THE FIRST YEAR (1989)

The first year of the Association's existence set the pattern for all the years which have followed up to the present day. Mr. Doug. Rawlinson, the first Social Secretary, in that year arranged talks on such varied subjects as Radley Past and Present, Ironbridge Gorge Trust, Radley Primary School, Armchair Travel, Radley College, Walking the South-West Coastal Path, Experiences as a Prisoner of War, Local Government, and R.A.F. Abingdon. He also arranged guided tours to Christ's Hospital Almshouses in Abingdon, Oxford Colleges, and Radley College, a cruise on the Thames, a Mystery Tour, two visits to productions of the Abingdon Operatic Society, a Garden Party at the Vicar's house, and outings to Turner's Musical Merry-go-Round at Northampton, to Windsor (with a stop at the Shire Horse Centre at Maidenhead), to London to see the Christmas lights and to Milton Keynes for Christmas shopping. At the end of the year he presented a slide show of Radley Reminiscences. Another event which was organised at the end of that year was the Anniversary Lunch, held in mid-January 1990, and repeated every year since to celebrate the founding of the Group. Anniversary Lunch 2012