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
A charming journal, documenting the exploits and adventures of seven ‘new’ boys who joined Sedbergh School in 1945 and became firm friends, has been digitised and published so it can be shared with a wider audience.
The brown leather book embossed with the title ‘We Are Seven’ describes the group’s explorations and achievements over a period of five years, and is illustrated with many striking black and white photos.
The first outing was to Turshaw Spout, a high waterfall on Holme Fell. The adventures chronicled over the next five years include the discovery of further waterfalls, bathing pools and caves, as well as the numerous camps ‘The Big Seven’ made among the fells. Touchingly, the pupils also take pride in recognising and celebrating one another’s individual achievements in sport, academics and societies.
School Archivist Katy de la Rivière picks up the story:
‘This album is one of my favourite items in the archive. Our collection includes many wonderful photograph albums that have been created by past pupils and staff, but this volume is truly unique, recording photos of the boys’ adventures alongside first hand prose accounts of life at School in the post war years. The writings record the warmth of the relationship between the boys in a manner that is tremendously special. The gruff shyness of teenage boys is nowhere to be found, instead a sweet ‘Swallows and Amazon’s’ quality pervades the writings, although without the implied peril. It has been a great pleasure during my time at Sedbergh to meet the surviving members of the ‘Seven’, and some of the descendants of others. Development Office Researcher, Emily Rowe Rawlence’s work to digitise the album has allowed us to share the album widely and it has already travelled the globe in digital form, being enjoyed by the children and grandchildren of the boys featured in its 140 pages.’
The journal finishes with the following epilogue:
“It is our hope that these Annals will reveal to their reader some of the happiness and pleasure which we seven found in our schooldays.
That happiness and joie de vivre was due in no small measure to the kind indulgence of our Housemaster on the one hand, and the Sedberghian way of life on the other.
These two factors combined to show us the opportunity we had of making the most of our mutual friendship. We took that opportunity with seven pairs of hands, and exploited it to the full in the study, on the playing field, and among the fells.”
Their explorations may have taken place seventy years ago – in a different era – but the spirit of adventure, ambition and kindness remain very much alive in the School today.
Members of ‘The Big Seven’ were:
David Byrd, Rodney Dodds, Ian Gardner, David MacInnes, John ‘Giles’ Shaw, Alan Spinney, Archibald Turnbull.
Explore the digitised version of ‘We Are Seven’ below:
Guest article written by Development Office Researcher, Emily Rowe Rawlence who earlier this year scanned and formatted the ‘We Are Seven’ album to make it available to a wider audience.
After leaving Sedbergh, former Roger Lupton Scholar, Oliver, graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Performing Arts at the remarkably young age of 19. While working in the television industry and appearing in acclaimed series such as Star Wars: Andor and House of the Dragon, he was invited to audition for a new boy band and television series based in South Korea. This involved an intensive 100-day training programme with the renowned SM Entertainment.
The audition process took place across the UK, and Oliver was selected as one of the final five members. The journey was documented in a full television series titled Made in Korea, which aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, and was later broadcast internationally. The show followed the boys’ training and daily lives as SM trainees.
Since then, the new boy band, dearALICE, has performed their debut track, Ariana, live on Strictly Come Dancing, as well as on numerous other prime-time morning and evening television programmes.
Most recently, on 28th June 2025, they performed the UK leg of their tour at the O2 Arena in London, as part of the SM Live World Tour 2025, which has already seen them perform in South Korea, Los Angeles, and Mexico.
On 27th June 2025, dearALICE released their debut EP, Bitter Sweet Summer, featuring their new single Save Us, a stunning ballad led by Reese and Oliver. You can listen to it on YouTube via the link below:
https://youtu.be/4mic217bP-g
Since the 2014–2018 Old Sedberghian Club Pilgrimage three more Sedberghian World War One casualties have been identified. The School Chaplain, the Revd Paul Sweeting, has played an important role in ensuring that these men are remembered here at Sedbergh. In the summer he and his wife visited the grave of one, later returning with pupils. Paul has coordinated the adding of the names to the Cloisters, work which is planned for before our Remembrance Service this November, and has instigated the addition of the missing names of the men to the Book of Remembrance in Chapel.
The Book was a gift from Major General Michael Walsh, (SH 1941-44) and includes the names of the 460 Sedberghian casualties known to have died in the First and Second World wars. The calligraphy artist who created the original book was Terry Johnson. Earlier this year Terry, having been tracked down by Paul, undertook work to add the new casualty names to the original book. Terry’s skillful craftsmanship ensured that the latest additions match the style of the original text.
The casualties added to the Book of Remembrance are:
Captain James Fisher, Lupton House (1910-11), King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died 23.02.1919 in England of injury suffered during the War.
Examiner Humphrey. M. Thompson, Sedgwick House (1906-09), Aeroplane Investigation Department, died 28.10.1918 in England from illness contracted on service.
Rifleman George Windram, Sedgwick House (1895-98). Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, died 12.09.1918 in France having been killed in action.
Due to the fog of war and having lost touch with many Old Sedberghians who were fighting in the conflict, the contemporary Sedberghian magazines did not record the death of all Sedberghian casualties. Over 100 years later information of some Sedberghians who lost their lives is only just becoming known to the School. It is possible that there are more Sedberghian casualties whom the School and Old Sedberghian Club are not currently aware. Any information about potential missing casualties is warmly welcomed.
Day One
York to Bedlam – Completed!
Sun, swim and a bit of running
Great effort, team. Now have a well deserved rest… but only until tomorrow.
And off they go! 6am start for the Solstice Stride runners in York this morning. Good luck!
Follow their progress on Facebook HERE.
Please donate to support the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme via the Justgiving page HERE.
Check this page for updates as they run.
The Headmaster, Dan Harrison, with a cohort of runners from the School will run from York to Sedbergh over three days, retracing the steps of our Founder, Roger Lupton, who in 1475 made his way to York to be ordained as an acolyte. On Midsummer’s Day and Night (21st June) the Runners will arrive at Sedbergh where we will be celebrating this truly historic occasion.
In their hands the Runners will convey a message from King Charles III which will be shared with all the Friends of Sedbergh who wish to join us for this event. The day will culminate with a torchlit parade up Winder after which we will convene at the Cloisters to sing ‘O Valiant Hearts’ as they did in 1925. Those that join us will sign the Scroll, just as they did in 1925, and become forever part of Sedbergh School history. This is a once in a lifetime spectacular occasion.
Joe (H 97-01) and Andy (H 92-99) Symonds broke a world record on Saturday 7th June by running the equivalent height of Mount Everest, up and down Winder.
They took on the ‘Everesting’ challenge to raise money for charity and in memory of their father Hugh (former member of staff and Honorary OS), 35 years after he set his own world record.
Read an article about their achievement in The Westmorland Gazette HERE.
If you would like to make a donation you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/everesting-world-record-attempt
Many congratulations to Old Sedberghians Jack Roberts (S 06-13) and Lucy Thomson (L 09-14) who were married on Saturday 7th June at Stichill Church, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. The wedding was conducted by School Chaplain Rev Paul Sweeting. Their little son Charlie shared in the celebrations! They were ably supported by OS best men Ralph Chamberlain (P 06-13) and Robbie Harnby (S 05-13) and OS ushers George Renwick (P 09-13), Max Wilkinson (H 08-13) (also MC at the reception) and Tom Carlyle (W 10-13). Many other OS joined in the celebrations and Rev Sweeting reports that he returned south to Sedbergh with happy memories of a good time spent in excellent company!
Michelle Rothwell (L 03-05) redefined what’s possible. She didn’t just take on a challenge – she created one and then she conquered it. It’s called the Shelly Rothwell Round. It’s brutal, beautiful, and unapologetically bold. Here’s the breakdown:
10.5-mile swim – the full length of Lake Windermere – no wetsuit, 12.5°C water, 10 hours.
She emerged with hypothermia and kept going.
112-mile bike ride – the infamous Fred Whitton route 3,500m of climbing. Relentless hills.
66-mile run – the legendary Bob Graham Round – 42 peaks. 8,200m elevation. Wind chill below zero. Hallucinations in the dark.
And an extra 17.5 miles on the bike — just to link the stages!
She did it all in under 3 days with no sleep and no shortcuts.
Why? Because she noticed something missing: there are no iconic endurance events named after women, so she made one. The Shelly Rothwell Round is more than a challenge, it’s a message: that women deserve to be remembered in endurance history.
History was made.
Michelle would like to give special thanks to her brother Jeremy Lefton (H 99-04), and her good friends Stuart McGill (H 96-03) and Hannah Gale (R 14-17) for their tremendous support during this amazing challenge.
Watch a video of Michelle talking to ITV News 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:
Follow their progress on Facebook HERE.
Please donate to support the Roger Lupton Scholarship and Bursary Scheme via the Justgiving page HERE.
Check this page for updates as they run.
