Anthony Robinson (1962, F) has seen Radley from many perspectives – Old Radleian, parent, Council member, Foundation Trustee and, from 2008 to 2015, Development Director of the Foundation. In this reflection, he shares the story behind the Foundation’s creation and the generous community of people who helped bring its ambitious vision to life.
The Radley Foundation was the brainchild of Warden Richard Morgan who believed the College would always struggle financially until it could build a significant endowment. Contrary to common perceptions, Radley had never been a wealthy school; the beautiful campus might have given visitors that impression but, for many decades, the College finances were not strong. In 2000, the College Reserve Fund was still uncomfortably thin for coping with the unexpected.
Radley had to rely on its fee income with the occasional ‘Appeal’ to parents and former pupils when new buildings or other developments were needed. An early Appeal in 1930, led by Vyvyan Hope, raised funds to buy the farms surrounding the College, thereby protecting its rural setting. Three major Appeals during the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, organised by the legendary Tony Money and Jock Mullard, supported by Sue Brown, raised about £1 million each. Dennis and Diana Silk would load up their car with coronation chicken from the Kitchens and wine from the Mansion cellars, and drive hundreds of miles to informal fund-raising suppers in the homes of Old Radleians. Often returning in the small hours of the morning, their winning combination of personal touch and prodigious effort proved highly successful.
Richard Morgan realised that fund-raising needed to be continuous and on a more professional footing within a new Foundation. When he put his ambitious plans to the College Council and suggested a target of £100 million, many of us were dubious, but his foresight proved to be 100% correct.
He telephoned me one afternoon in 1998 to ask if I would come to Radley two days a week to help him create the Foundation. I was delighted to accept. Jock Mullard and I visited four schools which already had Foundations – Marlborough, Bradfield, Harrow and Repton – and it soon became clear that, for any Foundation to be effective, there needed to be a strong Alumni Association running alongside it. Our report recommended a structure and modus operandi for the Foundation and an extensive revitalisation of The Radleian Society. We started with six trustees including two from Council and two from The Radleian Society – thus embedding The Radleian Society into the very heart of the Foundation.
Richard Morgan’s initial idea was for the Foundation to be located near the Pitches but, as we walked along the top floor of the Mansion, he made an instant decision: “This will be ideal – being close to the Warden and Common Room will give the right message about its importance.”
Judy Longworth, the first Foundation Director, came to Radley in 2000 and did an excellent four-year job setting up the systems and getting the Foundation off to a healthy start. Winning acceptance took time, as Old Radleians and parents were understandably wary at first, but the ever-present Hamish Aird was a wise and reassuring influence. However, in 2007, I sat in a Council Meeting and listened to some gloomy forecasts: the Foundation was only just covering its costs and in danger of being abandoned. I felt all it needed was some fresh energy, self-belief and enthusiastic leadership and, in 2008, I couldn’t stop myself from throwing my hat into the ring.
Three months into the job, I wrote a discussion paper for Council suggesting how we might improve the fortunes of the Foundation. ‘Endowment, Scholarships and Buildings’ were rather dry and uninspiring objectives that hardly made one reach for one’s cheque book! By creating relevant sub-funds in each of the three categories, we managed to increase the attractiveness and emotional appeal of the Foundation. Fundraising also became less formal and more project orientated with committed volunteers leading from the front.
New sub-funds followed including The Silk Fund, Hugo Rutland Memorial Fund, Rowing Centre Fund, Chapel Fund and many others. However, it was the launch of the Armed Forces Fund, established after the tragic loss of Old Radleians Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe MBE and Lt Dougie Dalzell MC in Afghanistan, that significantly raised the Foundation’s profile. This fund was a tribute to their courage and sacrifice, and its launch united the Radley community in a powerful show of support. Two Silver Balls in London, ably run by Will Bailey, were magnificent occasions raising nearly £600,000 for the AFF and attracting over 800 supporters on each occasion. The surge of support for the AFF had a similarly positive effect on all our other fundraising.
Another pivotal moment was when an Old Radleian donated £150,000 to create the Richard Morgan Award and fund a whole Radley education for a boy from a disadvantaged background. This one incredibly generous gift was the pathfinder for many that followed.
