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.

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

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.

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

The OS Club are conscious of the close historic links between Casterton and Sedbergh Schools. Many families had siblings attending each school, and many Sedberghians have had friendships, and in some cases marriages with women from Casterton. We call upon Sedberghians in our community to share news of the Castertonian Society with any friends, family and loved ones who attended Casterton School. We hope that news of the Society can ultimately reach all members of the Casterton School community who may wish to join.

The Castertonian Society will be formally launched on Friday 26^th January 2024 at a Burns Supper event held at Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School. Tickets for the event are available to buy here: Buy tickets – Burns Night Fundraiser – Sports Hall – Sedbergh Preparatory School, Casterton, Fri 26 Jan 2024 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM (tickettailor.com)

To learn more about the Castertonian Society and join the mailing list to learn about future events please sign up here: The Castertonian Society (office.com).

Over the course of the weekend, over 400 Old Girls, parents, and friends were in attendance at the lunches, the Gala Dinner, and the Church Service held in the Holy Trinity Church.

The Gala Dinner, held in a marquee, was a sell out success with 250 people enjoying a glorious summer evening while being entertained by the prep school musicians before dinner. Thereafter we heard speeches from the Headmaster, Will Newman, and Castertonian Old Girl, Holly Story.

During the evening we were entertained through song by Olivia Patchett, a former pupil at the prep school and now a music scholar at Sedbergh. Olivia received a standing ovation after her faultless performance.

After the formal part of the evening concluded, the live band ‘The Dead Beats’ soon filled the dance floor. It was a tremendous evening all round and many kind comments have since been received.

In the morning, with some bleary eyed, the traditional Casterton Founder’s Day ceremony was re-enacted with the carrying of the banner ahead of the assembled crowd of 200, who together paraded from the School to The Holy Trinity Church. It was a spectacular occasion not seen for ten years.

The Church service itself was conceived by the Sedbergh School Chaplain, Paul Sweeting, and led by Casterton Old Girl, The Revd Olivia Haines, supported by another Casterton Old Girl, The Revd Sarah Simpson.

During the service the Casterton school song was sung with such vigour, and with such passion, that it echoed around the walls of the Church and down the Lune valley. Tears welled in the eyes as fond memories came flooding back.

It was a wonderful weekend. Thank you to all those who made it happen, and in particular to Will and Liz Newman who were so hospitable and accommodating.

It should come as no surprise that following the weekend 150 Old Girls have signed up to attend more events and we hope this will be the platform for many happy reunions in years to come. If you would like to know more about future Casterton events, please see the link here: https://forms.office.com/e/ajvTVCe83Uhttps://forms.office.com/e/ajvTVCe83U

• Hayley Jagger Bedforth
• Mary Hamilton
• Sue Nelson
• Caroline Penny-Smith
• Anne Rushton
• Mary Scott
• Emily Williams

“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.”