Charles Ambridge was born in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, and when he left school, worked hard, and eventually found employment on the railways with the London & North Eastern Railway. He subsequently transferred to the Great Western Railway.

Charles married Hannah Ballard from Kidlington and lived at Ladygrove Farm in Abingdon where their eldest daughter Lucy was born in 1859. He continued working as a Railway Policeman until he was given the post of Stationmaster at Radley when the station opened in September 1873. The new station replaced Abingdon Junction near Nuneham Bridge.

Radley and Crowthorne were the only two railway stations built to serve schools - Radley College and Wellington College.

Charles Ambridge became a friend to everybody and was affectionately known as "old Ambridge". Charles and Hannah had ten children from 1859 to 1880 of which five survived. "Old Ambridge" remained as Stationmaster at Radley until 1897, but it was a further two years before the Great Western Railway provided a Stationmaster's house.

He eventually died at their cottage in Lower Radley in 1910 and is buried in Radley Churchyard.

The above was written by Jean Deller, the great grand-daughter of Charles Ambridge.