Sedbergh Staff 1981 – 2010
Sedbergh School is saddened to share news of the death of Hugh Symonds on Monday 25th November 2024, aged 71 years. Hugh was a very much loved mathematics teacher, including a decade as Head of the mathematics department; he served as a tutor in Evans House for 24 years; was elected chairman of the Common Room by his peers and held roles as master in charge of running, the Wilson Run, athletics and careers during his 29 year career at Sedbergh. Following Hugh’s retirement, the Sedberghian magazine recorded that ‘his service at Sedbergh was distinguished by his modesty and genuine kindness.’
Hugh arrived at Sedbergh in 1981 to take up a post in the Mathematics department. Taking over responsibility for School running at the end of his first year in Sedbergh, Hugh was a wildly inspirational running master. He devised challenges that inspired pupils with varying experience of running to engage with the sport for the first time, and led those elite athletes in the School to become some of the greatest schoolboy and -girl runners in the country.
One such example was the 1988 Charity Run which involved over 400 participants, running in relays to cover the eighty miles from Sedbergh to Martin House Hospice, Wetherby, in ten hours. The event raised over £10,000 for the hospice. Hugh ran the entire distance himself. ‘Help from the Howgills’ raised £10,000 for Intermediate Technology in two weeks of the Summer Term in 1989. The challenge presented to each participant was to climb all thirty-one summits in the Howgills that are over 1,500 feet within the fortnight. Sponsorship was per peak. The response was excellent and many pupils attempted all thirty-one peaks.
Hugh also undertook personal challenges that made a tremendous impression on pupils and colleagues alike. Hugh took the summer term of 1990 as a sabbatical and supported by his wife Pauline and their children Andrew, Joseph and Amy, he made the first continuous traverse of all 296 peaks over 3,000 feet in Scotland, England and Wales before, with time to spare, he crossed to Ireland and scaled seven more such summits. By doing so, he raised some £25,000 for Intermediate Technology, a charity in which he took a close interest.
He took charge of the organisation of the Wilson Run in succession to Roger Moore in 1995. During 2004 to 2010 the Wilson Run course was extended by 300 yards when a landowner rescinded access to his land creating the need for an enforced diversion at Cautley. In his final year in post Hugh’s skilful and sympathetic negotiation led to the resumption of the race’s original course, including the crossing of a key field. Hugh was concerned that a significant number of runners had inadequate training for the race. This led to the introduction of qualifying times for prospective competitors in 2006. The target for boys was two hours and ten minutes; for girls it was two hours and thirty minutes. A training course was established by Hugh at the same time. These measures proved effective in improving many runners’ fitness and readiness for the race.
Hugh retired from Sedbergh’s staff in July 2010. As his colleague, John Sykes, put it, Hugh had shown ‘genuine interest and care for even the most modest of runners at Sedbergh. His capacity to share their enthusiasm, to nurture them and to inspire them shows us the nature of a remarkable man.’
After retirement Hugh and his wife Pauline embarked on a series of adventures including cycling the length of South America. The pair continued to call Sedbergh home between their many expeditions and it was always a delight to meet Hugh’s smiling face on Sedbergh Main Street. A man who always had time for his friends, Hugh will be greatly missed.
Hugh’s funeral took place on Thursday 5th December.
