The son of a Welsh clergyman, Richard Bagnall-Oakley and his older sister Mary were excellent archers. Mary was the only one of the siblings to win the national title, in 1896. Richard, a member of the Royal Toxophilite Society, competed at the 1908 London Olympics but finished 21st and was the lowest placed of the 16 British entrants in the Double York Round. He did better in the Continental Style event, when his 214 points was the third best of the eight unofficial British entries. By profession, Bagnall-Oakeley was a coal merchant’s clerk.
Great Britain