Latest additions

LATEST ADDITIONS

The items listed below show the eclectic nature of gifts to the College Archive. If you have Radley memorabilia which you would like to draw to our attention, please contact the Archivist archives@radley.org.uk, who would love to hear from you. All gifts are accepted at the discretion of the Archivist.

The Cloisters with the Museum, 1890s

Another great find on eBay – a postcard sent from a boy at Radley in the 1890s

Gaudy invitation 1955

Postcard. Aerial view pre-1930

LP. Marionettes’ Monday at Mandolino’s

Some recent finds on eBay – a Gaudy invitation from 1855, an aerial photo pre-1930 and the Marionettes’ recording of Monday at Mandolino’s

Steps to the altar by WE Scudamore, 1880

Sent all the way from New Zealand by Brian Roper, OR, the copy of ‘Steps to the altar’ by WE Scudamore which George Wharton gave to his grandfather William Roper in 1881. Gift inscription by George Wharton.

And just arrived – ‘The history of the Ottoman Turks’ by Edward Creasy. The Warden’s Classics Prize awarded to William Roper in 1883

Programmes from the 1950s

A big thank you to Peter Carolin, OR, who sent a collection of programmes from events in the early 1950s. Especially pleased to receive the Chapel Order of Service to Commemorate King George VI – an event for which we had no other memorabilia.

Meeting, 3rd December 1852

Recently purchased – the privately printed minutes of the most important meeting ever held about Radley College. In December 1852 a group of parents met in Westminster to scrutinise the College’s accounts, which were facing total collapse, and agreed to rescue the College from certain failure …

Social group, 1880

We are very grateful to Nigel a Brassard who acquired this early photo of a Radley Social group at auction. He has also given a photo of the Rowing VIII of 1882, which he has donated to the Boat Club.

Laying tables in Hall, before 1952

A lovely set of photos dating from before 1952 were left at Reception by an anonymous donor, including this very rare interior shot of Hall.

Samson Agonistes, 1958

A poster and photograph of the cast of ‘Samson Agonistes’ perfomed by RCADS at Clocktower on Gaudy 1958. Rescued from the Old Gym Theatre reconstruction.

JC Horner’s photo in the War Memorial albums

John Cecil Horner (F 1934) was killed in action in 1943. He rowed for the 1st VIII as a member of the first Radley crew to win the Ladies Plate at Henley in 1938, and in an exchange trip to row against Tabor Academy in the USA. His brothers, David (F 1947) and Stephen (F 1958) have collected together his photos and newspaper cuttings of the trip to America and of the Ladies Plate to create an album in his memory for donation to the Archives

Family letters in England 1852-56

Recently purchased by the Archives. A bound collection of more than 70 letters written by members of the Talbot family, particularly Charles and Gerald whilst they were boys at Radley, entitled ‘Family letters in England, 1852-56’. This adds significantly to the Talbot letter collection already held by Radley College Archives which featured as No. 7 Letter home, 1857 in 100 Radley objects

Sessions & Donald with their damaged RE 8 in France, 1917

This stunning photo has been produced from an original print from a glass plate negative and sent to us by Blair Sessions (A Social 1955), great-nephew of Donald Sessions (B Social 1911) – the pilot sitting on the wheel of his RE 8, near Ypres in 1917. The story of the four Sessions brothers and this photo will feature in the Old Radleian magazine 2017. We will remember Donald Sessions, MC, on the centenary of his death on 20th June 1918

Victor, 1979

The story of Reginald Marix, OR, featured as the ‘True Story of Men at War’ in the Victor, 1979. Purchased by the Radleian Society and donated to the Archives

Peter Way’s memories of WW2

Oral history – remembering WW2.

An oral history project based on a labour of love. As Peter Way, OR and Don at Radley, lived through his final year, Hamish Aird, Sub-Warden and a close friend, persuaded him to record his memories of service in WW2. The transcript has now been added to the Archives

Peter Demetriadi, OR, has also sent us a WW2 memoir. In the 1980s the Imperial War Museum taped a series of interviews with his father, Michael Demetriadi, A Social 1935. Peter has donated a transcript of the interviews to the Archives

Radley Veteran Car Rally 1950. Photo by David Holland

David Holland, D Social 1946, has given a wonderful set of photos taken by himself of the Radley Veteran Car Rally, 28th May 1950

Combined Music and Gymnastics trip to Scandinavia 1970s

Bob Stoughton-Harris, formerly Don at Radley and Tutor of G Social, has given a collection of memorabilia particularly relating to the trips to Scandinavia he organised in the 1970s and to the Radley Music Society. We are grateful to his daughter, Rachel Waltham, OR, for organising the gift via the Radleian Society

Social notice board announcements, early 1940s

Amongst other memorabilia donated by Richard Haddon, A Social 1940, is a collection of the most ephemeral of ephemeral objects – the announcement cards pinned up on the Social noticeboard. The Haddon Cup, now awarded for the best short play performed by the Shells, is named in his honour to celebrate his contribution to RCADS in the early 1940s

QSL cards 1960s

A set of QSL cards exchanged between CCF corps at schools around the country in the early 1960s was carefully preserved by Robin Beresford-Evans, D Social 1959, and given to the Archives by his sister, Felicity Wood.

2016 marked the 75th anniversary of the RAF section of the Cadet Corps at Radley. During WW2 the cadets of Radley College, Eastbourne College and Abingdon School combined to form one unit, working with the Home Guard to protect the Thames line. There was an exhibition and dinner in April to mark this history.

The Case of the Seven Percent Solution. Dons’ Play 1982

Amongst a wonderful collection of memorabilia from the late Peter Way, OR and Radley Don, is an album of photos from the Dons’ play of 1982.

Swallows account book, 1927-1984

Amongst other items donated to celebrate the centenary of rugby being played officially at Radley, was the account book of Radley Swallows, the OR rugby club. Other items included the ‘Batten Books’, the coaching notes compiled by Jim Batten, a Don in the 1950s-60s: the originals were brought to Radley by his captains so that digital copies could be made. The story of 100 years of rugby at Radley can be read here.

A collection of copies of memorabilia relating to the exchange programme between Radley College and Kent School, Connecticut, first established in 1927. Kindly prepared for us and donated by Kent School Archives

EJ Burrows Radley portfolio

Alan Donner, OR, has kindly donated material from the collection of his late father, EJS Donner (B Social 1916). Alan has allowed us to digitise his father’s personal photo album. All the individuals in the photos were identified, including one of the earliest whole school photos. In addition, there is a complete volume of EJ Burrows Radley Portfolio. We have copies of the individual etchings but not the book so it is wonderful to have a copy.

Social Fours at Sandford Mill, 1907

Edward Lethbridge, OR, fortunately spotted this photo in a bookshop in Cirencester, and has kindly donated it to the Archives. It is the best print we have of Radley Social Fours at Sandford Mill in 1907.

Warden & Prefects 1949

A selection of photographs from the late Andrew Marshall, G Social, 1944, Senior Prefect 1948-9. Donated by his family.

Athletics Record

A selection of Radley memorabilia from the late David Pattisson, D Social, 1936, including the Athletics Record Card which commemorates his winning the 220 yards in a record time which stood for several years. Donated by his family

Public Schools British Empire Tour Cricket Team 1931

The diary and photo album compiled by Arthur Kershaw, F Social, 1926, when he was selected as opening bowler for the Public Schools British Empire Tour team in 1931, were recently given to Radley College Archives by his family. Radley has donated a digital copy to the MCC Museum at Lords.