The Castertonian Society – a welcome from Jan van der Velde, Director of Development

I was speaking with my old maths teacher the other day, Mr Tony Thomas, who was later to become a very fine Headmaster at Casterton. It was the first time we had said ‘hello’ in years and the conversation naturally led to the days when Casterton was a girls’ school. 

As an Old Sedberghian I remember those days. My chums and I in Lupton House had many friends, and indeed siblings, at Casterton. It had its own identity as much as we had ours. We shared a love for our surroundings and our heritage. And sometimes, dare I say it, a love for each other. Perhaps we’ll draw a discreet veil over that particular aspect, although I am always glad to meet Sedbergh/Casterton couples who survived the test of time.

Time has moved on, it is now eleven years since Casterton School became Casterton Sedbergh Prep. The School remains an outstanding academic institution. We still celebrate its Founder, The Reverend Carus Wilson, and many of the values that guided the girls in their time have continued to inspire new generations of boys and girls in the more modern age.

As a former Chairperson of the Sedbergh alumni association, the OS Club, I have a great appreciation of the value of those friendships formed in our youth. Many who attended Casterton feel the same way. Many still share a sense of pride about their school days, and you only have to see the passion and vigour with which the Casterton Old Girls sing the School song on Founder’s Day, with tears welling in their eyes, to understand all that is loved by Old Girls about Casterton. This is too important to be lost.

With this in mind we have ressurected the Old Girls association. Called the Castertonian Society it seeks to maintain those friendships formed at Casterton during the formative years of youth. It has, as its President, a former Castertonian and we encourage Castertonians to help guide the Society’s activities.

We want the Society to prosper, and for this we ask that, from time to time, you let us know how you are doing so that we can share your news. Likewise, if you have friends that haven’t signed up, please encourage them to do so.

But, most of all, please come back to visit. Old Castertonians will always be welcome. It is a School that belongs as much to the past as to the future. It is still your School, it is still, in the words of the School song, ‘Casterton, Casterton, Casterton, our School’.

Jan van der Velde

Director of Development