The Silk Fund and Chapel Campaign - brochure

Building on our foundations

The

Silk Fund Founded upon Dennis Silk’s retirement, providing funded places for talented boys in need.

As a family, we remain deeply moved by the many tributes that have poured in since Dennis’s death in June 2019. His memorial service at Southwark Cathedral was a superb occasion and was attended by over 1,100 people, including many Radleians, with whom it was a privilege to celebrate his life.

We are grateful to Radley for its support during a challenging time and we are delighted that the College wants to raise funds in memory of Dennis.

There are two elements to this campaign.

The first is to raise money to build up the Silk Fund. The fund was set up after Dennis retired, at his request and in lieu of a personal gift. It now stands at £3.5m. The idea of providing wider access to the school through part and fully funded places sat at the heart of Dennis’s vision for more socially inclusive education. He himself had benefited from such inclusivity at Christ’s Hospital and he recognised its transformative impact.

The

Chapel Fund Our extension project: increasing the capacity of Chapel and renovating this important building for future needs.

The second element is the completion of the chapel extension. Chapel was the beating heart of Radley for Dennis. As well as allowing him the opportunity to exercise his vocal cords, it represented the core values that he nurtured. We are also thrilled that Dennis’s own service to Radley will be recognised in the form of a stained glass window.

As a family, Radley is in our blood. We wholeheartedly support the College’s ambition and hope you will consider giving what you can to this campaign.

The Silk Family

“The Silk Fund gives motivated and ambitious boys an unrivalled opportunity, and they have much to bring to the College in terms of their talent and their different perspectives.”

Andrew Reekes, Sub-Warden 2003-2012

The Silk Fund Since the founding of our school, Dennis Silk is undoubtedly the most influential figure in Radley’s history. Upon his retirement as Warden in 1991, in lieu of a leaving gift, he asked that a fund be established in his name to provide bursaries for talented boys who could not otherwise afford the fees.

Dennis sadly died on 19th June 2019. But his legacy lives on at Radley – in no small part thanks to the Silk Fund, which supports ambitious boys every day.

We are very grateful to those who have faithfully donated to the Silk Fund over the years. It is through such generosity that we have been able to provide funded places for up to seven boys at any one time through the fund, in addition to other bursaries and scholarships.

Our goal now is to double the number of boys we can support and nurture through the Silk Fund. Continuing Dennis’s tremendous legacy, and with your help, we remain focused on ensuring we can offer the benefits of a Radley education to more boys who deserve and respect the opportunity they are given.

“For all ORs, Chapel really matters. Gathering the whole school together for Chapel is at the heart of Radley life. It’s a fine, long-standing tradition, well worthy of your support.”

“Chapel is a great unifier at the end of each day – a space where we can sing loudly together; pray quietly together; and reflect alone but in company.”

Hamish Aird, Sub-Warden 1990-2003

The Hopkins Family (Mike ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins, Sub-Warden 2012-2014)

The Chapel Fund For all Radleians, Chapel represents community. All the boys come together daily to sing, to reflect and to pray. It is an integral part of Radley life, at the heart of the College.

However, this fine building is currently at maximum capacity, with many pupils squashing into pews. As our College grows from September 2020, the expansion of Chapel must follow suit – to allow the great tradition to continue.

We have exciting plans for our Chapel extension project, focusing on four essential areas: • A new sanctuary at the east end of the building. This will involve repositioning the altar, reredos and other furnishings.

Natural light will be filtered through a roof light.

• Four side bays on the north and south walls to increase seating.

• A new organ installed in the West Gallery, improving acoustics.

• Renovation of heating and lighting systems.

Lead donors will have opportunities to recognise family or loved ones in aspects of the new Chapel. Please ask us for more information.

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• A one-off gift by bank t “Walking across Chapel Quad on a Friday evening, when the choir was rehearsing, was, to me, unfailingly uplifting; affirmation that Radley (boys, dons and parents) remains a college united by shared values. That the whole school came together for Chapel five times a week was central to the dissemination of those values – concern for others, a place for the spiritual in our lives, a determination to make the most of our gifts – through music, thought-provoking words and prayer.

“As I think of those Silk Award holders who sat in the stalls and participated in this most influential of traditions during my years as Warden, I am heartened by the breadth of the contributions they made: artists, sportsmen, musicians, academics and good friends to so many. They would have had no prospect of a Radley education without Dennis’s extraordinarily generous act in setting up the Fund. Long may it prosper and grow.”

Angus McPhail, Warden 2000-2014

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“The Chapel was central to Sewell’s vision for Radley and it is heartening that his vision is alive today. The decline in faith and belief is marked, but the Radley Chapel remains a place to seek after truth, enjoy togetherness, make inspirational music and reflect in quiet moments.

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“The constancy of going to Chapel means that the seeds of the spiritual are strengthened in the DNA of every Radleian. In the words of George Herbert, something is understood.

“For Dennis Silk, as the son of a missionary, there was never any money. Christ’s Hospital and its foundation enabled him to shine. Dennis never forgot, for a day, how much he owed to Housey.”

Richard Morgan, Warden 1991-2000

As one of those whose first experience of Radley came through the BBC programmes, so bravely welcomed by Dennis, the Chapel will always be the embodiment of Radley College. I am absolutely delighted with the sensitivity and understanding that has been demonstrated in the Chapel project. The Chapel and the community it represents is something very special.

Ben Holden, Sub-Warden

It is a joy to join with the Silk family, Wardens Morgan and McPhail and Sub-Wardens over the last fifty years, as we work together on this campaign. It is a great privilege to be able to offer transformative education to boys who would otherwise never dream of such an opportunity and nothing gives me greater pleasure than being with Radleians day by day in Chapel as they belt out their favourite hymns. This campaign brings together these two key strands of what makes Radley so special. It combines the legacy of the past with our ambitions for the future.

We are investing in the building that is at the centre of the College and our ethos, in order to keep the great tradition of the community alive and thriving. At the same time, we are looking to double the number of boys that can benefit from the Silk Fund, so representative of what Dennis stood for. We need your help.

John Moule, Warden

If you feel able to help, we would be very grateful for your support.

The Radley Foundation Radley College Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 2HR Telephone: 01235 548 547 Email: foundation@radley.org.uk www.radley.org.uk Reg Charity number: 272671