Crime & Safety
UK private school welcomes Royal to brand new facility
Known as the Music School, the new multi-million pound facilities also feature an additional Recital Hall, a dedicated Song Room for choral rehearsals, 26 music practice rooms, and state-of-the-art classrooms.
Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, who is married to Prince Edward, officially opened the private school’s new Music School on Sunday, at a special concert featuring two new pieces jointly composed by leading contemporary composer Cecilia McDowall, working with eight pupils.
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The multi-million-pound new building marks the completion of a 10-year programme linked to Radley College’s expansion to 770 pupils
A professional recording studio enables pupils to record and produce their own work, while flexible rehearsal spaces support the college’s busy programme of ensembles and performances.
About 580 music lessons take place every week at Radley, with nearly half of the boys taking singing or instrumental lessons.
The refurbished Silk Hall Concert Hall has also held two sell-out performances, the first featured acclaimed woodwind player Giacomo Smith, and the second renowned concert pianist Sir Stephen Hough.
The warden of Radley College, John Moule, said: “Music is about the people far more than the building they play in.
“But the time and resource we have dedicated to this stunning new Music School represents all that is good about education
“To teach skills for life through music, creativity through composition, collaboration though ensemble, discipline through practice and confidence through performance.
“In a school which cares about beauty, emotion, collegiality and culture, music has to be at the centre of what we do. Emphatically, at Radley College it is.”
The new building will also serve the local community.
Radley College leads Music Flood, a partnership with Abingdon Music Centre, Thames Vale Youth Orchestra and 17 local schools with the aim of putting music in every school, every day.
The new Music School has already hosted two Music Flood Orchestra events and will welcome hundreds of children from across local primary schools today for the Big Sing.
Radley’s director of music Sam Gladstone said: “It has been incredible to see the impact that such an inspiring building has already had on our young musicians, at all levels of ability.
“Aside from a series of thrilling performances, the building has been full of music every day from pupils excited to practise individually, rehearse in groups or explore our wonderful new recording facilities.
“Just as exciting has been to see hundreds of musicians from across our Music Flood partnership performing in the stunning new performance spaces, making music alongside Radley’s own pupils and some remarkable visiting professional performers.”
The opening concert launched a year-long season of solo competitions, concerto performances and informal concerts that will showcase the new building and the emphasis on music at Radley.
The Music Room project involved two and a half years of planning and design, 18 months of construction, and 100,000 hours of labour.
Founded 179 years ago, Radley College near Abingdon is a leading boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18.
Former pupils include radio presenter and entrepreneur Jamie Laing, who appeared in the Channel 4 Made in Chelsea reality TV show for a number of seasons, and former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss.
Radley College was named as Tatler’s Best Public School in 2024. It dedicated £3.9m to its expanding bursary offer over the past year.
Owen Brazell is understood to have been driving to a star party in North Norfolk on March 16 when he fatally collided with a lorry in his Subaru.
The 68-year-old was a keen amateur astronomer, chairman of the Abingdon Astronomical Society and president of the Webb Society since 2019.
The well-known Faringdon resident had also given talks at various other astronomical societies and was a regular contributor to the Astronomy Now magazine.
It is understood he was driving to Kelling Heath Star Party that morning, which is a gathering of amateur astronomers to observe the night sky, share equipment and socialise.
An inquest opened into Mr Brazell’s death at Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court on April 2.
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The inquest heard in was born in Toronto, Canada, worked as a high-performing systems architect and lived in Faringdon.
His cause of death was given as ‘multiple injuries’.
The case was adjourned for a full inquest to be held on July 8 at 8am.
Tributes poured in for Mr Brazell after his death.
Steve Creasy, of the Abingdon Astronomical Society, said: “He knew so much about deep sky observing and was a regular at the Spring and Autumn Star Camps in Kielder and Kelling.
“He had been involved with Abingdon Astronomical Society since the 1990s and was a driving force as our chairman.
“Condolences to his family and to everyone who knew him. He will be greatly missed by us all.”
He added: “His loss will be felt greatly by the UK astronomy community and especially so by those of us who considered him a friend. Take your place in the stars Owen and rest in peace.”
Amateur astronomer Theodore Thomas Tsikas said: “Owen will be missed by the many friends he made at the Abingdon Astronomical Society, where he inspired many people with his enthusiasm, deep knowledge, sense of duty and humour.
“I wish I could have thanked him while he was still with us. My condolences to his loved ones.”
A tribute from Cristina Garcia Pozuelo Sanchez added: “Owen we miss you already. I love the fact that you got into taking pictures of the night sky and we could chat about our smart telescopes.
“Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and thank you for being a friend and an astronomy mentor.”
The Society for Popular Astronomy said amateur astronomy “has lost another star” with the death Mr Brazell, describing him as a “noted deep-sky observer”.
“Owen was president of the Webb Society, which is devoted to deep-sky work, and was a leading light in the BAA Deep Sky Section,” a spokesman said.
“Owen was widely known throughout UK amateur astronomy, and was just recently at the Practical Astronomy Show where he met many friends.”
Thames Valley Police’s neighbourhood policing officers were recently issued with Naloxone, an emergency medicine which can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Described as ‘an important step for our community’ the police are trained to use the medication to provide “immediate, critical treatment” in the first moments of otherwise potentially fatal emergencies.
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A spokesperson for the force said: “We are often the closest people to an emergency, arriving before other services can get there.
“Many of the individuals we work with are vulnerable and may be affected by drug use, including opioids.
“That means we’re frequently the first to encounter someone experiencing a potentially fatal overdose.
“Naloxone is a life‑saving medication that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
“By carrying it — and being fully trained to use it — our officers now have the ability to provide immediate, critical treatment in those vital first moments.
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“This isn’t just about policing; it’s about protecting lives.
“It’s about giving someone the chance to survive until paramedics arrive. It’s about making sure we have every possible tool to help the people we serve.”
Officers have been issued with single dose containers of Naloxone nasal spray, for use in drug overdose situations for opioids like heroine, morphine and prescription opioid medications.
With a tradition stretching back 137 years, the Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race is nothing to be trifled with – but a light-hearted parody by Tap Social is giving it a shot.
The hospitality organisation, which runs a popular taproom in Botley, several bars and a bakery, has announced it will host the first-annual Oxford vs Cambridge Oat Race on Saturday, April 4, from midday.
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“This is a light-hearted take on the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry like you’ve never seen before,” said Tap Social Events Manager Harry Househam.
“It’s also an opportunity to highlight our supply chain, the incredible products Tap Social make that utilise the mighty oat, and to work with our partner at the brilliant Minor Figures, a plant-based, B Corp certified Barista Oat supplier”
On race day two competitors – one representing Oxford, and one representing Cambridge – will race against the clock carrying a big sack of oats across Oxford to the finish line.
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Starting in Kennington, the racers will continue with a stop at The Market Tap in Oxford’s historic Covered Market, before finishing at Tap Social’s Botley taproom.
Spectators are invited to cheer the runners on as they race from Proof Social Bakehouse up the River Thames to The Market Tap, where they’ll make a quick stop before sprinting to the finish line – where Tap Social will be serving up its popular drinks.
Find out more at tapsocialmovement.com.
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