Wyndham & Diane Bradley

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Wyndham & Dianne Bradley moved to Horseshoe Cottage, Loosley Row about 1954. Soon after that Wyndham started a Youth Club.

Report by Joan West. I cannot call myself a researcher in this, because I have known of Wyndham from my childhood. We both lived in the Deanfield Valley, in the 1940s in very basic bungalows - its all big houses now. The valley is isolated, tucked away below Bledlow Ridge. It is an old drover's road. Wyndham, being older than me, probably wasn't aware that I existed, but he was friends with my cousin who lived in the other half of our place. They both were at school in High Wycombe by then.

When I married and came to live in Lacey Green I got to know Wyndham and Diane through the Tennis Club, a section of Lacey Green and Loosley Row Sports Club. The tennis club was fairly new then, having started with one court. Wyndham and Diane worked hard for the club, which eventually was enlarged with a further two courts. They were living in Horseshoe Cottage, Loosley Row, until Wyndham died. Diane later moved to Princes Risborough. In the article below by Clem Brown I have taken the liberty of omitting Clem's opinions, which he was rather inclined to add.

Wyndham Aylmer Bradley born 1929 in Hendon, married Diane M Gray of High Wycombe in 1954.

They had two daughters

They moved

Hallmark February 1997. A Tribute to Wyndham Bradley

Wyndham Bradley who died on the 30^th December 1996, was in every sense a Chilterns man, who loved the changing seasons and moods of the hills and valleys that he had lived in since his early childhood when his parents moved to Bucks. He attended school at Bledlow Ridge Primary and the Royal Grammar, continuing his education at Goldsmith’s College where he trained as a teacher. National Service followed with service in Germany with the Royal Military Police and the Royal Army Education Corps.

Education was to become one of his enduring passions, and early experiences outside Bucks led to teaching posts in Princes Risborough, Service Schools in Malta and then Headships of Naphill and Walters Ash. It was at Walters Ash where his practical contribution to the new school’s design coupled with his enthusiastic leadership made it one of the most exciting schools in Bucks receiving visiting educationalists from all over the country. Oxfordshire then benefited from his experience when he became a Primary Adviser. Following his “retirement” he continued working as a tutor for Oxford Brookes University supervising, student teachers in schools.

Wyndham married Di in 1954 and together they built a new house in Bledlow, The challenge of a new property proved insufficient and they moved into Horseshoe Cottage at Loosely Row. The old wheelwrights cottage and workshop provided them with the challenge of restoration and one reason to return from four years teaching in Malta, the other was their wish to bring up their three daughters in the Chilterns.

Wyndham put his roots down deeply, and quickly contributed to village life. He initiated a village youth club and continued his love of cricket and tennis, becoming chairman of the Tennis Club serving on the Sports club committee and playing cricket for the village. Golf became another abiding enthusiasm where he could continue to bring his competitive ball playing skills to bear, although his friends would not allow him to forget his practice shot on the school field that resulted in the shattering of greenhouse glass!!

He served as a parish councillor and was an early supporter of the restoration of the Windmill where he continued to act as a visitors’ guide until prevented by illness. Wyndham has influenced the thinking of many teachers with his deeply held humane beliefs about children learning and will be remembered by many ex-pupils as their good humoured advocate. An unassuming but passionately devoted family man Wyndham will be greatly missed by his wife three daughters and three grandchildren and all who came in contact with him.

Hallmark 1994. Clem Brown Meets Wyndham Bradley

Wyndham can look back with satisfaction on his own distinctive contributions to teaching. He came from Saunderton and was schooled at Bledlow Ridge: he settled at Loosley Row nearly forty years ago. He had qualified as a teacher at the age of 19 and very soon decided that he wanted to teach in primary schools.

However, a spell of National Service intruded, and then, after working for the Milk Marketing Board for a while, Wyndham turned to teaching. At an early stage he worked at the Blue Coat School, but later his posts were more local, apart from a period in Botswana on behalf of the British Council (training schools inspectors to be advisors) and a time in Malta teaching servicemen's children.

Early local teaching experience was gained under somewhat difficult conditions at the old Princes Risborough school - large classes, outside toilets and generally primitive facilities. Then he was Deputy Head at Berndene School and in 1965 became Headmaster at Naphill Primary School.

Wyndham refers with enthusiasm to an exciting and challenging time when he was appointed Headmaster of Walters Ash Middle School where the intake was 60 per cent servicemen's children. It was a complex task for this demanding nothing less than the creation of a new school, newly equipped and staffed, with involvement in the original design and building.

The start of the '80s saw appointment as Primary Schools Adviser to Oxford County Council, and Wyndham assumed this responsibility until he retired in 1989. This retirement may be best described as "official", though, because he took up a part-time tutorship at Oxford Brookes University (formerly a Poly) involving tuition in all aspects of primary school education. He is favourably impressed by the quality of new entrants to this level of teaching.

I asked whether Wyndham had found time for more personal pursuits and relaxation. Well he had been a member of the Parish Council. A long-term devotion to tennis has been followed by a newer interest in golf. Then there is a contribution as warden of our splendid local windmill. Most personal of all is the give and take of being a grandparent. So life is as full as ever !