br />
perfectly, and Mr Rathbone, Mr Langton and<br />
Miss Briggs, have understood the needs of<br />
Social completely. I know that Mr.Rathbone<br />
will be sorely missed, though I am sure that<br />
Mr Ryder will continue to keep A Social at the<br />
forefront of <strong>Radley</strong> life, and will do a great job<br />
as Tutor. The fact though that I have always<br />
been able to get along with all years in my<br />
Social sums up the <strong>Radley</strong> ethos of strong<br />
community spirit.<br />
I am often asked the seemingly<br />
innocuous question: “What do you think<br />
is the best feature at <strong>Radley</strong>?” I always find<br />
myself answering with the pretty infuriating<br />
response - everything. The answer is<br />
everything, because I have found that<br />
Radleians are extremely lucky in the way we<br />
can use the <strong>College</strong> as a springboard to excel<br />
at so many different things. For example, I<br />
have been given the opportunity to dabble<br />
in a plethora of different opportunities and<br />
activities, from the games circus all those years<br />
ago in my first term, to careers’ seminars, and a<br />
host of thought provoking lectures in my sixth<br />
form years. All in all I will always look back<br />
upon my <strong>Radley</strong> years with fondness, knowing<br />
that the School has helped me to make, I hope,<br />
the most of the chances I have been given to<br />
date. <strong>Radley</strong> has provided me with 5 highly<br />
enjoyable years, and for that I will be forever<br />
indebted. I have made some fantastic friends,<br />
and I feel prepared for the next steps of my life.<br />
Freddie Rendall (Shell)<br />
HALL GROVE<br />
My first week at <strong>Radley</strong> has been, to put it<br />
mildly, packed to the brim, with activities,<br />
sports trials, lessons, and much much more.<br />
I remember driving up Chestnut Avenue for<br />
the first time, only a week ago, yet it seems like<br />
several.<br />
The first few days have been especially busy,<br />
with lessons to find, names to learn, bouts of<br />
Inter-Social Tug of War to win, (which of course<br />
we did!!), and much more. One particularly<br />
enjoyable aspect of my first week has been the<br />
Shell Games Circus. This is a selection of out of<br />
the ordinary sports, that encourages Shells to try<br />
new sports. Having never played many of the<br />
sports on offer, I was really looking forward to<br />
this opportunity, and disappoint me it did not.<br />
Real Tennis, Squash, Rackets, the list is certainly<br />
impressive.<br />
Life in social has been particularly<br />
enjoyable, and in my opinion, is one of the most<br />
valuable experiences that <strong>Radley</strong> has to offer.<br />
During my first week, I have made some really<br />
close friends in Social. However, one of the<br />
nicest things I have found, is the relationship<br />
between the new boys, and those who have been<br />
here for longer. Older boys are always on hand<br />
to help with finding lessons, prep, and also with<br />
mundane matters, such as when to put your<br />
washing in.<br />
One of the highlights of my first week at<br />
<strong>Radley</strong>, has been my first weekend at school.<br />
Having come from a weekly boarding school,<br />
I was new to this exciting experience. And I<br />
was certainly not disappointed. After games<br />
on Saturday, I rushed off to the squash courts,<br />
to have our induction. Having done that, we<br />
stripped off our games socks, and collapsed in<br />
front of the TV, to watch the X Factor!<br />
Then, we were ushered off to cocoa, with<br />
Chrissie (our pastoral house mistress). This is a<br />
very enjoyable experience, especially when the<br />
whole of the social comes together. It is a chance<br />
to catch up with friends, and generally to relax.<br />
Then, we were shepherded upstairs by the prefect<br />
on duty, and slowly we all dozed off, after an<br />
exhausting few days.<br />
Sunday is one of my favourite days, because<br />
on Sunday, we are allowed to lie-in! I finally<br />
conquered the desire to go back to sleep at 9:00,<br />
and slowly made my way to Breakfast. After<br />
Chapel, we had yet another new sport to try, (this<br />
time, it was rackets), before heading to ‘Pups’<br />
Field,’ for the Inter-Social Tug of War. We fought<br />
bravely, and ended up winning the prestigious<br />
title. We then gathered for a celebratory barbecue<br />
in front of Mansion. It was a brilliant win, and<br />
the perfect way to cap off a very busy, and very<br />
enjoyable first week at <strong>Radley</strong>.<br />
12 THE RADLey NEWSLETTER Website: www.radley.org.uk . Admissions enquiries: 01235 543174 . admissions@radley.org.uk