Author: Helen Seabridge
Over three days in the gruelling June heat the Headmaster, Dan Harrison, and a cohort of staff runners from the School ran an astonishing 90 miles from York to Sedbergh, retracing the steps of the School’s founder Roger Lupton who walked the route 500 years ago.
We caught up with one of the running team, Associate Director of Development Ben Collins, to find out more about this symbolic fundraising challenge.
Tell us about the route: why was it chosen, and what were some of its challenges and highlights?
The route was inspired by the pilgrimage that Roger Lupton made 500 years ago, when he walked from Sedbergh to York to be ordained as an acolyte – a person able to assist in services and clerical duties. We aimed to retrace his steps but in reverse. Obviously the lay of the land has changed somewhat over the last 500 years! So we adjusted the route to make our course running-friendly, scenic and safe.
As a team we were raising money for the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme, so running in Roger Lupton’s footsteps felt especially meaningful and fitting. Along the way, the Headmaster carried a scroll with a message from King Charles III congratulating the School on its 500th, and a prayer from the Archbishop of York.
The main challenge was the sun, which blazed down on us over all three days and was energy sapping. Regular refuels were essential and made easy thanks to our brilliant support team who doled out iced towels and ice lollies from the support vehicle!
Each day we had planned a wild swimming spot to cool off – undoubtedly daily highlights. Day 1, the River Nidd near Knaresborough; Day 2, the River Wharfe near Grassington; and Day 3, the River Dee just outside of Dent.
L-R: Mark Norman, Ben Collins, Dick Gorst, Flor Zappulla-Annett, Dan Harrison
Congratulations to OS Abbie Ward (R 09-11) who has been named in the starting XV for England’s opening match of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
England head coach John Mitchell has confirmed an unchanged and powerful line-up, with Abbie continuing in her role at lock for Friday’s opener against the United States in Sunderland.
Read the full story on BBC Sport HERE.The Palma Match – one of the most prestigious international rifle competitions – takes place only once every four years and is hotly contested. We are delighted to share that OS John Warburton (L 75-80) has been appointed Captain of the Great Britain team, with OS Peter Bromley (L 77-82) chosen as Vice-Captain. OS Katherine Fleck (L 10-16) and OS Harriet Bramwell (C 13-16) have also both earned their places in the Training Squad. A remarkable achievement and a proud moment for Sedbergh!
Read the full announcement on the NRA website HERE.OS Ellie Dodds (née Mewburn, R 05–09) is fundraising to support research into treatments for PolG mitochondrial disease.
In July 2025, Ellie and Harrison Dodds received the devastating news that their 11-month-old son, Charlie, had been diagnosed with PolG mitochondrial disorder – a rare and degenerative condition for which there are currently no effective treatments or cure. Determined to change this, they are rallying support to fund vital research.
On 19 October 2025, Harrison will take on the Yorkshire Marathon to raise funds for The PolG Foundation, whose mission is to accelerate the development of treatments and, ultimately, a cure for PolG and other mitochondrial diseases.
Every donation brings hope – not only for Charlie, but for all those living with this life-limiting genetic condition.
Please support the Dodds family via their JustGiving page Crowdfunding For Good From JustGiving.Many congratulations to OS Sophie Woof (C 13-15) who recently got married. Very fittingly, she opted to marry in Casterton Church as she is also an Old Girl of Casterton School. She and Shaun Yates were married on Saturday 24th May, with the service conducted by the School Chaplain Rev Paul Sweeting. We wish them many happy years together!
OS Cameron Redpath (S 16–18), now a professional rugby union player and centre for Premiership club Bath, played a key role in a trailblazing victory as Bath secured their first Premiership title since 1996.
The dramatic win marks the club’s seventh English championship overall, ending a 29-year wait and reaffirming their place among the elite of English rugby.
Read more here.
This summer Sedbergh School bids a very fond farewell to Development Director, Jan van der Velde. Jan’s association with Sedbergh began back in 1977 when he arrived fresh faced from Grosvenor House Prep School to join the new Year 9, or 3rd form in old money, intake of Lupton House. Like so many Sedberghians Jan, or Vanders as he was known by some contemporaries, enjoyed the opportunity to explore the fells, quickly becoming a keen runner. In his final year he and fellow Luptonian Paul Page undertook the last known successful attempt of the Sedbergh Blue Ribband, running from Sedbergh to Whernside, completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks and running back to Sedbergh. Jan and Paul rang their housemaster, Brook Dowse, from Dent on the return leg of the run asking to be collected. Brook, accompanied by Sedbergh stalwart Nigel Horsfall, drove to Dent, threw a few bars of Kendal mint cake out of the car window, and told the boys to keep running. Perhaps this was just the level of support that the boys needed as they made it successfully back to Sedbergh. Jan was Head of School in his final year, supporting the newly arrived Roger and Dorothy Baxter as they became accustomed to Sedbergh life. Jan remained lifelong friends with Brook, Nigel and the Baxters.
Jan’s loyalty to Sedbergh was strong from the start. Immediately after leaving School he accepted an invitation as a former Head of School to join the Old Sedberghian Club Committee. Jan served on the committee for 42 years, including 12 years as Chairman. During his time he oversaw the modernisation of the Club, welcoming wives and partners to events for the first time, as well as the first female Old Sedberghians, and sought to recognise the contributions of many in our community through the awarding of honorary Old Sedberghian status, a rare but revered honour.
After a career that spanned work with GC Avionics, Price Waterhouse, and building a successful education products company, Kit for Kids, Jan returned to Sedbergh in the role of Development Director in January 2023. During his time in post Jan has created an ambitious programme of events to mark Sedbergh’s 500th anniversary, he has elevated the Roger Lupton Scholarships and Bursaries Scheme, rightly placing it front and centre of the School’s fundraising aims, and has enriched the lives of many in our community with his personal visits, cards, letters and phone calls. Having raised the Development Office to the level required to support a thriving School in the current financial market, Jan returns to the world of business. Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur it seems…
This week Jan graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University following completion of his second degree in Marketing. Those who have worked alongside Jan over the last two years will be astounded that he managed to fit in studying around the many events and campaigns he masterminded, not to mention acting as a pitch side photographer at many School sports fixtures. Having completed his studies, Jan is excited to be returning to the world of business, supporting developing businesses in a consultant role and shares his decades of experience with other entrepreneurs who will no doubt greatly benefit from the wealth of knowledge he brings.
Jan will be sorely missed by many in our community, as a friendly face visiting those isolated members of our community in their own homes, as compere at School and Old Sedberghian Club events, as an astute and witty writer who entertained many with his newsletter and newspaper articles and personal correspondence and as a sincere friend to all who needed a listening ear. Jan has made many friends over the years and would like to stay in touch with as many as possible. As such his new email address is janvdvelder@gmail.com.
We wish Jan the best of luck in his new venture.One of the many benefits of the OS Club is the opportunity to meet remarkable people and hear their stories of life and work. In July we visited Major General Jonathan Shaw – a twinkly eyed man with a sharp wit. In the serenity of his garden, he told us about his career at the heart of military operations.
Commissioned into the Parachute Regiment in 1981, he served in several operational roles, including deployments to Northern Ireland, the Falklands, and the Balkans. He later commanded the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, where he had the “fantastic experience” of leading 600 paratroopers. Respected for his resilience in high-pressure environments, Jonathan was appointed Director of Special Forces in 2003, taking charge of counter-terrorism at the Ministry of Defence during a time of national crisis that included the fuel protests, the foot and mouth outbreak and the aftermath of 9/11. A revered figure in the military, he held many high-profile positions, culminating in his appointment as the British Army’s first Head of the Defence Cyber Security Programme in 2011.
Watch our interview with Major General Jonathan Shaw to hear his story — including:
- Finding happiness in the hills of Sedbergh
- Why the School sets you up for life in a multiplicity of ways
- Key advice for current pupils