Gary, our Deputy Head Groundsman, has had a career of two halves, spanning 20 years, with his skill and attention significantly contributing to the campus looking as good as it does. We asked Gary to tell us more about his arrival at Radley in 2002.
I joined just after I left school. My grandparents lived a couple of doors down from Paul Ryman, who at the time was the Lead Technician in the Design Engineering Department. I’d started my education in horticulture at Warren Farm, Horton-cum-Studley, after I finished school and it was Paul who told me about the apprentice gardener position at Radley. I started here in March 2002.
In 2007 I transferred to the Grounds team. There were a few reasons for this, but I had started to take more of an interest in the College grounds; learning more about different fertiliser programmes to enhance the lawns I looked after, which were the then-Warden’s house (now L Social), Sub-Warden’s house and the Burnet Garden. This led me to an interest in the Sports Turf industry.
I left in February 2011 to go to Pangbourne College as Deputy Head Groundsman. It was good to try something new but there aren’t many places like Radley, it’s hard to match! I found I didn’t have the same level of budget or the facilities at Pangbourne so when Adam King (Head Groundman) asked me to come back to Radley as Deputy Head Groundsman in July 2013 I was pleased to accept.
Tell us about your focus in your current job.
It’s really important to stay on top of the most recent products and research into soil health because this affects the grass plant which in turn is what makes the lawns look so nice and the pitches healthy and of a high standard. We can enhance this with fertilisers, but the soil is the most important thing.
What’s the secret of Radley’s incredible lawns and pitches?
No secret! Hard work, good equipment and people who know what they’re doing.
Which part of the year is your favourite?
I look forward to the first half of the Michaelmas Term. The weather is still good, the grass always looks its best after the summer renovations, and the winter sports pitches show off the campus really well. It’s nice to see the boys come back in September and the pitches being used again. Now that the Nike and Liverpool camps are here over the summer holidays, the pitches, astros and tennis courts are used a lot more than they used to be.
And what’s particularly hard about your job?
It’s the cricket term that provides the most frustration because each cricket wicket takes two weeks to prepare ahead of each game. If it rains on the Friday before the match on Saturday it can feel as if a lot of hard work has been wasted. Having said that, we are all really invested in the sports played here and it’s always great to see the teams doing well and having success at national competitions.
What are your highlights from your time so far?
My highlights would be the social events – golf tours, Christmas parties, the Bavarian Ball a few years back, Staff Quizzes and evenings in the JCR – getting to know colleagues outside of work helps build that feeling of community camaraderie so I’m a big supporter. It’s always so nice to see new faces at staff social events and there are lots of opportunities to get involved in whatever kind of event is your cup of tea, whether it’s something sporty or competitive or creative.
What’s changed?
Just about everything! In some ways though, the flow of the year remains the same; the Grounds Team works in 12-week blocks, preparing the pitches for the term ahead, followed by renovations and the turn-around ready for the next sport.
What does Radley mean to you?
I’ve spent more than half my life here now. It’s unique: the community, the campus. Over the years I’ve been lucky to work with people who have been a big influence on me, like Alan Biles, the Deputy Head Gardener who sadly passed away a few years ago. I see his influence in the way I conduct myself and how I finish jobs – he was an important father-figure. And Andy Crawford, Deputy Head of Grounds – he was more of a crazy uncle! Andy sadly died more recently; he was a proper character and someone I’ll never forget.
What about your rare moments of time off?
My son races motorbikes and my daughter rides horses so I spend most of my time away from Radley supporting them. My daughter competes in cross-country and show-jumping and my son competes in short circuit road racing at British Championship level as well as Speedway at Oxford Stadium – they’re both adrenaline junkies! We go all over the country with them, and to Spain in the winter and early spring. It’s a big commitment and involves a lot of logistical arrangements but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
