BURSAR’S BULLETIN Issue 30
Michaelmas Term 2026
As promised at INSET, I am pleased to share the first of what we hope will become a new tradition: our new joiner group photograph. A warm welcome to all new staff, and welcome back to returning colleagues as we begin the new term. As always, the summer has been busy and productive, despite contending with the high temperatures. Several projects have been completed, most notably upgrades to D and E Socials. Alongside these projects, the Commercial team has once again made fantastic use of our facilities with summer camps and new bookings, including the Band and Bugles of the Rifles (pictured left). I hope you enjoy reading the stories and updates included in this edition. We are always keen to hear from you – please email Anna with your news: AMTH.Haynes@radley.org.uk Best wishes for the term ahead,
Jonathan Bochenski
a lasting tribute An OR contacted us a while ago to say that he had visited St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres and was saddened that there was no memorial there for Radley College. I raised this with the War Memorial Fund Committee and we can proudly say that the new plaque was dedicated on Saturday 25th July. It is installed on the south wall of the church alongside the memorials of other schools and regiments. Around 25 members of the Radley community gathered for the service, including former and serving army officers and pupils who had received scholarships from the Fund. The service included the words of ORs from 1917 and concluded with a recording of George Butterworth’s
‘Lads in their hundreds’, made specifically for this service by Precentor, Sam Gladstone and Henry (6.1, L). Later we attended the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate and laid a wreath on behalf of the school. The ceremony itself is very moving. Anyone can arrange to lay a wreath and can ask to be included in the act of remembrance: we had a fife and drum band from County Tyrone and two children laying a wreath in memory of their great grandfather. Personally, I honoured my grandmother’s youngest brother, aged 16 when he fell on the Ypres Salient and whose name I found on the Gate. Clare Sargent, College Archivist
IT
It has been another busy and successful year in the Admissions Department with 46 events for prospective pupils and we are very proud to be starting the next academic year at 775 – the largest number of boys on roll in the College’s history.
Following Jon Buzzard’s retirement, the team’s hard work and commitment has been invaluable during what has undoubtedly been the department’s biggest challenge. The team has maintained stability while delivering practical improvements for staff and pupils.
Applications for the Radley Keys Award – our funded places scheme for boys at state school – were at an all-time high following a targeted digital and media campaign and we have also now launched the Radley Keys Music Award to attract talented musicians to Radley from state primary and secondary schools.
Key projects have included enabling more laptop use, easier access to files through OneDrive, a more consistent experience across College devices, and a successful programme to rewire the site and modernise the College’s network infrastructure. New PCs and iPads have been delivered, AV installations completed, and the opening of the new Music School has been supported.
health centre
countryside centre
The Health Centre has seen, assessed and treated record numbers of pupils in the last academic year. We have now recruited a team of night shift Healthcare Assistants to work with the nurse overnight.
It has been another hugely diverse year for the Countryside Centre. All Shells spend at least five Wednesday afternoons on the Shell Countryside Programme, more than 200 children from local schools attend partnership programmes, and we launched our ‘Radley Farm Camp’ commercial weeks.
We are excited to be in the planning stages of an extension and refurbishment and are hoping to launch our Health Centre Podcast in the coming year.
Our livestock holdings have continued to expand and diversify and we can report a record-breaking season for boys showing hounds at various shows over the summer, with Radley College beagles winning three firsts, three seconds and three third prizes.
25/26
admissions
operationally
speaking We asked the College’s operational teams to pick some highlights from the last academic year. Jonathan Bochenski, Bursar, commented “What an incredible year. I hope this makes you as proud of yourselves as I was when I read it. Here’s to continuing to deliver excellence in 26/27.”
commercial
HR
finance
It has been another fantastic year for Radley’s Commercial Team, with plenty to celebrate. The Sports Centre has continued to grow, with memberships now exceeding 900. Members are also benefiting from increased swimming availability and an expanded fitness timetable, offering even more opportunities to stay active.
Our recruitment success over the last year deserves special mention as a highlight. Every vacancy is an opportunity to showcase Radley as the exceptional place it is to work, and to share our values, culture and community with a wider audience.
It has been an incredibly busy year with record levels of invoices and cash spend, particularly in support of the new Music School and Radley Schools Group transition.
Since September 2025, we have advertised 121 vacancies, received 974 applications and made 97 appointments. These figures reflect not only the scale of recruitment across the College, but also the continued appeal of Radley as an employer.
Challenges have emerged in the shape of VAT negotiations, supporting the new payroll system and a parent base increasingly struggling to pay fees on time. We said fond farewells to two long-term staff members, with Diane Mather retiring after 30 years’ service and Nicolette Barry after 20 years.
Our second Farm Camp was a huge success, the summer course building on the popularity of the first course run during May Half Term. We were delighted to welcome Millie Dickinson (Commercial Operations Manager) to the team in January, and she has already made a significant contribution to aid our continued development. It’s been a year of growth, success and exciting milestones for the whole team.
On 1st September 2026 alone, we welcomed 46 new colleagues to the College. To each of them, a very warm welcome to Radley. We are delighted you have joined us and look forward to the contribution you will make.
foundation
catering
housekeeping
One of this year’s highlights has been the success of the Padel Courts project. Padel, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports, continues to gain momentum at Radley, with growing interest from boys across the College.
Another very busy year for Catering, with more than half a million meals prepared, cooked and served, excluding hospitality events. After a prolonged recruitment challenge across the catering and hospitality sector, we successfully welcomed two new chefs, bringing our kitchen brigade back to full strength.
The last year has been one of growth, change, and achievement for the team. We moved into our new location in the refurbished former laundry site and welcomed several changes to the management team.
Following a successful fundraising campaign, supported by the generosity of parents, ORs and friends of the College, we have secured the funding to install two padel courts at the far end of the athletics track. We expect the courts to be ready for use after October Leave Away, creating an exciting new sporting facility for the whole College community.
Some interesting statistics: in an average month, Catering purchases around 1,000kg of bacon, 7,000 litres of milk, 1,400 loaves of bread and more than 400kg of tomato ketchup (Heinz of course) and on any given day, over 220 ingredients may be used to create the wide range of dishes available ... truly food for thought!
We look forward to the coming academic year with a new Finance Office Manager, Helen Priestley, and the promise of a new iFinance finance system.
Svetlana Vesko has settled into her role as Housekeeping Manager very well, and the introduction of a Caretaker Supervisor, along with new supervisors joining us in September, will further strengthen the team. Despite the challenges of the summer heatwaves, the team has shown great resilience, professionalism, and dedication.
A Warm Welcome
to staff who have joined us since April 2026: Tim Armstrong, Rackets Professional and Sub-Tutor, A Social Aygun Aydemir, Food Service Assistant David Binns, English Graduate Assistant
Toby Hughes, Graduate Athletic Development Coach
Zoe Bolton, K Social PHM
Steve Johnston, Leisure Assistant
Simon Brooks, Domestic Cleaner
Hellen Lesiakowski, Domestic Cleaner
Lauren Brown, Healthcare Assistant –
Melanie Lopez, French Language Assistant
Diabetes Support Jo Busson, Bursary Receptionist / Administrator Lucy Busson, Leisure Assistant
Staff News
Jed Hughes, Organ VMT
Victoria Maldonado, Spanish Language Assistant Dee Marriott, Healthcare Assistant – Diabetes Support
Wei Chen, Teacher of Mandarin
Nora McGoldrick, D Social PHM
Jonny Cooper, Driver
Jonah McMahon, Leisure Assistant
Maria Courtney, J Social PHM
Nathan Millard, In-House Lawyer
Giles Davies, Production Fabricator and Artist
Jai Pathan, Sports Centre Cleaner
Louise Douglas, Assistant Laboratory Technician –
Ben Raikes, Leisure Assistant
Chemistry Sarah Eighteen, Domestic Cleaner
Claire Richardson, Assistant Accountant (Subsidiaries)
James Evans, Laundry Assistant
Adam Roush, Teacher of Computer Science
Rachel Evans, Costume Assistant
Sarah Sandys, Teacher of Maths
Victoria Fangen Hall, Development Director
Derrin Scott, Sailing Coach
Debra Fenn, Housekeeping Supervisor
David Stone, Driver
Marta Gerbershagen, German Language Assistant
Jakub Tiffert, Security Porter
Lucy Hawthorne, Healthcare Assistant –
Alex Thomas, Director of Drama
Diabetes Support
Graeme Thomas, Teacher of Biology
Harry Hiscox, Science Graduate Assistant
Michael Tohill, Maintenance Manager
Jess Holloran, Head of HR
Joe Winter, Demi Chef de Partie Hayley Young, Admissions Manager
baby news Welcome to (L-R): Maximilian Patrick, born on 26th April to Kyle Willis-Stovold (J Social Tutor), Poppy, born on 25th May to Freddie Jones (Teacher of Economics) and Grayson, born on 19th July to Emily NoelD’Avila (Leisure Club & Commercial Operations Manager).
Congratulations to the following on their recent promotions and new positions: In the Gardens team, Ellie Rivers and Mariusz Siwczak have both been promoted to Senior Gardener. Matthew Rumbold continues as Head of Shells, while Rebecca Beattie returns from maternity leave as Head of Spanish. Ben Knowles takes over as Head of Removes while Alan Chandrachud takes on the role of Head of English. Seb Perkins takes on Head of Sports Science. Anna James is promoted to Admissions Officer and Lisa Slater to HR Advisor. Injune Hwang transitions to a part-time role as Oxbridge Admissions Advisor. Millie Dickinson becomes Commercial Operations Manager and Natalie Street becomes Sports Centre Duty Manager. Driver, Mark Cumming, has taken on the additional role of Security Porter. Dan Studley takes on the role of Athletics and Cross-Country Coach / Team Travel Coordinator.
changes in socials A Social Sub-Tutor: Tim Armstrong
jo busson
Joins as Bursary Receptionist / Administrator from Cothill School. Jo will job-share with Sallie Swain and will be working on Reception in the afternoons from 7th September prior to her start date of 1st October. victoria fangen hall
Joined us as Development Director in August, having been Director of Development at Bryanston School since 2021. ally horton
Has started her new position as Group Health and Safety Compliance Lead, working across both Radley Schools Group and the College, helping to strengthen health, safety and compliance standards throughout the organisation. helen priestley
Takes on the new role of Finance Office Manager and should be the first port of call for all finance queries. chris radbone Has moved into the role of Projects Manager and will work closely with Michael and the Maintenance Team to support the delivery of key projects across the organisation. luke swain
Has started his new role as Lodge Supervisor, overseeing both the Security Porters and Reception Porters, providing leadership and support across the Lodge operation. Alex thomas
Joins as Director of Drama from Magdalen College School where he was Head of Drama. michael tohill
B Social Sub-Tutor: Hannah Sherry
Joined the College as Maintenance Manager in July and has already begun familiarising himself with the site, team, and ongoing projects.
C Social
J Social
Tutor: Alex Nash
PHM: Maria Courtney
D Social
KSocial
PHM: Nora McGoldrick
PHM: Zoe Bolton
when in drought...
Over the summer, some of Radley’s Gardens team visited RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey to explore more sustainable planting, primarily looking at the South African and dry gardens that Wisley has created. Head Gardener Mike Ginger was joined by newly promoted Deputy Head Gardener Ryan Yates, newly promoted Senior Gardeners Ellie Rivers and Mariusz Siwczak, Senior Gardener Chris ‘Quizzo’ Masters, and Gardener Steve Fredericks.
The team came away with an abundance of new plants and planting ideas to make Radley’s gardens more sustainable in the future. These very hot and dry summers are going to be the new normal moving forward so it would be irresponsible of us to continue with traditional planting stock. Look out for more sustainable, drought resistant planting schemes across campus as we begin to introduce changes that make the gardens of Radley fit for the future, less reliant on water, and still beautiful for boys and staff alike.
juliette’s steps Aiming to raise awareness about endometriosis, Juliette Gosselin (Teacher of Physics) put on her trainers and set her sights on walking 90 minutes a day in July to support Endometriosis UK’s ‘Walk for Endo’ challenge. Juliette was diagnosed with the disease recently, having suffered from the symptoms for 20 years. The shocking statistics are that the one in 10 who suffer with endometriosis wait an average of over nine years to get a diagnosis. Juliette has had two surgeries within the last six months so this challenge was a daunting one. Juliette in fact managed an average of 10,116 steps every day in July, with a lowest day at about 6,000 steps and highest at 16,000. Juliette said “I would like to thank anyone who had a chat with me, talked to someone about this illness or looked it up to learn more about it. And an extra thank you to anyone who was able to contribute to this cause. All of this is very heartwarming after such a complicated year. Endometriosis UK raises money to fund research and campaigns to reduce waiting times for diagnosis and improve treatment options. The BBC journalist Emma Barnett recently made a powerful documentary ‘Fighting Endometriosis’ (available on iPlayer) which addresses what reality looks like for people affected. There is still time to sponsor Juliette via the QR code above.
MEET ... Anna James Admissions Officer
Admissions Office, Mansion Joined in July 2025 as Admissions Assistant, following eight years living in China. Before this, Anna worked as a fitness instructor and in the hospitality sector. She recently completed her degree in Business Management.
some of Radley’s newest staff members, all of whom have joined within the last year in key roles around the College.
judith geddes Deputy Head of Exams
Exams Office, Mansion First joined Radley as an Exams Invigilator in 2019. In 2024, Judith took on the role of Administrator in the Academic Support Department before starting her current role in September 2025.
My role is varied and centres on supporting families throughout the admissions journey. What I enjoy most is meeting new people and helping families navigate what can be a significant and sometimes daunting decision.”
Exams can be a very highpressured time for the boys, so I’ve really enjoyed working with Head of Exams, Louise Vaan, and the whole invigilation team, to help create an environment where boys feel supported and able to focus on doing their best.”
Passionate about health and fitness. Volunteered at a local dog shelter in China and enjoys spending time with her bulldog, Fudge.
Enjoys sewing, regular HIIT classes and long walks. Has recently taken up golf but yet to conquer the lake on the eighth hole at Radley!
millie dickinson Commercial Operations Manager
josh ogle Communications Manager
Commercial Office, next to Wilson Meeting Room Started at the Sports Centre as a Leisure Assistant when she was 17 and then worked for the Commercial Enterprises team on a part-time basis during the holidays before joining the team full-time in January. Since joining Radley, I have particularly enjoyed the variety my role offers on a day-to-day basis. One of the standout experiences has been our Farm Camp, run in collaboration with the Countryside Centre, which has been a real highlight of my time here so far.” Enjoys swimming and running, having been a competitive swimmer when she was younger.
Communications Office, Mansion Joined in December 2025 from Headington Rye. Prior to this, Josh’s ‘squiggly’ career includes cofounding a pizza company, designing event stages and working on an electronic music magazine in Berlin.
zac webberhudson
IT Infrastructure Engineer IT Office, Queen’s Court Passionate about IT from a young age, Zac joined in August 2025 following his apprenticeship at the University of Reading and roles at a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for international hotels and hotel groups and at a website hosting company. My responsibilities are managing and maintaining the various infrastructure within the College. This includes server management and monitoring but mainly Microsoft365 management.” Zac keeps up with the latest IT trends away from work, when he’s not tinkering with his car, gardening, moonlighting as a ‘Bedroom DJ’ or camping with friends and family. sarah lang
School Health Nurse
Health Centre Joined in January 2026. Prior to this role, Sarah worked as a Paediatric Nurse for 25 years at the JR and then for 18 years as a school nurse at Teddies.
I deliver photography, graphics and written content to support the College and Radley Schools Group. What I’ve enjoyed most so far is the variety of projects I’ve been able to work on, as well as getting to know so many welcoming colleagues across the College.”
My role is to provide healthcare for the boys, and to support staff and parents. The role is varied, which makes it really interesting. My favourite part so far has been the incredible team in the Health Centre, and meeting so many lovely boys who are always polite and brilliantly engaging.”
Plays club hockey most weekends, and enjoys being creative, cooking, and spending time with his two children.
Loves being outside, with favourite activities being hiking, fishing, gardening, anything to do with wildlife or being by the sea.
Spotlight on:
radley schools group group office Over the summer, 20 members of Radley Schools Group’s Group Office team moved into the converted classrooms and former Video Unit in the Courtyard building. Between them, the team manage the dayto-day running of seven prep schools, from the finance and HR functions to the strategic direction of the Group. Get to know the team a little better over these pages and do drop by the Courtyard to say hello! david anderson
andrew ashton
helen baker
head of property strategy
ceo (prep schools)
purchase ledger clerk
David can be found playing golf / hitting golf balls into trees / signing up for golf lessons.
Away from work, Andrew enjoys exploring the countryside in running trainers or walking boots, as well as a game of Real Tennis.
Helen enjoys yoga, birdwatching and playing board games with her grown up children and siblings.
andy buck
theresa eltham
lloyd griffiths
head of IT
purchase ledger clerk
chief operating officer
When not supporting his daughter at rounders matches across the country, Andy can be found growing veggies.
Theresa loves spending time with Gladys, her naughty English Bull Terrier, hill running and power walking.
A father of four, Lloyd spends his weekends officiating hockey matches, pottering in the garden, and fixing cars.
lucy johnsson
ally horton
ea to the ceo and coo
Health and Safety Compliance Lead
lisa knowles management accountant
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys watching Probably having a Lucy can be found football, reading, and braai if the suns out, baking, catching a going to the gym as well watching rugby or tennis, theatre show or as spending time with dancing badly at a festival, singing in exploring a new country walk. family and friends. the kitchen while cooking, or binge watching a good series. danielle claire lawes Fees Administrator McKerchar olly langton director of education
Passionate about cricket, Olly hopes to continue to play until he can do so alongside his children, who all love it too. He also counts skiing, cooking and reading amongst his interests away from work.
Claire describes life away from work as ‘beautifully chaotic’ – as a mum of three, she is an unpaid taxi driver but when ‘off the clock’ she likes going for long walks with her dog or heading out for a run.
hr advisor
Danielle stays active by hiking, doing pilates and browsing in markets with her friends.
daniel parvin
arantza pinana
katharina roelofsz
head of digital systems
finance manager
head of communications
Daniel is an Arsenal supporter and follows most sports. He is currently restoring a 29-year-old vintage BMW in his spare time.
Away from work, Arantza can be found spending time with her two young sons, and her dog, Luna. alastair speers
chris sneddon commercial manager
A keen golfer, Chris also enjoys reading a wide range of genres. Of his hobbies, he says he finds one a lot more relaxing than the other! suzanne teeling Finance Planning and Analysis Manager
Suzanne has two young children who she says keep her very busy and make sure life is never boring.
deputy ceo (prep schools)
Alastair loves watching live sport with friends and describes himself as a very faddy music fan. jeni wareing
When she’s not gardening or sampling Asian cuisine, Katharina enjoys horse riding - with, she says, more enthusiasm than skill! samantha stone accounts assistant
A mum of three, Samantha enjoys walking her dog and horse riding, spending her spare time at the stables, looking after her horse.
head of hr
Jeni spends time away from work with her two teenage children, walking her dog, another Luna, who has a ‘princess-like attitude’!
growing success at the countryside centre Find out more about two inspiring initiatives delivering lasting benefits to young people.
farm camp The first week of August saw the second iteration of the Countryside Centre’s ‘Radley Farm Camp’, an innovative new commercial venture providing local children aged 8 – 12 with an opportunity to spend five mornings at the Countryside Centre learning about livestock and hound management, while also undertaking a range of other outdoor activities including air rifle shooting, archery, fire lighting and campfire cooking. “It is a natural expansion area for the Countryside Centre” said Centre Director Charlie Herbert, “building upon the offer that we provide to Radley boys and the wider work that we do with Radley’s partnership schools, and making best use of some spare capacity during the holiday periods to help fund our partnership work in particular.”
The reception to the two pilot programmes in 2026 has been overwhelmingly positive, with fabulous feedback from children and parents, and with a healthy waiting list of children already in place for 2027. The summer programme saw children walking out hounds daily, socialising young beagle puppies, getting involved in the nitty gritty side of livestock farming – weighing pigs, ear tagging lambs, worming sheep, cleaning out poultry sheds, moving goats – and a host of other activities. “The concept is now well proven” concluded Charlie, “and we have learned some valuable lessons through these two pilot programmes. The challenge now is deciding how best to scale up these programmes to realise the full commercial benefit of them.”
capstone graduations In the four years since the Countryside Centre began supporting Radley’s award-winning partnership work, it has developed a series of bespoke partnership programmes with secondary and primary schools across OX14 and OX4. At the very heart of these lies the Countryside Alternative Provision (CAPStone) Programme, a low volume / high impact partnership programme designed to support teenage boys and girls less suited to traditional, mainstream education. In recent years the programme has supported young people from Fitzharry’s, Larkmead and John Mason Schools, and in 2025/26 expanded its focus to The Oxford Academy. Selected pupils spend one or two days a week at the Countryside Centre, on bespoke vocational programmes, working alongside Countryside Centre staff, while on a reduced school timetable. “We use the great outdoors, nature, our animals, our livestock, and our passion for the countryside to help these young men and women navigate through some occasionally stormy years” said Charlie. “We can’t help everyone, but it is hugely rewarding for all of us at the centre to work with these youngsters, their schools, their families and sometimes other agencies, and to help them realise their potential.”
This summer saw three of our longterm CAPStone Programme members graduate from the programme, in small ceremonies attended by their school staff and parents, where they were presented with the numerous AQA Unit Award Certificates that they have gained during their time on the programme. We wish Aaliyah, Bobby and Sunnie every success in the future, with Sunnie returning to mainstream education, and Aaliyah and Bobby moving on to Abingdon & Witney College to study animal care (Aaliyah, pictured right) and motor mechanics (Bobby).
estates news
nature notes
The holidays got off to an interesting start with a gas leak and an enforced power cut! Thankfully these were safely and successfully negotiated just as various works around site set off at a pace. The main projects this summer have been the revamp of D Social and the remodelling of E Social’s entrance (below, left) but you may also have noticed 2,800 panels have been installed at the Solar Farm (below, right). The hot and dry conditions have created a challenging working environment for everyone on site but particularly our Gardens & Grounds, Maintenance and Housekeeping teams whose hard work and perseverance contribute to the culmination of all these projects, and the 23 housemoves, in addition to their day jobs.
horsetail Horsetail Tea: An Ancient Herb for Modern Wellness Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is one of the oldest plants used in traditional herbal medicine.
radley studios Head of Radley Studios, Myles McEvoy tells about a new era for film production at the College: Radley Studios builds on the achievements and heritage of Radley Video and the legacy of Max Horsey and all those who helped build video production at Radley. As our remit has expanded to include a broader range of multimedia outputs, the name Radley Studios better encapsulates our progression. This term, our new chapter begins with the opening of two new dedicated production spaces: The Horsey Workshop (pictured top and located below Theatre Foyer) is named in recognition of Max’s lifelong technical contributions and will serve as our kit store, maintenance area, and teaching space. The Edit Suite replaces the former recording studio next to Theatre, and will foster greater collaboration, digital workflows, and connectivity, with integrated Live Editing and Live Streaming capabilities. Radley Studios aims to develop and expand our student-led multimedia production group with these new facilities providing the tools and environment for increasing student involvement and leadership.
Horsetails have a prehistoric origin, with their ancestors growing on Earth more than 300 million years ago, long before the dinosaurs appeared. They have been valued for centuries, particularly because they naturally contain silica, a mineral associated with the health and strength of hair, skin and nails. Horsetail tea is usually prepared as an infusion from the dried herb. Traditionally, it has been used as a gentle diuretic, helping the body eliminate excess water through urination. Because of this, horsetail tea has often been included in traditional herbal routines aimed at supporting the urinary system. Another interesting aspect of horsetail is its traditional connection with beauty. Herbalists have used it to support healthy hair and stronger nails, while its mineral content has made it a popular ingredient in many herbal preparations. There is also an amusing historical anecdote: because horsetail contains so much silica, its rough stems were once used as natural sandpaper for polishing pots and wooden objects. Although horsetail has a fascinating history, it should be used sensibly and not as a substitute for medical treatment. Marcin Stefanski Caretaker & Herbalist
Few workplaces can boast as many family connections amongst its staff as Radley, and this sense of community is often cited as one of the things that makes Radley the special place it is. Laundry Assistant, Sandy Shout and Reception Porter, Dennis Horrocks have been together for 19 years and have spent a combined 10 of those at Radley. Dennis and Sandy were kind enough to talk to me about sharing a workplace, travelling the world and splitting the domestic responsibilities. Dennis: We both lived in South Africa at different points in our lives. I came back to the UK in 2000 and worked for British American Racing (a former Formula 1 team) in Brackley having been an engineer before I joined the forces. Sandy and I met online in 2007 and have been together ever since. Sandy: I’d lived in South Africa for 34 years before coming to the UK. I worked in a care home in Chipping Norton and then transferred to another branch in Barton when Dennis was working at the MINI Plant in Oxford. After that I worked at the Westwood Hotel at the top of Hinksey Hill – first as a Receptionist and then I took over the position of Head Housekeeper, before moving to the Peking University HSBC Business School on Boars Hill.
D: I started at Radley in August 2021, having retired from MINI where I had worked as a Quality Engineer. Retirement didn’t suit me – I only lasted three months! Having spent 15 years in the RAF as a Physical Training Instructor I realised I needed to keep busy and active. I worked for the Bodleian Libraries Administration Office in Osney and then the Radcliffe Science Library. As part of this we emptied the Weston Library and re-filled it – a fascinating job! Long before I ever thought about working at Radley I used to cycle in the local area and walk through the grounds, admiring the golf course. When I saw the advert for the job of Weekend Porter it instantly appealed, and the weekend shifts suited me. Since then, the set-up at the Lodge has changed, and now the team of Porters work in shift patterns covering 7am-7pm in the week and alternating weekend shifts, with Security covering 7pm-7am. Luke (Swain, Lodge Supervisor) has done really well since taking on the new role of Senior Reception Porter a year ago. S: When Dennis got the job in the Lodge he told me that Radley was looking for Housekeeping staff, so I started in the Housekeeping team
before moving to the Laundry on a temporary basis covering when Sarah McKay (Laundry Manager) broke her elbow and was off for six weeks. At that time the Laundry was still on-site, by the Sports Centre, and I split my time between shifts at the Laundry and in Housekeeping, where I covered any areas that were needed. That way I got to know the campus really well which was great. In September 2023 the Laundry moved to its new site in Abingdon, just off Audlett Drive. It’s a huge site compared to the original Laundry. Sarah is a fantastic and kind person to work for and we have a brilliant team who are good company – I love it there. There are pros and cons of being away from the main campus – the space we have is wonderful, but we do miss seeing everyone and being involved in the school as much as we used to be. D: While we don’t cross paths in our work, we do often see each other especially when our shift times coincide. S: I might finish my shift and bring the car over for Dennis, or pick him up if we finish at a similar time. The Laundry team come over to the campus for coffee and cake regularly so we all wave to Dennis as we come in the main gates!
D: The Lodge handles an average of 150-200 parcels for staff and boys every day. Christmas is always busy of course, and the run up to the summer holiday also sees an increase in the volume of parcels. S: The Laundry has a short respite just as term ends before the Lets arrive and we get busy again! The team is made up nine of us, including the drivers, Saqab and James, who do the deliveries between the Laundry and the main campus. We unload the washing, go through every pocket to ensure nothing ends up in the washing machines that shouldn’t – the usual culprits are ear pods, bank cards, money, sweet wrappers, golf tees, and tissues. Then everything is washed, tumble dried, pressed, folded and put back in Social bags ready to be driven back to the campus. D: I do try to help as much as I can with the washing at home – I’m house-trained! S: We share the chores at home, even when Dennis is on late shifts.
D: The job suits me really well – I enjoy interacting with the boys, staff and families, helping people whenever I can. The Lodge team interact with so many boys and members of staff but the one thing that connects everyone at Radley is respect. Everyone shows genuine respect.
S: I used to love the walk and the socialising afterwards.
Having travelled so much in my life I really enjoy meeting different people from different countries. When I was in the RAF I was stationed in Hong Kong, Cyprus and then in the north of Scotland at RAF Kinloss. As a PT Instructor we were called out as part of Mountain Rescue on occasion.
S: Dennis has run over 100 marathons and half marathons – we don’t have room at home to display all the medals!
S: Now we travel as much as we can – often to South Africa as I have lots of family there – but our next trip is to Mexico to see the Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá. D: I enjoy a round of golf and when I used to play on big courses a while back, Sandy would be my caddy.
D: Over the years I qualified as a trainer in tennis, cricket, football, and swimming although I haven’t kept up those qualifications. I went to live in South Africa in my 40s and took up running again.
D: Like I said, I’m not one to sit still!
future features Do you work with a family member? Or have an interest away from work or an area of expertise you would like to share? We would love to celebrate the varied interests of our staff community so don’t be shy! Please send Anna your future feature ideas.
amth.haynes@radley.org.uk
cassandra russell – radleian society events lead
MY
radley Cassie has just celebrated her ten year anniversary at Radley as the driving force behind all of the Radleian Society’s events. I managed to find a few minutes for a chat over the summer in the run-up to this year’s OR Day in September. I started at Radley in July 2016 after spending eight years with Thames Valley Police. A colleague spotted the vacancy and immediately said it was the perfect job for me. She knew me as someone who was organised, paid attention to detail and brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm to whatever I did. I’d never considered working in events before, and the application deadline was the next day, so I applied just in the nick of time. The Development Office team was smaller back then, consisting of Colin Dudgeon, Caroline Monaghan, Lucy Johnsson, Kim Charlton, Hamish Aird, and Jock Mullard. One question from my interview with Colin Dudgeon, Development Director at the time, has stayed with me ever since. He asked, ‘If you had to estimate how many tennis balls there were in the country, how would you go about doing this?’ Thankfully I could think on my feet – my answer must have been good enough, and the rest is history! How would you describe working at Radley? Varied, busy and like a second home! I’ve been here for so long now that Radley feels very much a part of my life, and my colleagues have become like an extended family. No two days are quite the same. I could be taking a trophy for engraving, collecting baskets from Catering, creating name badges, giving an Old Radleian a tour of the College, or liaising with a venue about an upcoming event – sometimes all in the same day! It’s a role that combines organisation, precision, energy, relationship-building and creativity, which is why I’ve enjoyed it for so long. What has changed over the years? The most obvious change has been the growth of the Development Office and the scale of our activity. We’ve expanded both the number and variety of events we deliver and have become increasingly connected with Old Radleians and parents around the world. Covid prompted the introduction of Zoom events, which have been a real success in connecting those living overseas or unable to travel, and the Futures programme has really taken off.
What does Radley mean to you? Radley is unlike anywhere else I’ve worked. Every day I’m surrounded by incredible history, beautiful buildings and stunning grounds, yet it’s also a place that is constantly evolving. I love the stories of generations of Radleians who have passed through the College and the sense of being part of something with such a rich heritage. Above all, it’s the people who make Radley special. One of the things I enjoy most about my role is interacting with colleagues from right across the College. Can you pick a highlight from the last ten years? Organising events that bring people back together and watching former classmates reconnect decades after leaving the College is incredibly rewarding. I love hearing conversations pick up as though no time has passed. We’ve held two OR Dinners at Lord’s during my time here, and not many people get the opportunity to dine in the famous Long Room. The dinner at Lord’s to celebrate Wags’ retirement last October was particularly special and seeing how much it meant to him is something I will always remember. Although it is both the most exhausting and most rewarding event in the calendar, OR Day is a stand-out event every year. Bringing together six reunion years on one day creates an atmosphere unlike any other. It requires a huge amount of planning and teamwork, but the conviviality, laughter and sense of connection make every minute worthwhile. What might we find you doing away from work? Away from work, I enjoy day trips, weekends away, restaurants, the cinema, theatre, time with friends and family, and trying new experiences. Most recently, I went horse riding for only the second time in my life! I love visiting new places and being outdoors – a walk somewhere away from it all is the perfect reset. I’m passionate about fitness and enjoy keeping motivated, whether that’s running, walking or gym training. I’d like to build my running stamina back up and complete the Oxford Half Marathon one day, making it my third and final half marathon and finishing in my home town. That said, I also love my food and a good TV binge, so all that exercise helps keep things balanced!