Recently, we celebrated the opening of the new Music School at Radley College – a project that has taken over 18 months and 65,000 bricks. It’s a testament to the enduring centrality of music to Radley life - from organ and choir to jazz and big band.

In this episode, we delve into the rich history of Music at Radley College, led by Archivist Clare Sargent and with contributions from current and former staff, and alumni.

For a Radleian, there are nearly five hours of hunger between breakfast and lunch, and another five from lunch to supper. The only remedy? Shop. Join us as we journey through over 170 years of Shop, one of Radley’s best-known and most-loved institutions.

‘Jam Money’ could be spent on all sorts of treats, from Wagon Wheels and Cola, to ice cream and egg mayo sarnies. The iconic chicken roll had boys racing to join the queue for Shop at 10.44am throughout the 1990s.

Clare Sargent, Radley Archivist, leads the discussion, and ORs chip in with their own memories to help us build a rich and personal oral history.

This episode of Radley Then & Now looks at life at Radley College in the 1960s. The sixties are remembered as an era of rebellion and transformation: in society, science and the arts. But did these revolutions cause ripples on College Pond? Were Radleians taking giant leaps, twisting and shouting, or boldly going where no Radleian had gone before? Hear from College Archivist Clare Sargent and a lively gathering of Old Radleians and former dons.

ORs and members of the Radley College community join College Archivist, Clare Sargent, to discuss the history of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF).

From its beginnings at the turn of the 20th Century, the Officer Training Corps (OTC, later CCF) has been a central part of the Radley College experience. We've been gathering memories of the CCF for the last few months.

Lots of square-bashing, mud, camping on Brecon and boot-polishing. Vivid memories of a brief time in every Radleian's life. Some went on to military careers ... others vowed never to wear a uniform again.

But there was a more serious side too: Radley's first cadets were fast-tracked through officer training and out into the trenches of WW1. Later, through the Cold War of the 1950s, as National Service continued, the cadet corps was still the last line of defence.

This event took place on 12th November 2024.

Radley College has been involved in the Olympics since the inauguration of the modern games by Pierre de Coubertin in 1894. Theodore Cook, OR, was an enthusiastic supporter of the movement and served on the IOC from 1909 until 1915. He used his influence as a classicist, journalist and sportsman to promote the ideas of sport for all and peaceful international cooperation. He encouraged many boys from the school to help with the first London Olympics as ground staff and stewards. Old Radleians, teaching staff and parents have been involved in the Olympics ever since.

We were lucky to be joined on this call by Old Radleian Olympians David Lewis (1949, D), Bill McCowen (1950, F), and Mark Hayter (1963, G).

This is a recording of an event which took place on Tuesday 21st May 2024.

With its roots in the 1940s, the Marionette Society produced more famous ORs than any other aspect of Radley life - from Oscar winners to professional puppeteers, theatre directors to senior civil servants. It is the only society which encompassed all the creative and performance arts - sculpture, costumes, lighting, woodworking, sound, orchestra. The only society to perform complete Mozart operas.

For more than 40 years it dominated, indeed engulfed, the lives of those involved, boys, dons, musicians, Radley's resident girls. The modern Radleian may be baffled by this obsession with 'puppets' (Puppets?) but here is the chance to hear from the puppet-masters themselves.

In 1823, Webb Ellis picked up the ball at Rugby School, and ran with it. This controversial action is being celebrated throughout the world in this bicentenary year of the game of rugby. Radley had developed its own game – 12 good men, engaging in puddings and squashes. How different would the world be if Radley Football had triumphed in place of Rugby Football?

It sacrificed its own football game in favour of the new rules of Association in the 1870s but already there was a movement to go to the dark side (or into the light, depending on your point of view). In 1914, the Warden published (probably) the most controversial notice ever pinned up in Covered Passage: RUGGER WILL BE PLAYED. Association was banned. No debate. No looking back.

Radley Then & Now: Rugger Will Be Played took place via Zoom on 1st November 2023. The talk was led by Archivist, Clare Sargent, with contributions from the College’s Sub-Warden (and former rugby coach), Niall Murphy, and Tutor & Master in Charge of Rugby, Nick Wood. We are grateful for the thoughts and memories that were shared by members of the community during the event.

In this virtual event 'A Glimpse into the Archives - 1940s', we look at this eventful decade: the impact of war on the College, royal visits, and life as a student.

Hosted by Radley College Archivist, Clare Sargent, and compered by Radleian Society Manager, Caroline Monaghan. Recorded on Wednesday 11th November 2020.

On 1st November, 23 members of the Radleian Society community joined Radley Archivist, Clare Sargent, for an online oral history event looking at the rich history of Covered Passage.

We charted the early history of Covered Passage as a route between Big School and Chapel, and some of the early escapades that were staged there, through to the Amnesty Cage of the 2000s.

Clare shared an array of historic images, showing the evolution of the architecture, and also plans for the future: a timeline of Radley College history, which will be installed soon.

Those on the call added hugely to the event by sharing their memories of Covered Passage, and reminiscing together to paint a vivid picture of life at the school in the 1950s and 60s. These memories are very valuable to the school, and our online Archives events provide an opportunity for us to gather them for future generations.