Author: dean

The Old Sedberghians had a record turn out of shooters for the Public Schools’ Veterans Competition on 13th July which was held immediately after the Ashburton Shield Competition. For the first time in many years there were enough firers for 3 full teams which also reflected the talents of the younger OS shooters several of whom are now competing at international level. The competition was shot at 500 yards in conditions which were more challenging than usual with strong winds and threatening rain showers. In view of the quality among the younger shooters the teams were selected as follows (scores included):

OS A Team:

Harriet Bramwell – 48.4

Sarah Rorison – 48.5

Angus Strudwick – 47.4

Harry Welch – 47.3

Katherine Fleck – 48.5

Team Total – 238.21 (the .21 refers to the number of central bulls) 

OS B Team

Lauren Robinson (Nee Crowson) – 49.7

Will Squires – 49.5

Oli Christy – 48.4

Peter Bromley – 49.6

Mark Wrigley – 49.6

Team Total – 244.28

OS C Team

Charles Anyan – 43.3

Ben Jones – 49.3

Megan Kenyon – 43.0

Abi Gibbs – 47.3

Toby Lehmann – 47.5

Team Total – 229.14

The B team comprising some of the more experienced shots won the day and were placed second in the “B” tea competition one point behind the Old Greshams team. We were placed 5th in the aggregate competition based on the combined scores of all 3 teams. Lauren Robinson was the top OS score of the day winning the McMullen Trophy with 49.7 which showed an impressive return to form after several years away from the sport. It was great to have this trophy back with us, it having briefly disappeared during the disruptions caused by Covid!

As a belated mention that in addition to those OS who have shot at international level before either for Great Britain or at National level, Harriet Bramwell has been selected to Captain the GB Under 25 Team to the World Championships in South Africa in 2024 and we have just had the news that Sarah Rorison and Daisy Armstrong have been selected for the GB Under 21 Team in the same competition.

Importantly it is not just the shooting that counts and after enjoying catching up on the range, we adjourned to the RAF Small Arms Association Club for an excellent BBQ hosted by the Ian Christy IC Sedbergh Shooting who has done so much to encourage younger shooters to remain in the sport. Several who could not make the competition because of work commitments arrived in time for the main Imperial Meeting competitions.

An innovative and unique new marketing App from OS James M. O. Robertson (E88-93) available right now on Apple and Android.

Do you own an offline business anywhere in the world?

            Think hospitality, retail, personal service etc

Would you like to:

            Increase sales?

            Expand marketing reach?

            Real time report on how your offers are being used?
            Securely link discounts to your EPOS system?
            Generate a new database you can push notifications directly to?

We have the answer. 

No hardware required and staff trained in 60 seconds.

It takes 1 minute to download, 5 minutes to setup, 10 minutes to see results & costs the same as 3 pints at the Dalesman (which is obviously also money well spent)!


Please check out the website with links to download the App today.

If any O.S. would like a personal walkthrough then James would be delighted to assist, just drop an email to james@flycket.com

FLYCKET – the trackable FLYer and shareable ticket.

OS Ewan (W 97-99) and Mike (SH 93-00), both former professional rugby players, now work for St James’s Place who are a wealth management company that run an industry-leading financial adviser training programme.

Ewan and Mike discuss their transition from professional sport to life at SJB here.

OS Joe Symonds (H 94-01) took part in the Scottish Islands Peaks Race in May. Joe is a veteran of this race, having competed 12 times, and previously setting the records for the running legs on Mull and Arran. Joe is a Paediatric Neurologist living near Glasgow and has ranked highly in diverse running styles – from a 2:20 marathon to 4th in the World Mountain Running Champs; from British Champ to Yorkshire 3 peaks winner (twice).

You can listen to a podcast of Joe speaking to Go Mountain Goats here.

A York-based boutique meat brand The Heroes Journey has secured funding from HSBC UK to expand its global import capacity and expand its product range. Charlie Simpson-Daniel (SH 2000-08), Managing Director, said: “The world is such a fascinating place, filled with incredible eating experiences and we are on a mission to bring these to the United Kingdom. Life is too short not to experience such variety in our diets and British consumers are becoming increasingly aware of this.

Founded in 2014, The Heroes Journey is a family run business, with a history in professional and international rugby union, supplying luxury meats, snacks and refreshments across major UK supermarkets.

The business has an existing partnership with UK charity Lions Landscape, aiding the protection of wildlife internationally by donating 2p for every product sold. Additionally, The Heroes Journey has shipped over one million packs of its low-calorie ostrich products in partnership with the largest supplier of sustainable ostrich situated in Africa.

Read more here.

Alistair Meadows (H 84-89) and three friends from Cambridge, recently completed a 1,900 mile ‘Ride it Out’ motorbike challenge through England, Scotland & Wales to raise awareness & money for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

Devastatingly, 125 people in the UK make the decision to end their lives every week.  Many of us have sadly been impacted by suicide.  CALM exists to prevent suicide and provide vital support.

Following in his father, Peter Meadow’s (former housemaster of Winder House 1970-1985 and History master 1959-1990) footsteps, Alistair took up motor biking a few years ago. During the trip for CALM there were various OS related pit stops, including tea & cake with Judith (Honorary OS), Nick (S 74-79) & Liz Meadows in Middleton-in-Lonsdale. Followed by Prestbury, Cheshire with Richard Barker  ( H 84-89) & family.

Donations to CALM would be appreciated and can be made on the Justgiving page here.

Meadows Small
Peter Meadows outside The Old Smithy, Sedbergh c.1988

We have been advised that the following Old Castertonians have left us during the last academic year:

“But soon the mists of evening

hang blue upon the hills,

And the closing night in quietness

Holds peace, and rest for ills;

But ere the latter darkness fall

on Time’s close-drawing day,

Our song of Light Triumphant swells –

“One Heart; One Way;

One Heart; One Way.”

Head of History 1984 – 2015

Sedbergh School is saddened to record the death of former teacher, Michael Raw, on 27th May. Educated at Haberdashers School and Queens College, Cambridge, Michael was invited to join the Common Room of Sedbergh School in 1984 as Head of the History Department.

Michael was a generous colleague and a compelling teacher. His propensity for clear, erudite explanations of the subject matter combined with entertaining and often gruesome detail created an enviable level of engagement with his pupils.

Unashamed of his eccentricities Michael chuckled at the reputation he enjoyed. Pupils recall the windows of Room 13 open all year round, in sun, wind and even the odd Cumbrian snow storm. Michael was a willing judge for any school competition from house drama to academic challenge. His cutting, occasionally brutal critique of pupils’ performance could certainly not be called pithy but was always entertaining, apt and often surprisingly edifying.

After writing in his early adulthood for amongst others the Cambridge footlights and ‘Not The Nine O’clock News’ Michael had to content himself with writing and performing in Sedbergh’s own sketch show ‘A kick in the stalls’ and its various sequels. One particularly memorable scene featured Michael in Y fronts grunting as a monosyllabic caveman. Shocking for pupils and colleagues alike this hilarious performance typified Michael in that it was funny, unashamed and perfectly pitched. When a spoof ‘Micky Raw Sedbergh’ twitter account emerged in 2012 readers were fairly sure that it was a parody – but with Michael anything was possible.

Michael was unashamed of his determination to do things the old way and found that his genuine charm and warmth meant others wanted to accommodate him. His reluctance to use a computer was warmly indulged by the school secretary who typed his hand written pupil reports for many years after the Common Room embraced a computerised report system.

Michael was a generous, entertaining and warm host who welcomed many colleagues and former pupils to his home. An evening at one of his successive Sedbergh residences was a richly sought after prize, particularly as it came with viewing rights to Michael’s extensive collection of historic artefacts, modern art and an enviable library. Conversation was lively as Michael brought together friends from different aspects of his life, regailing them with stories of his work on radio and television comedy, and name dropping with ease.

During a stint playing for the Harlequins Michael gained what he described as his ‘cauliflower ears’ as well as a keen sense of sportsmanship. At Sedbergh he coached the First XV from 1987-1991 and later moved to the B1 team with whom he stuck for much of his career.

Sedbergh has benefitted from Michael’s writing and attention to literary detail over many decades, first during his time as editor of the Sedberghian and latterly as Michael was appointed to chronicle various aspects of the school’s history. Prior to retiring from teaching Michael was invited to write ‘Thread of gold’, a history of Sedbergh School Football Club. He approached this with his trademark thoroughness reading every historic issue of the Sedberghian magazine, Captains’ minute book, Governors’ minute book and personal memoir available. 

In recent years Michael undertook the substantial role of school historian, seeking to research and write a new history of the school in time for the 500th anniversary. Michael’s diligence and integrity made him the perfect person for this role. He sought to accurately represent the community he served while ensuring that the individuals involved were portrayed compassionately. Michael’s portrayal weaves the events of school life into the context of national and international history in a manner that elevates the book beyond the ambitions of many coffee table school histories. Michael died whilst writing the final chapter. The completist in him would have been slightly frustrated with the premature ending to his career as a writer but the comedian in him would have chuckled at the off beat timing.

Michael travelled to the Baltic states in mid May for a much anticipated holiday. Unsurprisingly he travelled with a suitcase full of history books about the region, keen as always to expand his knowledge and engage deeply with his subject matter. Michael died in his sleep on holiday.

Michael’s death is a great loss to his many friends in the Sedbergh community and further afield. He was a special man who will be sadly missed.

By Katy de la Riviere

Michael Raw was a deeply loved individual and has been a great influence over the lives of so many colleagues and Sedberghians. The OS Club has had an overwhelming response to his passing. We include one such tribute from Oliver Foster (W 97-04):

“MAFR was one of those truly remarkable people who seemed to be the very embodiment of Sedbergh. His razor sharp intellect, his dry wit and his undoubted ability to command the attention of pupils and staff both in and out of the classroom were just a few of his attributes. 

Generations of Sedberghians will remember him for all manner of different reasons (Rugby, his love of fizzy blue bottles, Rm 13 with its windows open regardless of whether a new ice age had descended outside or not, his love of “notes”; a phrase which sent shivers down the spine of many!). 

When all is said and done though, we who were fortunate enough to have known Mr Raw owe him a debt we will never be able to repay. Sedbergh has lost a “giant”, a man who’s like we will not see again and we are all the poorer for it. May you rest in peace, Sir!“

We have had many requests for further information, which fall into three broad categories. In response:

Thank you to all those who have been in touch. He was indeed a very special and dearly loved individual.

Jan van der Velde

The Start Up Forum is an initiative which has its roots in a concept by Alex Hambley ,and has subsequently been developed by Andrew Stott such that, through Andrew’s endeavours and persistence, the Forum now numbers over 60 participants.

It is a place where the Sedbergh Community can celebrate and support entrepreneurship and is made up of investors, budding entrepreneurs, and those from a business or financial background.

Old Sedberghians, of all ages, have an opportunity to pitch their ideas to the group with a view to raising finance, and to receive mentoring or advice to help them grow.

On 24th May there was a gathering of the Forum at the London Steakhouse (a very fine establishment owned by James Robertson E 87-93). It was an opportunity for people to meet in person and therefore to overcome a downside of Teams meetings. Andrew Stott reminded us of the importance of entrepreneurship, and the value we can bring by supporting each other. 

In developing his programme, he has asked for investors to put £5,000 into a central fund. This will be used to invest in new projects for which people will eventually receive a return if the projects are successful. In the fullness of time Andrew intends that some of this return will go towards Roger Lupton Scholarships. A worthy cause indeed, and part of a very joined up and imaginative initative to help future generations. Well done Andrew and thank you for a great evening.

If you would like to know more about the Start Up Forum please email Andrew Stott: support@osstartups.com

Jan van der Velde

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