A charming journal, documenting the exploits and adventures of seven ‘new’ boys who joined Sedbergh School in 1945 and became firm friends, has been digitised and published so it can be shared with a wider audience.
The brown leather book embossed with the title ‘We Are Seven’ describes the group’s explorations and achievements over a period of five years, and is illustrated with many striking black and white photos.
The first outing was to Turshaw Spout, a high waterfall on Holme Fell. The adventures chronicled over the next five years include the discovery of further waterfalls, bathing pools and caves, as well as the numerous camps ‘The Big Seven’ made among the fells. Touchingly, the pupils also take pride in recognising and celebrating one another’s individual achievements in sport, academics and societies.
School Archivist Katy de la Rivière picks up the story:
‘This album is one of my favourite items in the archive. Our collection includes many wonderful photograph albums that have been created by past pupils and staff, but this volume is truly unique, recording photos of the boys’ adventures alongside first hand prose accounts of life at School in the post war years. The writings record the warmth of the relationship between the boys in a manner that is tremendously special. The gruff shyness of teenage boys is nowhere to be found, instead a sweet ‘Swallows and Amazon’s’ quality pervades the writings, although without the implied peril. It has been a great pleasure during my time at Sedbergh to meet the surviving members of the ‘Seven’, and some of the descendants of others. Development Office Researcher, Emily Rowe Rawlence’s work to digitise the album has allowed us to share the album widely and it has already travelled the globe in digital form, being enjoyed by the children and grandchildren of the boys featured in its 140 pages.’
The journal finishes with the following epilogue:
“It is our hope that these Annals will reveal to their reader some of the happiness and pleasure which we seven found in our schooldays.
That happiness and joie de vivre was due in no small measure to the kind indulgence of our Housemaster on the one hand, and the Sedberghian way of life on the other.
These two factors combined to show us the opportunity we had of making the most of our mutual friendship. We took that opportunity with seven pairs of hands, and exploited it to the full in the study, on the playing field, and among the fells.”
Their explorations may have taken place seventy years ago – in a different era – but the spirit of adventure, ambition and kindness remain very much alive in the School today.
Members of ‘The Big Seven’ were:
David Byrd, Rodney Dodds, Ian Gardner, David MacInnes, John ‘Giles’ Shaw, Alan Spinney, Archibald Turnbull.
Explore the digitised version of ‘We Are Seven’ below:
Guest article written by Development Office Researcher, Emily Rowe Rawlence who earlier this year scanned and formatted the ‘We Are Seven’ album to make it available to a wider audience.
After leaving Sedbergh, former Roger Lupton Scholar, Oliver, graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Performing Arts at the remarkably young age of 19. While working in the television industry and appearing in acclaimed series such as Star Wars: Andor and House of the Dragon, he was invited to audition for a new boy band and television series based in South Korea. This involved an intensive 100-day training programme with the renowned SM Entertainment.
The audition process took place across the UK, and Oliver was selected as one of the final five members. The journey was documented in a full television series titled Made in Korea, which aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and was later broadcast internationally. The show followed the boys’ training and daily lives as SM trainees.
Since then, the new boy band, dearALICE, has performed their debut track, Ariana, live on Strictly Come Dancing, as well as on numerous other prime-time morning and evening television programmes.
Most recently, on 28th June 2025, they performed the UK leg of their tour at the O2 Arena in London, as part of the SM Live World Tour 2025, which has already seen them perform in South Korea, Los Angeles, and Mexico.
On 27th June 2025, dearALICE released their debut EP, Bitter Sweet Summer, featuring their new single Save Us, a stunning ballad led by Reese and Oliver. You can listen to it on YouTube via the link below:
https://youtu.be/4mic217bP-g
Since the 2014–2018 Old Sedberghian Club Pilgrimage three more Sedberghian World War One casualties have been identified. The School Chaplain, the Revd Paul Sweeting, has played an important role in ensuring that these men are remembered here at Sedbergh. In the summer he and his wife visited the grave of one, later returning with pupils. Paul has coordinated the adding of the names to the Cloisters, work which is planned for before our Remembrance Service this November, and has instigated the addition of the missing names of the men to the Book of Remembrance in Chapel.
The Book was a gift from Major General Michael Walsh, (SH 1941-44) and includes the names of the 460 Sedberghian casualties known to have died in the First and Second World wars. The calligraphy artist who created the original book was Terry Johnson. Earlier this year Terry, having been tracked down by Paul, undertook work to add the new casualty names to the original book. Terry’s skillful craftsmanship ensured that the latest additions match the style of the original text.
The casualties added to the Book of Remembrance are:
Captain James Fisher, Lupton House (1910-11), King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died 23.02.1919 in England of injury suffered during the War.
Examiner Humphrey. M. Thompson, Sedgwick House (1906-09), Aeroplane Investigation Department, died 28.10.1918 in England from illness contracted on service.
Rifleman George Windram, Sedgwick House (1895-98). Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, died 12.09.1918 in France having been killed in action.
Due to the fog of war and having lost touch with many Old Sedberghians who were fighting in the conflict, the contemporary Sedberghian magazines did not record the death of all Sedberghian casualties. Over 100 years later information of some Sedberghians who lost their lives is only just becoming known to the School. It is possible that there are more Sedberghian casualties whom the School and Old Sedberghian Club are not currently aware. Any information about potential missing casualties is warmly welcomed.
Day One
York to Bedlam – Completed!
Sun, swim and a bit of running
Great effort, team. Now have a well deserved rest… but only until tomorrow.
And off they go! 6am start for the Solstice Stride runners in York this morning. Good luck!
Follow their progress on Facebook HERE.
Please donate to support the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme via the Justgiving page HERE.
Check this page for updates as they run.
The Headmaster, Dan Harrison, with a cohort of runners from the School will run from York to Sedbergh over three days, retracing the steps of our Founder, Roger Lupton, who in 1475 made his way to York to be ordained as an acolyte. On Midsummer’s Day and Night (21st June) the Runners will arrive at Sedbergh where we will be celebrating this truly historic occasion.
In their hands the Runners will convey a message from King Charles III which will be shared with all the Friends of Sedbergh who wish to join us for this event. The day will culminate with a torchlit parade up Winder after which we will convene at the Cloisters to sing ‘O Valiant Hearts’ as they did in 1925. Those that join us will sign the Scroll, just as they did in 1925, and become forever part of Sedbergh School history. This is a once in a lifetime spectacular occasion.
Joe (H 97-01) and Andy (H 92-99) Symonds broke a world record on Saturday 7th June by running the equivalent height of Mount Everest, up and down Winder.
They took on the ‘Everesting’ challenge to raise money for charity and in memory of their father Hugh (former member of staff and Honorary OS), 35 years after he set his own world record.
Read an article about their achievement in The Westmorland Gazette HERE.
If you would like to make a donation you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/everesting-world-record-attempt
Many congratulations to Old Sedberghians Jack Roberts (S 06-13) and Lucy Thomson (L 09-14) who were married on Saturday 7th June at Stichill Church, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. The wedding was conducted by School Chaplain Rev Paul Sweeting. Their little son Charlie shared in the celebrations! They were ably supported by OS best men Ralph Chamberlain (P 06-13) and Robbie Harnby (S 05-13) and OS ushers George Renwick (P 09-13), Max Wilkinson (H 08-13) (also MC at the reception) and Tom Carlyle (W 10-13). Many other OS joined in the celebrations and Rev Sweeting reports that he returned south to Sedbergh with happy memories of a good time spent in excellent company!
Michelle Rothwell (L 03-05) redefined what’s possible. She didn’t just take on a challenge – she created one and then she conquered it. It’s called the Shelly Rothwell Round. It’s brutal, beautiful, and unapologetically bold. Here’s the breakdown:
10.5-mile swim – the full length of Lake Windermere – no wetsuit, 12.5°C water, 10 hours.
She emerged with hypothermia and kept going.
112-mile bike ride – the infamous Fred Whitton route 3,500m of climbing. Relentless hills.
66-mile run – the legendary Bob Graham Round – 42 peaks. 8,200m elevation. Wind chill below zero. Hallucinations in the dark.
And an extra 17.5 miles on the bike — just to link the stages!
She did it all in under 3 days with no sleep and no shortcuts.
Why? Because she noticed something missing: there are no iconic endurance events named after women, so she made one. The Shelly Rothwell Round is more than a challenge, it’s a message: that women deserve to be remembered in endurance history.
History was made.
Michelle would like to give special thanks to her brother Jeremy Lefton (H 99-04), and her good friends Stuart McGill (H 96-03) and Hannah Gale (R 14-17) for their tremendous support during this amazing challenge.
Watch a video of Michelle talking to ITV News HERE.
In 1990 our Dad, Hugh Symonds (former member of staff and Honorary OS), did a continuous run over all the 3000 foot mountains in Great Britain and Ireland in 97 days – a record that stands to this day. Back then he raised around £20,000 for the charity Intermediate Technology. In 2005 Intermediate Technology was renamed ‘Practical Action.’ Practical Action is a charity that works in poor communities to develop sustainable solutions to health inequalities and poverty.
Hugh Symonds very sadly died of bladder cancer on 25th November 2024 at the age of 71 years.
On this the 35th anniversary of his incredible run, we – his two sons – are going to attempt to break the world record for running up and down the equivalent height of Mount Everest (8848m). We will do this on the side of the hill that Hugh ran more times than any other – Winder, a 473m fell in the Yorkshire Dales, above Hugh’s home town for 43 years, Sedbergh.
Feel free to come along and support us on 7th June, starting at Lockbank Farm (Sedbergh) 8am. The current world record is 10 hours 45 minutes and 14 seconds, held by Danish ultrarunner, Simon Grimstrup. Our aim is to break the 10-hour barrier.
Please consider donating to this important cause that our Dad felt passionately about.
Blacklock Jewellery’s journey began in 1832, when ‘Blacklocks Fancy Goods’ was founded by Robert March Blacklock, a skilled shipwright on the River Wear in Sunderland. The company grew alongside Sunderland’s rise as the world’s largest shipbuilding town by the middle of the twentieth century, building a reputation for craftsmanship rooted in precision and artistry. This legacy of excellence has guided Blacklock through nearly two centuries of evolution.
In the last 50 years, Ralph Blacklock (Powell 58-63) played a pivotal role in shaping the jewellery industry. He co-founded the Company of Master Jewellers in the 1980s, now the leading buying group for high-end independent jewellers across the UK. Blacklock Jewellery’s excellence has been recognised with three finalist placements in the UK Jewellery Awards over the past 30 years, cementing its status as one of the UK’s finest independent family jewellers. At the turn of the century, Blacklock shifted from retail to a private client business, focusing on bespoke jewellery creations. Today, this exclusive service thrives alongside an exceptional ecommerce platform, allowing to reach a global audience.
In 2024 Blacklock Jewellery remains true to its origins, blending traditional techniques with modern innovation to create pieces of timeless beauty. Each design pays homage to a rich history while embracing contemporary elegance, ensuring that the creations resonate with both heritage and forward-thinking sophistication.
The connection to Sedbergh School is intertwined with the family’s history. Chris Blacklock’s grandfather, Kenneth Blacklock, first admired Sedbergh while playing rugby for Durham School’s 1st XV, which inspired him to send his son, Ralph, to Sedbergh. Ralph attended Powell House from 1958 to 1963, playing for 2 years in a successful 1st XV alongside the likes of Neil McKerrow and John Spencer. Ralph continued the family tradition, by sending both Mark Blacklock (Powell 86-91), and Chris Blacklock (Cressbrook 87-89 / Powell 89-94) to Sedbergh, where they were under the inspirational guidance of Ed Campbell in Powell House.
Chris Blacklock, now the sixth generation Blacklock owner comments, ‘Creating a 9ct yellow gold lapel pin to commemorate Sedbergh’s 500th anniversary is something Blacklock Jewellery are very proud to do – to play a very small part in helping to celebrate Sedbergh’s remarkable legacy is a special moment. A School that has shaped so many where the values of resilience, discipline and camaraderie ring true. We have tried to reflect these values through the design and creation of the historic Sedbergh Wolf’s Head lapel pin.’
The Wolf’s Head lapel pin is crafted in 9ct diamond milled yellow gold with silver pin. Hallmarked 375 with 2025 ‘date’ letter. Hallmark consists of the Blacklock makers mark ‘RHB’, ‘375’ Standard mark, Crown fineness mark, Birmingham assay office mark of the ‘anchor’ and the date mark ‘A’.
A donation from the proceeds of the sales from the 9ct lapel pin will be gifted towards a Roger Lupton scholarship
To ensure your lapel pins carry the 2025 anniversary year date stamp and are delivered in time for Christmas, please place your final orders through Blacklock Jewellery by October 31st, 2025. Pins will continue to be available in 2026 and beyond, with the corresponding year stamped on each pin.
Due to recent fluctuations in the price of gold, we have unfortunately had to revise the cost of the Wolfs Head lapel pin to £650 + shipping. Please note that, as precious metal markets continue to move, this price cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to change.
Please contact chris@blacklockjewellery.com to order directly.
www.blacklockjewellery.com
We are pleased to announce that the second edition of Floreat Sedberghia has been published.
You can read an electronic copy of the newspaper below:
If you would like a hard copy please let us know and we will post one out to you.
Feel free to write to us and let us know your news. If you have something important to say, or even a pithy anecdote, please send your letters to the Editor. Either email to osclub@sedberghschool.org or write to The Editor, The Development Office, Sedbergh School, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5HG.
We hope you enjoy reading it and we look forward to seeing you at one or more of the celebratory events in 2025.
Follow their progress on Facebook HERE.
Please donate to support the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme via the Justgiving page HERE.
Check this page for updates as they run.
