Arts Drama has once again had an exceptional year. Individually the boys have flourished and Jon Tarcy (Shrewsbury House, g) gained a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama, while Henry Mcpherson (The Downs, d) and John Warner (Dragon, a) are preparing to direct West Side Story for Pegasus Theatre. Jon Tarcy was a brilliant Sweeney Todd in Robert Lowe’s excellent production of Sondheim’s masterpiece in November 2011. There has never been anything like it at Radley for its professional quality in what is musically a fiendishly difficult work. The company, with girls from across Oxfordshire, sang exceptionally well; the stage and costumes were wonderful and sell-out audiences in all six performances were wowed. In the Lent Term the Removes performed The Madness of George III with a marvellous and convincing title role from Thor Winkler von Stiernhielm (Eagle House, h), while 6.1 performed ‘Arcadia’ with a very strong cast. The Shell Play, Treasure Island, was directed by Henry Mcpherson (The Downs, d) and Jamie Robinson (Twyford, f). The Theatre was busy, too, with Charity Games Shows, written and chaired by Robert Lowe, raising £1,800 for Sobell House, with a wonderful Leavers’ Recital from Tommy Siman (Abingdon Prep, h) and Jon Tarcy (Shrewsbury House, g), and with the second year of the Milligan Cup for Musical Theatre, won again by Jon Tarcy. Music, too, continues to flourish. In the Michaelmas Term, Scholars Concert, Ferguson Singing Competition (with huge numbers of competitors), the Hudson String Competition, a wonderful and impressive Choral Evensong at Worcester Cathedral (whose canons said they’d never seen a choir 115+) as large in the Cathedral, and the high quality Carol services and Christmas Concert; the Lent Term was marked by John Warner (Dragon, a) and Tom Bennett (Hall Grove, a) gaining Performance Diplomas, only the 4th and 5th boys to achieve that accolade at Radley, and by Will Ford (New College, b) gaining a Choral Scholarship to New College, Oxford, Lawrence Halksworth (St George’s Windsor, e) a Vocal Scholarship to the Royal College of Music, and James Moore (Hereford Cathedral School, e) winning two piano competitions at the Oxford Music Festival. Our leading musicians came together for an excellent Concerto Concert in February and for an equally arresting Piano Extravaganza. The Summer Term saw a packed Silk Hall witnessing a varied and entertaining Warden’s Music, and a Wharton Piano
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THE RADLEY NEWSLET TER
Competition of real and rare quality. Nor is all the music conventionally classical; guitar playing, rock music and musical theatre flourish. The Art Department has struggled manfully with the demolition of its gallery space; once again the examination shows were of a very high standard. The department eagerly awaits the opening of the new Clocktower Square (due in Summer 2013), and boys’ work is being prepared to adorn the huge and inviting spaces there.
Sport
almost 60% of matches played were won. Individual honours went to James Todd (Cheltenham College Junior, g), Hugh Gordon (Winchester House, c), James Mahon (Cothill, c) and Andrew Pfaff (Cheam, e) who were selected to play for Oxfordshire at their respective age groups. Hamish Miller (King’s Hall, a) was an excellent captain. The 1st XI Soccer had a slow start to the season but reached the final of the LB Cup for the second year running, narrowly losing to Loughborough Grammar School 1-0.
Radley is one of the strongest sports schools in England, judged both by the sheer number of teams it puts out – 24 Rugby XVs in Michaelmas Term, 18 Hockey XIs and 11 Soccer XIs and 10 VIIIs in the Lent Term, 18 Cricket XIs, numerous Tennis pairs, 10 VIIIs in the Summer Term – but also in the success those teams have against strong fixture lists. It is very rare indeed for the school not to win the majority of its matches in a block fixture. And looking at the top teams in each sport – Rugby 1st XV won all but 2 games; Hockey 1st XI won all but one game; Cricket 1st XI winning all but one game; 1st VIII bronze medallists in the National Schools; 1st IV Tennis last year in the top four schools nationally. It is quite some record. In the Rugby, 70% of matches were won. Against Oundle 16/17 matches were won, against Sherborne 17/20, Bedford 14/17, Marlborough 14/17. The 1st XV was powerful, and in close encounters had the strength to come through and win: Sherborne beaten 8-7; Tonbridge 12-11 (their only defeat); Bedford 14-10. Oliver Wynne-Griffith was an outstanding and inspirational captain. The 5th XV, (Stonewall) and JC4 and 5 were unbeaten. The 1st XI Hockey had another excellent season finishing with a record of Won 8, Drawn 1, Lost 1 to win the Charlie Barker trophy for the second year running. They also won the Oxfordshire U18 County Tournament. Other teams to excel included the 2nd XI, 4th XI, M4 and M5 who all won their respective ISHL leagues. The club as a whole set high standards and
The Cricket has been led by three extraordinary schoolboy players, Captain Wilf Marriott (Farleigh, g), Nick Gubbins (Elstree, h) and Alex Hearne (Dragon, j), all of whom have had representative honours, and have played in the XI for four years or more. Wilf scored five centuries, and a 50 and Nick Gubbins’ 130 v Bradfield was one of the best schoolboy innings