Author: dean
On Sunday 28th April Old Castertonians returned to Casterton to celebrate the 201st Founder’s Day. Holy Trinity Church was once again filled with those generations of Old Girls who had once occupied the wooden pews in their youth, and the roof lifted with the sound of the Casterton School song while the world swam in the eyes of those who recalled the line, and indeed the motto, ‘One heart, One way’. Old Castertonian Reverend Olivia Haines gave the sermon and spoke of bravery, and the need to have heart, during her sermon.
Afterwards Olivia laid a wreath on the grave of Reverend Carus Wilson while the gathered crowd bowed their heads.
After the service, Casterton alumnae joined the Prep School Headmaster, Will Newman, for tours of the School and lunch in the dining hall, sharing many old stories and new. Will Newman was shocked and delighted by some of what he learned….
It was another memorable celebration of Casterton, of its Founder Carus Wilson, of the girls who had once occupied its halls and classrooms, and of the friendships and memories which yet survive.
At the Founder’s Day Memorial Service we caught up with the Reverend Olivia Haines. Olivia was kind enough to conduct the service and afterwards lay a wreath on the grave of the Reverend Carus Wilson, Founder of Casterton School. During the interview Olivia reflected on what it was like to attend Casterton and why it is important to return.
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
It is with great sadness that the OS Club has learnt that Rothy (Pauline Anne) O’Brien has passed away. Rothy was a much loved member of the OS Community and was a great supporter of Sedbergh School. Her late husband ,David O’Brien was an OS (Hart, 1945-50) and a former governor of the School. The family is steeped in Sedbergh heritage with three generations all attending the School.
The funeral will be held on Thursday 18th July at 2.30 p.m. at St Andrew`s Church, Dent, followed by her burial in the churchyard. A funeral tea will take place at Sedbergh Golf Club (Catholes-Abbot Holme), Millthrop, Sedbergh, LA10 5SS).
When Carus Wilson founded the Clergy Daughters’ School at Cowan Bridge, he could have had little idea that the archives of his school would still be treasured and shared today. This wonderful collection spans 200 years and charts the progress both of this influential and at times radical school, and of the many girls and women who worked and were educated there.
The collection is broad ranging, including photographs of plays from the 2000s together with contemporary uniform samples, and items dating back to the earliest days of the School. A particular highlight is the admissions register that records the Brontë sisters starting at school. This records that on arrival at school Charlotte Brontë ‘reads tolerably, writes indifferently’. An early account book records a bill paid by Patrick Brontë, including bed, board, clothes, letters and transport of his girls.
For many years the collection was looked after by archivist Dorothy Vernon who took great care to preserve the items while ensuring that they were accessible to girls attending the school and to COGs visiting for special events. Katy de la Rivière continues Dorothy’s good work to ensure that this special collection is looked after. Headmaster of Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School, Will Newman and his staff are keen that the history of Casterton School is celebrated at every opportunity. Items from the collection and stories passed down by Casterton School alumnae feature in regular assemblies, classes, chapel sermons and evening talks to ensure that the young people being educated at Casterton today have a sense of importance and ethos of the school in the past. Items from the collection are displayed at Founder’s Day and other alumnae events on the school site and can also be viewed by request.
The collection continues to grow as alumnae and their families donate treasured items retrieved from the back of wardrobes or found in school trunks dragged down from the loft. Some people choose to write out their memories of school days to add colour to the formal photographs, magazines and school reports in the collection. It is a great privilege to continue to preserve and share this precious collection. If you would like to contact the archivist please do so on kdlr@sedberghschool.org.
The Casterton School legend Margaret Scarr kindly agreed to be interviewed on film to share memories of her 45 year career at Casterton (1968 – 2013). Mrs Scarr had many roles at the School including relief housemistress, driver and all round ‘Super Gran’. Over lunch with Will Newman, Margaret imparted the scandalous information that she used to drive Sedbergh boys back to their boarding houses when they had stayed later into the night than intended. We are most curious to find who these Sedberghian boys were…now is your opportunity to be reunited with the kindly woman who rescued you.
Margaret’s full interview is available to watch:
Many Old Sedberghians have sisters, wives and friends who attended Casterton School. Please let them know about the Castertonian Society as we’d love to invite as many people as possible to next year’s Founder’s Day. Please contact castertoniansociety@sedberghprep.org to join
It was a great pleasure to recently interview Alan Waxman, founder of Landmass London (https://www.landmass.co.uk/) a leading multi-award winning RIBA chartered, design and development company, delivering luxury properties around the world.
In the interview Alan tells his story while giving guidance and inspiration to those who want to follow a similar career. Watch the interview below.
Thank you Alan for taking the time to come to Sedbergh and sharing your journey.
Jan van der Velde
Lupton House 1977-1982
Director of Development
Some of you may remember the amazing Sedbergh 1st XV rugby captain Paul Sidi (W 73-78). I can remember watching him during a match in my youth (he was a few years ahead of me) and even though he was quite badly injured he carried on playing. These were the days when there were no substitutes. To go off was to let the side down, something he wasn’t prepared to do.
Paul is a tough individual. In later life he had to call on that resilience again, and did so with success.
It is no surprise to learn then that he is currently cycling across the USA in aid of the Doddie Weir Foundation, and in the fine company of Mike Teague and Peter Winterbottom. He is also acting as physio for the 3,250 mile ride.
Watch Paul speaking about his trip below:
They peddle back into New York at the end of June where Mike Bainbridge (S 78-83), amongst others, will be there to greet them.
If you would like to donate to the Doddie Weir Foundation, which funds research into Motor Neuron Disease, then please see the link below.
We wish Paul and the rest of the cyclists every success. Paul, on your return we want to know how many times you have sung the chorus of the Wilson Run in your head!
Jan van der Velde
Lupton House 1977-1982
Director of Development
Some of you may know Nigel Barden (P72-77) from his radio show on the BBC. He is a food and drink broadcaster and champion. A true ‘livewire’ that brings life to any room, and is never short of a word to say.
We met up with him, and fellow Powellian Tim Bulmer (P72-77), at the Imperial War Museum 1525 Society Lunch.
Now, there isn’t much I don’t know about Sedbergh but he told me that he and Tim were once part of a clandestine gang of diehards who got up to mischief. Quite what mischief I’m not sure but having met Nigel I am sure it was quite a lot.
So anyway, Nigel and Tim wondered if there are any of the old gang left. I feel a reunion coming on where, behind closed doors, the tales of mischief will be retold, with the usual embellishments and half-truths that come with age.
So, if you were a member of this clandestine organisation, if you stole milk from the fridge, drank a whole half pint of beer up Winder, wore your outdoor shoes inside, or played ‘The Carpenters’ at full blast during evening prep, please get in touch. Nigel wants a party, and it will no doubt have good food and wine. And if you weren’t a member, now’s the time to join.
Jan van der Velde
Lupton House 1977-1982
Director of Development
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Ed (Ned) Campbell, former member of staff, who finally lost his battle with cancer on 12th June 2024. We send our sincere condolences to his wife, Maz, and his family.
In the coming weeks I am sure others will offer a fitting obituary but I offer a brief personal perspective of a man who was so influential to many and of whom I have the warmest memories.
Ed taught English at Sedbergh but also took on the roles of Housemastership at Powell House (1978-93) and Evans House (1998-2004). From 1993 to 1998 he was appointed Second Master.
As an English teacher he brought inspiration to his chosen subject. One of his notable successes was the Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy (P 83-85) who has often said, and does so now, that without Ed’s (and Maz’s) passion for the subject he may have taken a different course in life and films such as Slumdog Millionaire may never have been written.
For myself, when I was asked to read in Chapel in the ‘upper fourth’ to a packed congregation, I can remember my legs shaking as I stood at the lectern about to deliver a reading from a book by Corrie Ten Boom. Then amongst the sea of faces about twenty rows back I saw Ed Campbell. He winked at me, and I smiled. I was reassured. My legs stop shaking, my hands no longer trembled. To this day I have never again feared speaking in public.
Inspiration comes in many forms. It is always a gift. Thank you Ed, the generations of OS whom you have taught, the colleagues whom you have guided, the friends with whom you laughed, are all richer for your time on earth.
Jan van der Velde