On Saturday 13th September, we were delighted to welcome over 200 Old Radleians and former staff back to the College for another memorable Old Radleian Day, with guests ranging in age from 27 to 90.
The weather was characteristically British – a few short showers punctuating the day – but the sun appeared at all the right moments to ensure that the celebrations went ahead in good spirits. The morning began with a drinks reception for our 40- and 50-year reunion groups and ORs over 75, accompanied by some fascinating items from the Radley Archives, followed by tours of the campus. These took in favourite haunts of both the older and younger generations, as well as showcasing some of the College’s newest developments. The highlight of the morning was the traditional parade of the Radley Beagles, which this year included the annual blessing for the pack, kindly given by the Chaplain.
After a three-course lunch in Shop and a Chapel service, the older reunion groups made their way home, while the younger cohorts arrived – some reliving the common Radleian panic of almost being late for Chapel – to begin their own celebrations. Many enjoyed visiting the Radley Zoo in the Biology Department during their tours, and one group even escorted a boa to Mansion for the drinks reception. A delicious dinner in Hall followed, with guests queueing and sitting on benches just as they did in their school days, before heading down to the JCR to round off the evening with pints among friends and a few familiar dons. The last stragglers departed not long before midnight.
Meanwhile, on Bigside, the OR rugby team, the Radley Serpents, took on Oxford Brookes University in a closely fought match overseen by Mr Greed, who returned for the weekend (and was in typically strong voice). Despite some careful pre-match taping, the Serpents put in a determined performance, with the 19–33 scoreline not fully reflecting their efforts. Tries were scored by Charlie Saunders (2010, H) and Harry Wilson (2018, G), with Man of the Match awarded to Hugo Eyre (2012, F). Thank you (and congratulations!) to Brookes for their visit and excellent opposition.
The school teams had more luck in the matches against Epsom and were cheered on from the sidelines by many ORs.
It was a day of laughter, memories and renewed friendships. A joyful celebration of the enduring Radley spirit. Floreat Radley!
Photos of the 40-year and 50-year reunions are available to view now on Flickr, and photos of the afternoon and evening will be added soon. We would love you to share your own photos of the day by emailing radsoc@radley.org.uk.
