Author: dean
This weekend is the final opportunity to sponsor the upcoming History of Sedbergh School 1525 – 2025. The book will be launched at Old Sedberghian weekend in October, however a special opportunity is available now for ‘sponsors’ of the book.
It was the wish of author, Michael Raw, that book sales would contribute to a Roger Lupton Scholarship opportunity. Following the early death of his father, Michael’s life was transformed by the opportunity to attend Haberdasher’s Aske School on a Scholarship. Michael knew first hand the tremendous value that these scholarship opportunities offer to young people. The School has honoured Michael’s wish through a book sponsorship scheme.
Sponsor’s names will appear in the book, and a contribution will be made in their name towards a Roger Lupton Scholarship in honour of Michael Raw. Easter Monday, 1st April is the last opportunity to sponsor the book in this way as all sponsors names will be delivered to the publishers next week for inclusion in the opening pages of the book.
The link to sponsor the book is HERE.
The Wilson Run is stuff of legend. The School may have provided a few famous sporting faces, boys and girls, over the years, but ask them all which medal they would all truly want!? The unanimous answer would be the winner’s medal in The Wilson Run.
I last ran it in 1991. Until last week.
A few old lads got up early and ran the course before the main event The Wilson Run with over 200 pupils taking part in the afternoon.
My full back from 1989-1991 Woody Barlow (L 86-91) and our legendary pal Jimmy Gawthorpe (W 85-91) had another crack. The photo above is of Woody and me at Cautley back in 1991, alongside Woody and me at Cautley in 2024!
Watch a video of us on the Wilson Run course:
Happy then and happy now.
It was the most wonderful day seeing old friends with their families celebrating the School’s most famous annual event.
The concert in the evening celebrating all the runners was special. Singing The Long Run and finishing with our famous School song ‘Winder’ had me digging deep into my memory bank!
Special place Sedbergh. Tough place Sedbergh. Happy place Sedbergh.
Will Greenwood
OS Olivia (L 18-20) is at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge studying an MPhil in Real Estate Finance.
We are delighted to share that Olivia played blues netball for Cambridge against Oxford in the recent 2024 Varsity Match at Iffley Road, Oxford and was awarded a Full Blue.
Congratulations from us all at the OS Club!
IN MEMORY OF TIM PROUDMAN (W 1979)
A year ago we reported on two Winderian friends, Mark Adams (W 1974-1979) and Tim Proudman (W 1979) who had developed a love of running and had completed marathons on every continent except the Antarctic.
In November 2021, Tim, a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon living in Australia, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Having undergone surgery the prognosis was that the tumour was extremely aggressive and the outlook poor.
However, this did not deter him and on 12th March 2023 Tim and Mark attempted the Antarctic Marathon, with Tim completing it in 6 hours, 5 minutes, and achieving his lifetime goal of running on all continents. A tremendous achievement and a victory for the sport of running itself.
On 22nd February 2024 Tim finally succumbed to his illness.
As I wrote a year ago, I remember Tim from my schooldays as a kind and generous man. He once went out of his way to congratulate me on my reading in Chapel when I was still relatively new to the School. He was in the sixth form and might even have been a School Prefect. It meant much at the time, and I have never forgotten it.
In later life that kindness and humanity continued in abundance with his voluntary work providing reconstructive surgery in Bhutan.
Tim was an extraordinary individual who had a lifelong love of Sedbergh and of running. We hold him high in our thoughts and with the greatest of respect, while we offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends. In particular to Mark Adams who shared so many marathons with Tim across the world.
Jan van der Velde
You can read a eulogy written by Tim’s colleague Richard Harries here:
Congratulations to OS Revd. Olivia Haines (R 04-06) and her husband Barry. They appeared on BBC1’s ‘Pointless’ on 5th and 6th February and after a tense final round walked away with the prize pot of £6,500.
Read more HERE.
It was fantastic to have OS Imo Boddy (Robertson, 2015-17) back in Sedbergh on 6th March and visit us at the OS Club. She will attempt to break the National Three Peaks record starting on 15th May 2024. Good luck!
Watch Imo’s video HERE.
Congratulations and the very best of luck to former Sedbergh Rifle Club Captain 2022, now OS shooter, Sarah Rorison (R 15-02) as she tours South Africa with the GB U21 rifle team. Sarah has been shooting since 2007 starting as a young cadet at Sedbergh. Since then she has been selected for UK U17s, Athelings and GB U19s. Currently she is studying Biology at the University of Sheffield and represents the county of Lancashire.
As an OS (Lupton 84-89, and known as Rob Varley), and one who benefited from the bursary system, it gives me great pride to be able to support OS events in 2024.
The education, sports, and camaraderie from my Sedbergh days have undoubtedly shaped my life and to be back involved with the School and the OS Club gives me much joy.
Having spent the first half of my career in the hospitality industry running private restaurants in London I had a career change at 30 and have since been involved in the travel industry.
After learning my trade for 15 years at Trailfinders I went solo eight years ago and have since become an award-winning Travel Agent based in Kent.
Having travelled to over 100 countries and been fortunate enough to have stayed in some of the world’s best hotels I’m in the wonderful position to be able to advise on both long and short haul travel. My team and I can service all travel requirements and offer a concierge service to all clients no matter what the budget.
I’m proud to already be looking after many OS boys and girls as well as parents, teachers, and staff.
These events give us all the opportunity to catch up with old friends, network, rekindle friendships and remember our days at Sedbergh.
I look forward to hearing from you or meeting you soon at one of these events.
Bob
Bob Peters
bob.peters@travelcounsellors.com
So times have moved on somewhat since I was first involved with the OS Committee. Back then, in the ‘90s, the thought of being able to have something written for you by a computer would seem like something from Knight Rider…target audience reference! Yet now, this could be written by AI. And I could save some time. But I haven’t. Honest. Like any Old Sedberghian, I’m not one for cutting corners!
It’s an honour to have been elected as your Chairman and it’s been incredible to see so much to celebrate amongst the amazing achievements of our alumni that we read about on a monthly basis from the newsletter.
With our 500 year celebrations not so much on the horizon, but now less than 12 months away, there are going to be some fantastic opportunities around the UK for OS to be involved in coming together to celebrate the history and heritage of our School.
The proposed change to the motto, discussed by Headmaster Dan Harrison, has understandably elicited a range of opinions. However, the ongoing discussion on this subject provides an opportunity to share thoughts, feedback and suggestions to the school. All members of our community are invited to be involved in this process of discussion as we consider whether a change is appropriate. Please feel free to share your view with me via the OS Office at osclub@sedberghschool.org. All opinions all valuable and will be considered.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed seeing the OS community come together over the last 6 months at the hugely memorable events onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia and HMS Belfast. It was wonderful to welcome an OS event back to Harrogate after a few years’ absence with a new venue and a chance to combine it with the School’s roadshow event. It was also fantastic to see many Old Sedberghians, parents and friends of the School come back to the Wilson Run. The OS Wilson Run Dinner had record numbers and was a fabulous evening in Powell Hall. Do please keep an eye out for details of further events. I urge you to make the effort to go along, bring one of your peers with you or better still, organise a group to attend. The effort is always worthwhile!
Floreat Sedberghia
Duncan Berry (SH 85-91)
OS Dr Craig Barrington (E 01-03) is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist specialising in colorectal and anal cancers and Acute Oncology Service at Singleton Hospital in Swansea.
After a referral to Dr Barrington, a woman with stage three bowel cancer was offered dostarlimab – which works by helping the immune system to destroy the cancer. She was given the all-clear from cancer after being treated with the drug described as a “miracle”.
Read the full BBC article HERE.