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| Sedbergh School | |
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Dura Virum Nutrix
(Latin: "A Stern Nurse of Men") |
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| Location | |
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| Sedbergh, Cumbria, England | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public (originally a Chantry School) |
| Established | 1525 |
| Headmaster | Christopher Hirst |
| School Colour(s) | Brown |
| Website | School Website |
Sedbergh School is a co-educational boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria for boys and girls, between the ages of 13 and 18 inclusive. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is renowned for strong sporting sides, especially its Rugby Union 1st XV.
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Background
The school was founded in 1525 by Roger Lupton, Provost of Eton College.
Until 2001, when girls were admitted, the school's original single-sex status led to the school motto Dura Virum Nutrix (A Stern Nurse of Men), still in use today. Since then the number of girls attending has grown dramatically. The current headmaster, Christopher Hirst, brought in the change to co-educational schooling from single-sex. This has led to some criticism, especially from old boys, as he publicly stated that he "would resign before allowing Sedbergh to admit girls".
Despite its long history, The Good Schools Guide notes how “Sedbergh has faced up to the demands of the 21st Century but managed to retain traditional values and ethos. Its increasing numbers indicate parents very much approve. It rightly retains its formidable reputation on the sports field but away from it, provides a happy and caring environment for all its pupils regardless of ability or sports prowess.”
The school song, Winder, is named after the hill which dominates the skyline to the North. It is rarely sung, mainly at the end of a term, but is an important tradition nonetheless.
The school is particularly proud of its cloisters, one of the few officially listed War memorials located in schools. Every known name of an old boy who died during the first and second world wars is recorded on its walls.
With the aid of the Robertson Foundation the school has been able to give many scholarships to less well-off pupils. The school maintains a strong sporting rivalry with Ampleforth College and (to a lesser extent) with Stonyhurst College.
History of The School
The Chantry School
Roger Lupton, our Founder, is thought to have been born at Cautley in the parish of Sedbergh in 1456 and he provided for a Chantry School in Sedbergh in 1525 while he was Provost of Eton. By 1528, land had been bought, a school built, probably on the site of the present School Library, and the foundation deed had been signed, binding the School to St John's College, Cambridge and giving the College power over the appointment of Headmasters. This link to St John's College probably saved Sedbergh in 1546-48 when most chantries were dissolved and their assets seized by Henry VIII's Commission.
The Grammar School
Sedbergh was re-established and re-endowed as a Grammar School in 1551 and the fortunes of the School in the coming centuries seem to have depended very much on the character and abilities of the Headmasters with pupil numbers fluctuating and reaching as low a total as 8 day boys in the early 19th century.
One particularly successful period was during the Headship of John Harrison Evans (1838-1861) who restored the prestige and achievements of the School and also funded the building of the Market Hall and Reading Room in the town.
A more independent Governing Body was established in 1874 in a successful bid to maintain Sedbergh's independence (amalgamation with Giggleswick had been suggested) and the first meeting took place in The Bull Inn in Sedbergh in December.
The Public School
In the 1870s there was a tremendous amount of development and building work at Sedbergh, under the careful eye of the Headmaster, Frederick Heppenstall. This included the Headmaster's House (now School House), classrooms, a chapel and four other boarding Houses.
Henry George Hart took over as Headmaster in 1880 and his tenure saw the new Chapel built in 1897, the founding of the Old Sedberghians in 1897/98, the creation of the prefectorial system, the inaugural Wilson Run and the confirmation of the School motto "Dura Virum Nutrix" (Stern Nurse of Men).
More recent events
In 1989 the number of boys in the School exceeded 500 for the first time in the School's history, during the Headship of Dr R G Baxter. Two years later a new coat of arms was granted to the School and it was visited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
Today the School has a Junior School at Bentham and the School is fully co-educational with two girls' Houses alongside the traditional boys' Houses.
Boarding Houses
Every pupil at Sedbergh lives in a boarding house, of which there are eight (six for boys, two for girls) chosen when applying to the school. It is here that s/he eats and sleeps. Each house is presided over by a housemaster/ mistress, who takes on the role in addition to teaching duties, and a number of house tutors who are also teachers in the school. Pupils have a strong sense of pride in their houses and each house fosters a strong community spirit. Houses compete in school competitions such as debating, academic challenge (a 'university challenge' style quiz) and 'House Unison' (a traditional singing competition), and in particular in sporting competitions, for example the seriously contested Senior Seniors (Inter-House rugby) and the Wilson Run. Each house has an official name which is often that of an illustrious Old- Sedberghian or Headmaster.
Each house also had a set of house colours, which adornes the blazers of boys and girls in fifth form and below as well as on on various house sports clothing. Pupils who thourghout their school career demonstrate great service to their house are awarded their House colours by their Housemaster/ mistress. Sedberghians take immense pride in being awarded House colours which take the form of a scarf and a tie in the colours of their house.
The boarding houses also each have their own house magazine, named after the emblem of the house (for example, the magazine of Hart House is called The Jay), written and edited by the pupils within the house.
The Names of the Houses
Evans House, Boys House- Colour: Yellow, Emblem: Wasp
Hart House, Boys House- Colour : Green, Emblem: Jay
Lupton House, Girls House (former Boys House)- Colour: White/ Black, Emblem: Wolf
Powell House, Boys House- Colour: Pink, Emblem: Chameleon
Robertson House, Girls House- Colour: Turquoise, Emblem: Butterfly
School House, Boys House- Colour: Blue, Emblem: Kingfisher
Sedgwick House, Boys House- Colour: Red, Emblem: Rouge et Noir
Winder House, Boys House- Colour: Purple, Emblem: The Mole
Sport
Sedbergh has an international reputation for its sporting achievements and the School also takes great pride in offering a broad range of sporting opportunities for all pupils who frequently continue their sporting activities into adult life. Many Old Sedberghians have national caps and international tournament experience in their chosen sports, some even before they leave the School.
Sedbergh is particularly renound for producing brilliant Rugby Football players, including former England captains Wavell Wakefield, John Spencer and Will Carling, as well as world cup winner William Greenwood. At present in the Rugby Union Guinness Premiership, Sedbergh is represented by seven players at first or second team level in four different clubs.
Sedbergh's sporting reputation and history is something that is taken very seriously by pupils at the school and winning the coverted 'brown blazer' as worn by so many famous old boys is often the highlight of a sporting Sedberghian's school career. The 'brown blazer' is the award of 1st team rugby or cricket colours, but is also sometimnes awarded to Sedberghians who achieve marked success at another sport. Winning your 'brown' gives the Sedberghian the right to wear a specially made blazer that, as the name suggests, is brown in colour, as well as the standard colours tie, scarf and jumper. 'Brown's' are often awarded at special occasions such as the annual 'Ampleforth day', (the annual sports fixture against Ampleforth School, called 'Sedbergh day at Ampleforth) or the end-of-season 1st team dinner.
Sedbergh has also schooled English cricketer Mandy-Mitchell Innes as well as Scottish cricketer Rab Bruce-Lockhart.
The Wilson Run
One of the unique aspects of the school is the Wilson Run, also known as the "Ten Mile". The race distance is just over 10 miles (10 miles 385 yards), about 7 miles of which crosses over the surrounding fells with the rest going along roads. Pupils however must now qualify to take part in the race over an 11 mile training route which covers most of the race route. The race is one of the longest, hardest and most gruelling school runs in the country and has been a tradition for well over 100 years. The run has been cancelled only three times, owing to epidemic (1936), snow (1947) and the Foot and Mouth epidemic. The record time for the race stood unbroken at 1 hour, 10 mins and 16 seconds for almost a hundred years until it was dramatically broken by Charles "Chuck" Sykes in 1993 with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 4.1 seconds. His record still stands today.
The Wilson Run holds a great mystique for Sedbergh's pupils. Pupils generally run in all types of weather, be it torrential rains and mud baths, or even bright, sunny clear days. The day of the race is a major event in the calendar and is commemorated by a large and often emotional concert on the evening of the race day. A special song, "The Long Run", is dedicated to the race and is traditionally sung only on this occasion.
Anti-Assassins Rugby Club
The Anti-Assassins Rugby Club (A-As) was founded in 1950 when Sedbergh Old Boys’, Stewart Faulds, Geoff and Arthur Kenyon were invited to pick a Northern team to play against the masters and Old Boys (The Assassins) of Sedbergh School. Now, this invitational team plays as SpoonAAs, raising funds for the Wooden Spoon charity.
Chapel Organ
The magnificent chapel organ was acquired from the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hucknall. It was built by Nigel Church and moved to the school by David Wells in 1994.
School song
Winder is the School song for Sedbergh School, named after the fell that dominates the northern skyline of the school. The hill is a gateway to the Howgill Fells and climbing it is something that school tradition dictates every pupil must do.
The song is sung at all major school events such as the Wilson Run.
Verse 1 Oh Eton hath her River and Clifton hath her down, And Winchester her cloisters and immemorial town. But ours the mountain fastness, the deep romantic ghylls, Where Clough and Dee and Rawthey, Come singing from the hills!
Refrain For it isn't our ancient lineage, there are others as old as we. And it isn't our pious founders, though we honour their memory. 'Tis the hills that are stood around us, unchanged since our days began. It is Cautley, Calf and WINDER, that make the Sedbergh man.
War Cloisters
The Cloisters at Sedbergh are an impressive and fitting monument to ol boys and masters of the School who gave their live for their country during the Great War and the Second War. The Cloisters were dedicated in 1924 and then re-dedicated after the Second World War. The hostile North Yorkshire weather however, took their toll of the Cloisters, wearing down the slabs of stone with the names on of those who died. The Cloisters were therefore restored and partially rebuilt in 2005 and on Remembrance Day again re-dedication after an appeal had raised over £130 000 for the necessary work.
The School also has a separate memorial for Old Sedberghians awarded the Victoria Cross, of which there are four. Brigadier Jock Campbell who won the Military Cross in the First World War and the Victoria Cross at the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the Second and was a member of Evans House. Three of the Old Sedberghian winners of the Victoria Cross were Old Sedgwickians, RJT Digby Jones at Wagon Hill in 1900 in the Boer War, George Ward Gunn at Sidi Rezegh in 1941 and Kenneth Campbell over Brest Harbour, also in 1941.
Notable Old Sedberghians
- Colonel Freddie Spencer Chapman DSO , naturalist, mountaineer, explorer, war hero
- John Arden, dramatist
- Thomas Bingham, Baron Bingham of Cornhill, Senior Law Lord, former Master of the Rolls and Lord Chief Justice
- Sir Christopher Bland, Chairman of B.T. Group, businessman and former Chairman of the BBC
- John Charles Campbell, VC, a commander of the 7th Armoured Division
- Kenneth Campbell VC
- Robert Swan, OBE, Polar explorer, the first man in history to walk to both the North and South Poles
- Logie Bruce Lockhart, rugby union: Scotland, headmaster of Gresham's School
- Will Carling, OBE, rugby union: England Captain
- Will Greenwood, MBE, rugby union: England
- James Simpson-Daniel rugby union: England
- Wavell Wakefield, 1st Baron Wakefield of Kendal rugby union: England
- Ewan Dowes rugby league
- Adam Sedgwick, Founder of modern geology.
- Brendan Bracken, 1st Viscount Bracken, Politician, businessman and associate of Winston Churchill.
- John Dawson, Surgeon and mathematician.
- Sir Jock Slater, GCB, LVO, DL, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff.
- Sir Giles Shaw, Politician.
- Michael Shaw, Baron Shaw of Northstead, Politician.
- Simon Beaufoy, Screenwriter, (The Full Monty).
- Adam Rickitt, Actor, singer, model and aspiring Conservative M.P.
- David Waddington, Baron Waddington, British Home Secretary, Lord Privy Seal, Leader of the House of Lords, Governor of Bermuda.
- Edward John Eyre, Explorer and Governor of Jamaica.
- Phillip Coe
- Sir Thomas Russell Fairgrieve, politician
- James Wilby, Actor
- William George Clark, English classical and Shakespearean scholar.
- Stephen O'Brien, Conservative Party Member of Parliament.
- John Hammersley, British mathematician.
- Christian Bjelland, Norweigan businessman and chairman of the National Gallery of Norway
- Edward Max Nicholson, Founder of the World Wildlife Fund.
- Tom Wright (theologian), Bishop of Durham and a leading British New Testament scholar.
- Frank Duxbury, Founder of Sedbergh School, Québec, Canada [1].
- Brian McConnell, Baron McConnell, Northern Ireland politician and member of the House of Lords.
- Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Baron Bruce-Lockhart,OBE, Chairman of The Local Government Association
- Freddie Tait, golfer
- Sir Robert Rhodes James, politician and author
- F. A. Ridley, historian and Marxist
- Mandy Mitchell-Innes, England cricketer
- Robert James Thomas Digby-Jones, awarded the Victoria Cross
- George Ward Gunn, awarded the Victoria Cross
- Henry Lowther Clarke, first Archbishop of Melbourne
- H. Montgomery Hyde, author and politician
- Colin Blakely, British character actor
- Henry Colin Gray Matthew, historian and the first editor of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- John Cranke, mathematician and mentor
- JB Blanc, Hollywood film actor
- George Birkbeck, doctor, academic, philanthropist and early pioneer in adult education.
- William John Woodhouse, classical scholar and author
- Hugh l'Anson Fausset, literary critic, biographer, poet and religious writer.
- Robert Willan, the father of modern dermatology
- John Haygarth, physician who discovered the benefits of segregating/quarantining sick patients.
- Mark Umbers, Actor - theatre and film
- Anthony Askew, Physician and book collector
- Francis Llewellyn Griffith, Eminent British Egyptologist
- Adam Applegarth, Ex-CEO of Northern Rock bank
- John Bruce-Lockhart, Scottish cricketer and acclaimed schoolmaster
- Major General Henry Templer Alexander, DSO, CBE, Army Commander
- Venerable John Duckett, Catholic priest and martyr
- Archibald Strong, Australian scholar and poet
- John Spencer, England rugby captain
- Wilfred Eade Agar, Anglo-Australian zoologist
- Maj. Gen. Michael J. H. Walsh, CB DSO, British Army and Chief Scout
- Edmund Sharpe, Architect and engineer
- Dr. Digby McLaren, Geologist and palaeontologist
- Roger Vignoles, International piano accompanist
A former teacher at the school was Henry Watson Fowler, the writer of A Dictionary of Modern English Usage
External links
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