Tag Archives: Radley History Club

Exhibition and launch of Club’s book about Radley Church

When: Saturday 1 October: 10.30 am to 5 pm and Sunday 2 October: 1.30 pm to 5 pm
Where: Radley Church, Church Road, Radley
About the book: The Story of a Village Church: St James the Great, Radley
Price: £12 plus P&P – available to buy online or at Radley Village Shop

Front cover of the Radley History Club book, 'The Story of a Village Church: St James the Great, Radley'

Carefully researched and recorded by various members of Radley History Club, the book tells us about the building itself, the church history which influenced it, and the people who were involved in it, right up to the present day.

Some 150 people visited the exhibition at Radley Parish Church over the two days/ The pews and chairs were cleared away to the sides of the church to create a welcoming space containing a series of displays based on various aspects of the Church and its history. Refreshments were kindly provided in the adjourning Church Room by Radley Women’s Institute.

‘Fascinating’, ‘excellent’, ‘informative’ and ‘very interesting’ are words that crop up time and time again in the comments in the visitors’ book at the exhibition.
Wonderful exhibition – so much we didn’t know. Thank you History Club.
What a fantastic display and I found out something I didn’t know about my grandfather.

View from the balcony of the church set up for the exhibition

View of the church set up for the exhibition

Topics covered by displays included:

Parish boundary
Origins and buildings
Patrons of Radley Church
Inside the Church
Clergy who have served Radley Church
The churchyard and cemeteries
The life of the Church today
Radley’s bells
Radley Church Choir

A timeline from 600 to 2016, which compared events in Radley with linked events in the wider world, attracted particular interest.

The exhibition was opened on the Saturday morning by Revd Pam McKellen who was presented by Club chairman, Richard Dudding, with a copy of the book signed by all the authors. On both days Radley Church’s bell-ringing team rang a short peal before the exhibition opened.

Floral arrangements around the Church illustrated key aspects of the life of a village church.

Adding further colour were the Sunday School banner and banners dating back to the late 19th century belonging to the Mothers’ Union in Radley and the Girls’ Friendly Society.

Exhibition: Radley People & the Railway

Over 300 people visited the Club’s exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 2nd and 3rd November 2013 about the railway in Radley, its history, the people who used it and the people who worked on it. They were also able to enjoy refreshments provided by Radley WI and to buy a copy of the Club’s new book, Radley People & the Railway 1843-2013, written by Club chairman Christine Wootton with contributions from members and others.

Richard Tolley opens the railway exhibition (pictured alongside the master of ceremonies, Eric Blanks, and Club chairman, Christine Wootton

The exhibition was opened by Richard Tolley, a former engine driver on the branch line from Radley to Abingdon (affectionately known as ‘The Bunk’) who blew his whistle and waved his green flag in the railway’s traditional signal. Richard is pictured alongside the ‘stationmaster’ for the day, Eric Blanks, and Club chairman, Christine Wootton.

The displays were put together by Club members, Rita and Brian Ford. The collection of railway memorabilia included the ‘Radley’ nameplate normally on show at the shop at Radley College.

'Radley' train nameplate — ‘Radley’ train nameplate

A highlight of the exhibition was the working model of the Abingdon Branch layout built and operated by members of Abingdon and District Model Railway Club. The model shows what Abingdon station looked like before it closed to passenger traffic in 1963 and before Waitrose arrived.

Abingdon branch layout by Abingdon and District Railway Club

The full layout of the Abingdon Branch line

The exhibition was based primarily on photographs and other material from the Club’s archives, Club members and local railway enthusiasts. One series of photographs showed the impressive array of buildings at Radley Station in 1957 – now all long since gone – and another the stages in the replacement of the bridge over the railway carrying the road to Lower Radley in November 1983.

DIsplay of photographs of Radley Station in 1957 — Display of photographs of Radley Station in 1957

Display of photographs showing the replacement of the bridge to Lower Radley in November 1983idge in — Display of photographs showing the replacement of the bridge to Lower Radley in November 1983

Visitors were greeted by a team of Club members dressed for the part - from left to right: Eric Blanks (stationmaster), Brian Ford (porter), Tony Rogerson (engine driver) and Denis Standen (Isambard Kingdom Brunel).

Visitors were greeted by a team of Club members dressed for the part. Left to right: Eric Blanks (stationmaster), Brian Ford (porter), Tony Rogerson (engine driver) and Denis Standen (Isambard Kingdom Brunel).

Oxford Mail article on the railways book – the book featured on the centre pages of the Oxford Mail of 11 August 2014 in a spread entitled ‘Trains, plain-clothes men and royal visitors’.

Exhibition: Radley Farms and Families 1600-2011

The exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 16-17 July 2011 told the story of Radley’s farms and families, past and present. Radley once had at least 17 farms, now it has just two – Peach Croft Farm and Lower Farm. The Club’s new book, Radley Farms and Families 1600-2011, charts the story of Radley’s farms and families over more than four centuries.

Display of old farming implements at the exhibition

The displays featured material from the Club archives on various farms (Walsh’s, Minchin’s, Wick, Pumney, Neat Home, Peach Croft, Park End, Church, Sugworth, Gooseacre, Home, Thrupp), the Stonhouse family, Radley people, farmhouses in the village, farming methods through the ages and aerial photographs of Radley. Rita and Brian Ford brought along many items from their collection of agricultural implements and memorabilia.

Over 300 people visited the exhibition during the course of the two days.
“A very interesting exhibition which has brought back some lovely memories”
“Very professional – an excellent farming history”

Exhibition to celebrate the Club’s 10th anniversary

The Club celebrated its tenth anniversary with a major exhibition in Radley Village Hall on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May 2007. The exhibition featured all aspects of village life through the ages – the wedding dress seen in the photo below was worn at a Radley wedding in May 1957. The happy couple still lived in Radley and celebrated their Golden Wedding a few weeks after the exhibition.

Photograph from the exhibition with the wedding dress in the centre

Farming was a major part of Radley’s history. The exhibition featured just a few of the many items of equipment from Brian Ford’s collection.

The exhibition made extensive use of material from the Club’s archives with displays on well-known Radley families, Radley Church, Radley Vicarage, Radley Primary School, Radley Station, local businesses, archaeology, sports clubs, village organisations, Radley entries in the National Monuments Record, thatched cottages, farming life, the River Thames and the Wild Rose pattern of china.

A slide show of photographs of Radley (mostly by Les Hemsworth and compiled by Stanley Baker) ran continuously throughout the course of the exhibition, attracting a ‘full house’ with standing room only at the back.

The exhibition would not have been possible without the ideas, planning and tremendous amount of work by Brian and Rita Ford. Special thanks must also go to Brian and his family for the loan of the farming exhibits for the exhibition.

The effort and enthusiasm of the project committee and Club members were also vital for the exhibition’s success. As well as Brian and Rita Ford, the Club particularly wishes to thank John Homewood, Christine Wootton, Malcolm Grieve, Stanley Baker and Marian Orchard. And all the ladies who served refreshments!

Radley History Club

Local history society in Oxfordshire