Radley History Club

Annual General Meeting
2022-09-12 19:30 - 19:45 (Europe/London) | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
The 24th Annual General Meeting of Radley History Club
This will be followed by a talk from Sarah Somerville on working as a guide in a historic house in the 21st century. Details of the talk

CHANGE TO PUBLISHED PROGRAMME: A Guide's Guide: Working in Historic Houses in the 21st century
2022-09-12 19:45 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Sarah Somerville
Sarah is the Visitor Services Officer at Shaw House, a Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house situated on the northern edge of Newbury and managed by West Berkshire Council as a visitor attraction and conference centre. As well as guiding tours of the house, Sarah manages events held at Shaw House and the gift shop there. Her talk highlights the varied skills needed to work in a historic house seeking to pay its way while being part of the local community in the 21st century.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
The talk will follow the AGM. Please arrive at 7.30 pm to allow a seamless transition from the AGM to the talk.

Keble College and The Light of the World by Holman Hunt
2022-10-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Lizzy Rowe
Lizzy looks at the origins of Keble College and tells some of the fascinating stories about its early days, focusing in particular on The Light of the World, the famous painting by William Holman Hunt that hangs in its Chapel. Lizzy teaches art history and leads guided tours of Oxford city centre and the Ashmolean Museum.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

From Axtell to Zacharias: the Men who built Oxford
2022-11-14 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Liz Woolley
The talk examines some of the characters involved in the city’s enormous expansion during the Victorian period including builders, architects, property developers and landlords. Fortunes were made, reputations were lost, regulations were ignored, and political careers were boosted. Liz is a local historian specialising in aspects of Oxford and Oxfordshire, with a particular interest in the city’s ‘town’ as opposed to ‘gown’.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm.

The History of the Railway from Didcot to Oxford
2023-01-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Laurence Waters
Laurence draws on his extensive knowledge of local railway lines to tell us the history of the railway from Didcot to Oxford. Laurence has written several books about the Great Western Railway, the latest being Railways of Oxford: A Transport Hub that Links Britain. He is the Photo Archivist of the Great Western Trust at Didcot Railway Centre.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Thames Bridges between Oxford and Abingdon
2023-02-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Keith Parry
After the Norman conquest major bridges across the Thames were established at Oxford, Abingdon and Wallingford, initially as wooden structures and later as stone. Keith’s talk focuses on the older road bridges, particularly those in Oxford, Grandpont and Oseney, and Abingdon. Keith is a voluntary researcher at the Maidenhead Heritage Centre and a trustee of The Historic Towns Trust.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

The History of the Radley Lakes area up to 2000
2023-03-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Richard Dudding
Until commercial gravel extraction began after World War II, the area known today as the Radley Lakes was farmland. Richard, Club archivist and secretary of the Radley Lakes Trust, describes the history of the area from the Iron Age to 2000.
Many thousands of years ago, a very different River Thames deposited gravel in the Radley Lakes area, making it attractive for early human settlement. Following World War Two this same gravel was extracted, but before then the area was mainly agricultural. Richard’s talk charts this history, starting before the Romans arrived and finishing around 2000, just before the Save Radley Lakes campaign. Along the way, it describes fisheries for Abingdon Abbey, the growth and decline of the settlement at Thrupp, changing land ownership, the impact of the railways, and the transition from farming to gravel workings. It ends with pictures of the Lakes area today, showing how some familiar landscapes have been shaped by past events.
Richard Dudding is secretary of the Radley Lakes Trust and formerly chair of Radley History Club where he is now archivist. His talk offers a preview of the history chapter of a forthcoming book on the Radley Lakes story.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

The History of Oxford University
2023-04-03 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Alastair Lack
Alastair read modern history at University College Oxford. After a career working for the BBC, he now lives in Oxford where he is a Green Badge Guide. Alastair is thus well-placed to present what might be called a ‘whistlestop stop tour’ of the history of Oxford University.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm
Note the change of day from the usual pattern: to avoid Easter Monday this talk is on the first Monday and not the second Monday of the month.

Growing up in a 1950s Corner Shop
2023-05-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Josie Midwinter
Josie’s parents, Henry and Esther, ran Midwinter’s Grocery Shop in Didcot opposite the railway station where Josie grew up. Josie describes her memories of her childhood there and the role of corner shops at that time. Josie, a retired minister in the Church of England, has returned to her roots in Didcot for her retirement.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm
After Josie’s talk, there will be drinks and nibbles for everyone to mark the Coronation.

Six Warrior Women of the English Civil Wars, 1642-1651
2023-06-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Stephen Barker
During the English Civil War, women were not meek bystanders who took no part in the conflict but actively participated in a variety of ways, challenging the orthodoxies of their day and perhaps our own preconceptions. This talk looks briefly at six women who took part in the fighting, undertook spying missions and negotiated deals with politicians. Stephen is an independent Heritage Advisor who works with museums, universities and other heritage organisations to design exhibitions and make funding applications.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

50 Years in the Thames Valley Police Force
2023-07-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Christine Bovingdon-Cox
Christine joined the Thames Valley Police Force in 1973 and worked in various departments including Child Abuse Investigation, Major Crime, Counter-Terrorism, Protection for the Royal Family and Members of Parliament, and Professional Standards. In recognition of her remarkable career, Christine received a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2021.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £2.50 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Annual General Meeting
2023-09-11 19:30 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
The 25th Annual General Meeting of Radley History Club
This will be followed by a talk from Trevor Jackson on the more than a century of history of the cemeteries of Oxford. Details of the talk

Cemeteries of Oxford – More than a Century of History
2023-09-11 19:45 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Trevor Jackson
Oxford today has four municipal cemeteries plus a number of parish cemeteries and churchyards. Trevor tells the story of the development and closure of cemeteries in the city over the years. Trevor was Oxford City Council’s Manager of Cemeteries for 12 years following his retirement from the RAF.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
The talk follows the short Annual General Meeting of Radley History Club.
Doors open at 7 pm

Apples! The Myth and Mystery of England's Favourite Fruit
2023-10-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Tim Healey
Tim presents many fascinating facts about apples covering myths about apples, the history of apples, apple rituals, working with apples, and local varieties. Tim is a broadcaster, musician and writer.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Glimpses of the Other Oxford through the Eyes of a Victorian Mission
2023-11-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Emily Greig
Oxford’s population grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th century as streets of densely packed terrace houses were built on the fields of east Oxford. Emily describes how the Oxford City Mission in Cowley sought to improve the lives of the area’s poor. Emily is a local historian who lives in Oxford.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

CHANGE TO PUBLISHED PROGRAMME: Famous Local Folk - blue plaques of South Oxfordshire
2024-01-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Marie-Louise Kerr

Have you ever spotted a Blue Plaque in the area and wondered about the person to whom it is dedicated, what their life was like and why they are important? The talk will discuss the variety of famous and infamous folk who lived in South Oxfordshire and the impact they had on British society and the world. Marie-Louise is an experienced museum curator caring for a wide variety of collections, and describes herself as ‘a curator without a museum’.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Tracing Roots: a beginner’s guide to unearthing your UK family history
2024-02-12 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: James Thornber
Discover the roots of your family tree with our guide to genealogy in the UK. James will explain how to navigate public records, censuses and parish registers, explore online resources like Ancestry and Findmypast, and discuss strategies for connecting with relatives and distant cousins. Let’s embark on this exciting journey into your past, together. James is chairman of the Abingdon Branch of the Berkshire Family History Society.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Rose Hill: an Oxford suburb of surprising contrasts and great historical interest
2024-03-11 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Liz Woolley
Rose Hill is generally known as a 20th-century outer suburb of Oxford, yet the area was first settled in the Early Iron Age. Liz tells us about the area’s long history, its maze of narrow lanes, Oxford’s earliest surviving Methodist chapel and the housing developments of the 1930s. Liz is a local historian specialising in aspects of Oxford and Oxfordshire, with a particular interest in the city’s ‘town’ as opposed to ‘gown’.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Tea, Coffee and Chocolate: how the British first fell in love with caffeine
2024-04-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Melanie King
Tea, coffee and chocolate play an important part in the modern British diet. Yet all three caused anxiety and debate when they arrived in London in the 1650s. Melanie explains why Europeans were at first so terrified of these drinks and describes some of ways they were consumed in the 18th century. Melanie is a full-time writer specialising in historical non-fiction.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Morris’ Motopolis: the motor works and the transformation of Oxford
2024-05-13 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Simon describes the importance of the Morris Motor Works founded by William Morris (Lord Nuffield) and the massive impact on the city of Oxford during the interwar period as his business became the largest British car producer at that time. Simon is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University’s Continuing Education Department, where he teaches courses on the Victorian period.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

CHANGE TO PROGRAMME: From the Valleys to the Spires: how the Welsh came to Oxford
2024-06-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Sharron Jenkinson

In her talk, Sharron draws on research for her book about the history of the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir written to celebrate its 90th anniversary. The talk goes significantly beyond just the choir in discussing the social history behind its formation in 1928 and its links to the Morris works at Cowley. Sharron is a former teacher, married to a Welshman. She and her husband are founder members of another Oxfordshire local history group, Steventon History Society.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

Highways and Byways: The History of our Footpaths
2024-07-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Bob Evans
Almost all of us walk or have used footpaths. Their current state and status reflects their usage in the past and the changing values we have set upon them. Bob examines the when, how and why of our rights of way, with special reference to the Abingdon area. Bob lives in Sunningwell and was Regius Professor of History at Oxford University.
Non-members welcome – a donation of £3.00 towards the meeting costs would be appreciated.
Doors open at 7 pm

2024 Annual General Meeting
2024-09-09 19:30 - 19:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
The 26th Annual General Meeting of Radley History Club
This will be followed by a talk from the Club’s Oral History Group about its recent project ‘Radley during Covid’. Details of the talk

Oral History Group presentation on ‘Radley during Covid’
2024-09-09 19:30 - 21:00 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Early in 2022 the Group started recording a series of interviews to capture memories about the effect of the Covid pandemic on people in Radley as a record for future generations. This talk presents the common themes uncovered and the insights gained from these recordings.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3).
Doors open at 7 pm.
The talk will follow the short Annual General Meeting. If you’re coming just for the talk, please arrive before 7.30 when the AGM starts.

A Man and his Shed – Herbert George Mullard and the Cowley Concrete Company, 1895 to 1976
2024-10-14 19:30 - 20:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Martin Buckland
Martin tells the story of the company ‘Bert’ Mullard started in his shed in Cowley in 1923 but soon moved to north Abingdon to a site that is now the Radley Green estate. Bert was active in local government and a generous benefactor to the town. Martin has a keen interest in industrial archaeology and is a volunteer with Didcot Railway Centre, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and Abingdon Museum.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3).
Doors open at 7 pm.

Rationing and Cooking for Victory: a fair share for all
2024-11-11 19:30 - 20:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Karen Wiles
Karen explores why rationing was necessary in the Second World War, how the rationing system worked, and what foods were ‘on’ and what were ‘off’ ration. Karen and her husband Bret are based in Oxfordshire and share a keen interest in the Home Front in WW2.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3).
Doors open at 7 pm.

Club Christmas Dinner at Cosener's House, Abingdon
2024-12-09 19:00 - 22:00 | Cosener’s House, Abingdon, 15-16 Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JD
This year’s Christmas DInner for Club members and their partners is on Monday 9th December (7 for 7.30 pm) at Cosener’s House, Abbey Close, Abingdon.
Full details of the event, including a booking form, have been sent to members.
Menu choices and payment are required by Wednesday 20th November.

Radley: the thousand-year evolution of a manor
2025-01-13 19:30 - 20:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Richard Dudding
Richard tells the story of the manor of Radley and its relationship with the village from around the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day. Richard has a keen interest in local history. He is a former chairman of Radley History Club and is currently its archivist.
Richard’s talk is based on his research for the book, Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story, published by Radley History Club in 2019.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3).
Doors open at 7 pm.

A walk along the Thames Path from Oxford to Pangbourne
2025-02-10 19:30 - 20:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Bill King
Bill presents some of the historical and other highlights he and his wife encountered on their walk a few years ago along this section of the Thames Path. Bill’s particular interest is military history and research. He has acted as the historical adviser for, and appeared in, several TV programmes.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3). If you’d like to join Radley History Club, you can download a membership form here.
Doors open at 7 pm.

Motopolis versus the Meadow
2025-03-10 19:30 - 20:45 | Radley Church, Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 2JN
Speaker: Maurice East
Maurice examines the fascinating story of one of the most controversial planning issues in the history of Oxford – the proposal to build a relief road across Christ Church Meadow. Maurice was born and brought up in Oxford and specialises in researching some of the lesser-known stories about the city. He also leads walking tours around the city.
Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation £3).
Doors open at 7 pm.
The building work at Radley Church will not now be starting until after Easter and so the meeting will be held in Radley Church as usual.
