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

Sedbergh School was saddened to hear of the death of Maurice Eggeling on December 5^th aged 100. Maurice had been a loyal supporter of the School since his days in Powell House in the 1930’s. Maurice went on to have a career in forestry after leaving school.

It was a great pleasure to welcome Maurice to Sedbergh in March of this year when he visited with the help of Sedbergh staff and his loyal carer, Mel. Maurice attended the Wilson Run dinner and delighted staff and OS with his warm sense of humour. Maurice was visited by School staff during his stay at the Black Bull Hotel where he viewed memorabilia from his time at School. It was very special to be visited by one of our oldest alumni.

Ben Collins had the pleasure of visiting Maurice just a few weeks before he died. The Old Sedberghian Club is grateful for the friendship that Maurice has shown to the School over many decades.

Maurice’s family would like to share the message below about him and details of his funeral which will be held:

“On:                      5 January 2024, at 11:30 hrs

At:                       Mortonhall Crematorium, Howdenhall Road, Edinburgh, EH16 6TX

Afterwards:      We would like to invite you back to Church Hill so that we may, together, celebrate Maurice’s life in the beautiful house that so reflected his personality.

We respectfully request that Maurice’s oft-heard request for colourfulness is considered by those attending when it comes to a decision as to what you wear.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as are able to attend, in person, as possible.

Set out below are the details that will enable you, if you are not intending to come along to Mortonhall Crematorium on 5 January 2024, to have the facility to watch the service on line, either live or over the ensuing 28 days, at your leisure.

If you wish to do so:

Please use the link  https://watch.obitus.com/gew5gP in your web browser. 

Then enter the user name: pove7755 

Then enter the password 566244

The live web streaming will be available from about 11:25 on 5 January 2024. All times are GMT so if you are watching from abroad you will need to adjust to your time zone.

We would request immediate family flowers only but if you would like to make a donation in-lieu of flowers that would be most kind.

Some may be unaware but Maurice lost his mother at an early age, and it was due to the great kindness of a relative that Maurice was able to attend Sedbergh School. So, Maurice was an avid supporter of the Roger Lupton Fund at Sedbergh School Foundation which provides places for other similarly disadvantaged children in the future.

If you would like to donate to this fund in memory of Maurice you can do so here:

For anyone who we have not yet managed to contact prior to this note: please accept our apology for this form of advice and we hope that you will understand that it has been a very busy time for everyone involved.

We hope to see as many of you as possible at the crematorium and then back at Church Hill.”

However, in my many years of service to the Club I have never been so struck by an individual, in particular one I never knew.

Ian suffered life-long disabilities following a car accident soon after he left Sedbergh. For the last ten years he has been in care. He was supported by a fellow Sedberghian, Alistair Pirie, a life-long friend from Hart House days, who made sure his affairs were looked after when Ian found it difficult to manage without assistance. Such are the Sedbergh bonds of friendship.

Ian passed away a few weeks ago and left his estate to the School so that future generations might have opportunities in life that he unfortunately could not have. This gift will have life changing consequences for others.

I will be there at his funeral to honour a man I never knew, whose final act was to help others when he himself had suffered so much. The funeral of this tremendous, very decent, and a most honourable Old Sedberghian, will be held on Friday 6 October at 2.00 pm in the chapel at Whitgift House, 76 Brighton Road, South Croydon CR0 6AB (the care home where he resided).

If you knew him, please join us. If you didn’t know him, please come anyway. He deserves our respect and a last farewell from his fellow Siblings of Sedbergh. If you are coming, please let me know (jcv@sedberghschool.org, 07714 677007).

Jan van der Velde

(Ian Gray is pictured above in his final year at Hart House, left of centre with glasses on the back row).

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

“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:

• For those who wish to write a letter of condolence, and given that Michael had no immediate relatives, we ask that you send your letter of condolence to: In memory of Michael Raw, Old Sedberghian Club, Sedbergh School, Sedbergh, Cumbria, LA10 5HG. These letters will then be used to make a memorial book. Please make sure you include your name, address and email.

• Many have asked if there will be a funeral or memorial service. Undoubtedly there will be, but the School is still coming to terms with Michael’s loss. We will update everyone once such decisions have been made.

• Some have asked if they can mark Michael’s passing by a donation. It has long been known that Michael was keen to raise funds for a Roger Lupton Scholarship through the proceeds of the book he was writing (The History of 500 years of Sedbergh), and had said as recently as two weeks ago that this was an important to him. After discussion with the Headmaster, and others, we ask that any donations are made to the Roger Lupton Scholarship Fund which you can find here.

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

Jan van der Velde

Theo Harman never gave much away. When he died, almost none of his friends knew how old he was and, come to mention it, very little about him. He rarely offered an opinion; a question would usually be answered with another question. This could be infuriating. Theo hated to be pigeonholed – what do you do for a living Theo? ‘I breathe’.

A deeply spiritual man, the divine force of the Holy Spirit was at the heart of his faith. He advocated the Laying on of Hands and his interest in spirituality was in the broadest sense and pan-denominational. Theo was non-judgemental. All opinions were of value.

Theo was born in Norwood, near Dulwich on the 23^rd January 1927, the youngest of four. Earliest memory? Sitting in his pram. Born into a musical household he remembers accompanying his older brother on the viola. After Whitgift School, he did his National Service where learned to drive 3 ton lorries and motorcycles. Theo attended Lincoln College, Oxford as well as reading Architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic before deciding to embark on the pathway to ordination.

In December 1963, Theo was Chaplain on board the cruise ship TSMS Laconia when fire broke out off Madeira. Of the1022 on board, 128 died. The majority not from the effects of the fire; but from injury, exposure and drowning in the chaos of abandoning ship at night mid-Atlantic. Theo was deeply affected, but very rarely spoke of it.

Theo came to Sedbergh in 1957, having successfully negotiated the gruelling interview  process – trial by sherry. He stayed there for the next 30 years.

During my time at Sedbergh, Theo – affectionately known by many Sedberghians as Holy Joe – lived at Guldrey Lodge. I recall his domain being Room 10. He was Form Master, Assistant Chaplain and Assistant House Tutor of Hart House. Reflecting on my time in Hart, there could not have been a greater contrast in character between him and that of Chris Bennett, the Housemaster. I wonder what they thought of each other? Theo played the viola in the school orchestra, and was one of the outstanding performers in the staff production of ‘A Man for all Seasons’.

Post Sedbergh, Theo won a place at Hatfield College, Durham University, to undertake a Masters Thesis. ‘New Testament and modern parables: their relationship and literary character a reader’s response’ was published in 1990. He remained at Hatfield as Resident Fellow until 2016 when, it should be said somewhat reluctantly, he moved into a cottage near the college.

Theo was always fiercely independent, but latterly increasingly frail. He remained at home, with escalating support from generous friends until it became clear that this was no longer viable. Agreeing to move to a hospice, Theo was found dead in his room about an hour after arriving there. He was 95.

A truly pious man who will be fondly remembered by the many whose path he crossed during his lifetime.

She will be missed by many who will remember her kindness and humility so fondly.  She was a brilliant House Tutor and inspirational Games Coach who simply adored the fells in the company of Sedberghians. 

All our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, son and extended family.

The OS Club is saddened to share the news that former Headmaster Roger Baxter passed away on 21st February 2022. Roger was Headmaster of Sedbergh from 1981-95 and lived locally at Lindale. He had recently battled a series of complex medical issues and passed away peacefully with his wife, Dorothy, and family at his bedside. He will be sadly missed by all.

Sedbergh School will be holding a Memorial Service for Roger in the School Chapel on Sunday 12th June at 3pm. Headmaster, Dan Harrison, also warmly invites all those who wish to pay their respects to Roger for refreshments in Queen’s Hall after the service. Please contact Ben Collins at bpc@sedberghschool.org if you plan on attending.

Roger came to Sedbergh from Winchester and oversaw an ambitious programme of refurbishment and building including the Sports Hall, Queen’s Hall, Boarding Houses and classrooms. In 1989, numbers rose above 500 for the first time in the School’s history.

Please click here or see below an appreciation by Sir Giles Shaw M.P. (L 45-50) which was published in the 1995 Sedberghian magazine upon Roger’s retirement from Sedbergh.

Roger was a graduate and Ph.D of the University of Sheffield where he lectured for some years in mathematics before moving to the milder climes of Winchester College. There, in addition to his normal classroom duties, he exercised the role of Under Master, having previously been elected Secretary of the Common Room by his perspicacious fellow Dons who had clearly spotted a future Headmaster of Sedbergh in the making.

Roger arrived at Sedbergh from Winchester in January 1982 as successor to Peter Attenborough and tackled his job with energy and determination. He was determined to lift academic performance and appointed and structured his staff to provide a wide range of subject teaching to ensure that Sedberghians could optimise their individual talents in subjects of their choice. He appointed good staff and successful staff. It is, I think, a positive reflection on his choice that many moved on to headmasterships, like John Light, first to Oswestry and now to Edinburgh Academy. Or Martin Stevens, first to The Perse School, Cambridge and now High Master at Manchester. To Angus McPhail, now Headmaster of Strathallan. And Tony Thomas, from Housemaster of Evans House to Headmaster of Casterton.

Roger was a great one for diversification. More subjects are now studied, more sports are now played. More boys do more things in many avenues of endeavour than ever before. Sedbergh life now includes a social programme of joint activities with other organisations and schools, and particularly close cooperation with Casterton and with St Anne’s at Windermere. The life of the Sedberghian under Roger’s tutelage became therefore brighter, fuller and better. But I think it was in his drive to renovate and develop the School’s estate that we find the permanent memorial to the Baxter years – the Sports Hall, Queen’s Hall, the modernisation and refurbishment of all the School’s boarding houses and most of the School’s property. A capital programme was determined, designed and delivered within a time span which coincided with large increases in the number of boys in school and therefore large increases in revenue.

This wise insistence on investing in the future allowed the School to present a new and shining face to the parents of the Nineties. Roger Baxter’s relations with parents showed his humanity and sensitivity to good effect. He was particularly adept at coping with parents who had fallen on hard times and in making wise use of bursaries to enable those boys of promise to sustain their career when it was threatened. Parents responded to his approachable and warm personality, and many have written in appreciation of what he meant to them. One of many wrote to him, “I would like to say how extremely sorry I am that you are leaving. You have fostered an atmosphere in which boys can learn to be themselves: rugby friends, academics, musicians, whatever. And so my son is now starting to blossom and is at case with himself.” That is a tribute which many parents would echo and is a powerful endorsement of the man.

Roger sought expansion too. Faced in later years with increasing competition, recruitment was widened and strong links were established with schools in Germany and France. Successful efforts have been made to draw boys from Hong Kong and the Far East, and the School’s presence in the Prep School market was established and confirmed with the development of Cressbrook House. All this led to improvements in academic results: the highest percentages to Degree courses, emphatically shown by the total of ten entrants to Oxford and Cambridge in 1994, and better performances in exam grades at ‘GCSE’ and ‘A’ Level.

Meanwhile, sporting achievements still ranked high in the Baxter years. Will Carling still at the zenith of his fame, with many other Sedberghians achieving international representation at various levels, establishes the School’s rugby prowess beyond doubt. The name of Sykes displaced the name of Pumphrey in the annual of the Wilson Run after nearly a century. What a milestone that was in 1993. And then there was music and drama. And this allows me to turn to the immense contribution which Roger’s wife Dorothy played in these successful years. Productions large and small. Musical or dramatic, operas or operettas, chamber concerts or symphonies, the musical life of Sedbergh has never been more prolific. And Roger and Dorothy, together with the inspired appointment of Christopher Tinker, brought a new zeal and energy to the cultural side of the School. Whether playing the double bass in the school orchestra in Powell Hall or belting out Belshazzar’s Feast in Ripon Cathedral, Dorothy was a versatile and full hearted contributor to the school. The long-term benefit, however, is that the reputation of Sedbergh for music has resulted in scholarships and entrants from far and wide coming here for that purpose. And this too, I trust, will be a lasting memorial to the Baxter years.

Finally, let me turn to the pastoral role. Roger Baxter made a deep and personal commitment to the spiritual welfare of this School. This is an important dimension to the Headmaster’s role and springs from the fact that Roger’s faith was an important influence on his life and career. He loved the Chapel; and how glad he was that a replacement organ was found and purchased and installed in September last year and how glad he will be to return here when the Chapel’s centenary will be celebrated in 1997. But, latterly, there were difficulties too. Falling numbers bringing with it some loss of confidence and the spectre of house closures or staff redundancies caused a loss of morale within the Sedbergh community: problems which as a private rather than a public personality Roger found hard to bear. So early retirement beckoned. We rejoice at the manifest and manifold contribution which Roger and Dorothy Baxter made to the life of Sedbergh School over thirteen years. We are grateful for their commitment and their conscientiousness.

We share their pride in their partnership and we applaud their achievements. And if there is but one memory, which I suspect they will always treasure, it will surely be that day in May 1991 when Roger and Dorothy played host to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. For half a day they toured the school; royal heralds and fanfares; orchestra and band; town and gown and multicoloured prep school blazers, Sports Hall opened, Coat of Arms presented: nags unfurled and boys and bunting everywhere; lunch with the boys in Sedgwick House and departure with ~Winder~ bellowing, it seemed, from a thousand throats As one observer put it: The ultimate in Grand Opera. Not in Verona but in Sedbergh in a humble place founded by her royal ancestor 470 years ago. To Roger and Dorothy Baxter that surely must have been their finest hour.

Click here to read the original valete from Sir Giles Shaw and a further valete written by Dr Christopher Tinker, Director of Music from 1983-1996, also published in the 1995 Sedberghian.

Sadly the OS Club has been informed that former Robertson House staff member Jill Elliot passed away recently after a long illness.

Jill was a much-loved member of the Robertson House team from 2004-2010.

A funeral service will be held on Friday 8th April at 10:30am in St Gregory’s Church, Crakehall. Should any Old Sedberghians wish to contact the family, please use the address below:
Alison Gaven
The Lodge
Aysgarth School
Newton-Le-Willows DL8 1TF

The OS Club has received the sad news that former Director of Music, Alf Champniss, passed away recently on 7th January 2022, aged 89. He is remembered by his many colleagues, friends and pupils from his time teaching at Sedbergh, where he arrived from Rugby in 1965 and left for Mill Hill in 1974. Alf was a founding member of the British Institute of Organ Studies and in retirement played the organ frequently at Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair. He was also the retired Chairman of the former family property company, Panstar Ltd.

A recording of his Funeral Service at Grosvenor Chapel can be viewed here.

Please see below his valete which was recorded in the 1974 Sedberghian magazine.

Alfred Champniss left at the end of the Lent Term 1974 to take up an appointment as Director of Music at Mill Hill School, London. He was educated at Harrow School to which he was an entrance scholar. Later at Oriel College, Oxford he was organ scholar and read for the Honours School of Jurisprudence. At the Royal College of Music he studied the organ with Ralph Downes, composition with Herbert Howells, conducting with Richard Austin and piano with Robert Collet. The playing and study of the organ was to become a dominating musical interest. After a temporary teaching appointment at Harrow School he was appointed to the music staff of Rugby, where he remained from 1957 to 1965.

The outstanding headmastership at that time of Walter Hamilton was to provide a model shaped which his ideals of school government and leadership. His cordial relationship with the school chaplain, Leonard Morison, created a most enthusiastic partnership. We often heard from Mr. Champniss golden opinions of this distinguished school. In 1962 he became suborganist of Coventry Cathedral. He played for the opening Sunday service at the cathedral.

In his teaching at Sedbergh he encouraged preparation for 0 and A Level music. One of his pupils is now a college organist at Oxford, reading music. Some boys have been grateful to him for their initiation into new experiences through his musical appreciation classes. Under his direction the Musical Society choir and school orchestra have created some exciting occasions. A feature of some of these concerts has been the keyboard concerto performances of some talented boys, carefully trained and tutored by Mr. Champniss. The practices of the String Orchestra, which he has conducted on Monday evenings, have greatly helped both the reading ability and ensemble playing of the school string players.

Through concerts we have had a varied range of composers and instrumentalists to enjoy. Many distinguished performers have been introduced to the school through the continuing Subscription Concerts, requiring much careful planning and attention to the needs of the performers. He initiated the title ‘Informal Concerts’; these have given opportunities for boys to gain confidence in performing before an audience.

His personal enthusiasm for organ playing has influenced some others to take up the study of what for him is The King of Instruments. He gave frequent recitals in Powell Hall, many of which were memorable for their brilliance and wealth of musical effects. As a performer he found that the organ works of Messiaen had a compelling fascination. Many a time he has toured not only in this country but also in Europe to play on some of the most noted instruments. As a result of this travelling, combined with his reading, his knowledge of organs is encyclopaedic. Apart from his musical interests he has been a devotee of the Public School way of life, its personalities and traditions. It has often been a delight for him to read some biography of a distinguished school personality and then air his findings.

Another interest in his reading was architecture. He could speak knowledgeably of not only the history of Rugby School but of the architectural work there of William Butterfield. The Music School at Guldrey Lodge has been a place of retreat where innumerable conversations have provided a humanising release. Many are the times when laughter has eruptively punctuated some entertaining exchanges. It is not only for his organisational competence, musical talent and love of school life, but also for his friendly and humanising influence that we are grateful to him.

The OS Club is sad to report the death of Richard Dorman, who passed away peacefully on 9th January 2022, aged 96. Richard was a British diplomat who served as the second High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Vanuatu from 1982 until 1985.

Please see an obituary below sent in by his family:

Richard’s family came from Stafford but after a visit to a Fabian Summer School at Sedbergh in 1916 Richard’s father decided he would send his five boys to school there. He wrote that it was a fine place where “boys might grow to be healthy, uncontaminated men”. Richard started in 1939 and was proud to be awarded Sedbergh’s second scholarship, valued at £80 a year. He enjoyed his time at the school. In his memoirs he says great efforts were made to teach him to play passable rugby but in vain. However, his great compensating discovery was that he could run and that fell-running (downhill at least) was marvellous. He also talks about ‘the great sense of freedom’ that he enjoyed at Sedbergh.

He did military service as a commissioned officer in the South Staffordshire Regiment and then started at St. John’s in October 1948. He did modern Greek and Russian and ran for the college. He obtained a first-class joint honours degree.

After Cambridge he joined the Civil Service and worked first in the War Office and then transferred to the Foreign Office. He started in Cyprus (60-63), which was followed by posting to Sierra Leone (64-67), Ethiopia, (1969 -73) Romania (74-77), South Africa (77-82 and finally Vanuatu, where he was High Commissioner (82-85). He was awarded a CBE in 1984.

He enjoyed all his postings very much, but possibly his final posting was his favourite.

On retirement he set up The British Friends of Vanuatu, firstly to support people from Vanuatu who were coming to the UK for scholarships and secondly to keep British people with Vanuatu links in touch with Vanuatu. Over the years the organisation grew and as aid to Vanuatu shrunk the BFoV raised money for scholarships. Today it is a flourishing organisation. Richard was awarded the Republic of Vanuatu National Award of Merit in 1999 in recognition of his work.

Richard’s beloved wife, Anna, died in 2017, but he is survived by his 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

It is with great sadness that the OS Club shares the news that OS Club Vice-President and former Sedbergh School Governor, and former OS Club Chairman (1990-94), Mike Adams, passed away on 23rd December 2021, aged 88.

Mike was a keen cricketer and rugby player at Sedbergh, playing for the School in both sports. After leaving Sedbergh, Mike managed the children’s clothing business, Adams, which was established by his mother in 1933 and he continued in this role after the company was sold to Foster Brothers and then Sears Holdings. Mike was later the OS Club Chairman from 1990-1994 and was a lifelong loyal and generous supporter and friend to the School.

A Memorial Service will be held at Sedbergh School Chapel before the Wilson Run Dinner on Monday 21st March at 4:00pm for any OS who would like to pay their respects to Mike. Headmaster, Dan Harrison, also warmly invites all those in attendance for refreshments in Queen’s Hall following the service. Please contact Ben Collins at bpc@sedberghschool.org if you are planning on attending the service.

Please see a message below from OS Club Chairman Jan van der Velde (L 77-82):

It is with great sadness that I write regarding the loss of Michael Adams, a Vice-President of the OS Club and former OS Club Chairman, as well as former Governor of the School, who passed away on the morning of 23rd December.

Michael was a much loved grandee of the Sedbergh Community. His considered approach, dry wit, stature, and enthusiasm for all things Sedbergh, made him popular with staff and OS of all generations. A deeply caring man, he would listen attentively to those who sought his advice, ponder, and then offer words of wisdom which were much valued and acted upon. While we will all have our own personal reflections, this is how I came to know him, as a father of a dear friend of mine from Winder House, who offered guidance when I needed it, and for many years acted as a mentor in business as I found my own way in the world. His understanding of human nature, which was to bring him so much success in his own business life, gave him insight and clarity when the world at times seemed complex. He will be deeply missed by me, by the OS Club, and by the OS community. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, Jan, Mark, and Guy at this time.

Jan van der Velde
Chairman, OS Club

Please see below an obituary from son Guy Adams (W 77-82):

Born on the 30th March 1933 in Moseley, Birmingham, to Amy and Dennis, Michael was the younger brother of Christine; his parents were shortly to open their business, a childrenswear outfitter, called D. P. Adams Ltd. It was in Kings Heath, and the family moved to live above the shop. In September 1939, with the outbreak of war, it was decided to evacuate Michael from Birmingham and send him to Grosvenor House Prep School in Harrogate. He was just 6 years old.  

Only a few weeks into his time at Grosvenor, still aged 6, this story illustrates the spirit of endeavour that was to characterise Michael’s life: one evening, Michael decided he wanted to do more to support the war effort. He persuaded his friend, Plukey Patterson, that they really should be across in France and helping by getting stuck into some fighting action against the Nazis. That night, they slipped out of the school grounds and set off. As they marched along the road, a lorry pulled up beside them. 

You can picture the scene: “Alright lads, where are you going?”. Michael, now standing to attention, replying in an instant “we’re off to Dover, and then France to fight in the war” 

“Very good lads, I happen to be going there myself, jump in and I’ll give you a lift.” 

After driving for a short while, the lorry driver pulled over to a roadside café. 

“It’s a long way to Dover, lads, I need a cuppa before I set off. What can I get you?”    

“Two hot chocolates, please,” piped up Michael. 

In the café, the driver rang the local police station, the boys were returned to school, welcomed back, and nothing more was said about the episode. 

Tragically, 6 years on, when Michael was 12, his father died. Dennis had been serving in the Fleet Air Arm and he passed away in the military hospital in Bristol. A decision was made for Michael to stay in Yorkshire and not attend his father’s funeral. In later years, he used to wistfully say that he never had the chance to get to know his father as a man or as a friend. 

His mother had no idea what to do regarding Michael’s schooling after Grosvenor House, so sought advice. The Headmaster recommended a school that Amy had never heard of, Sedbergh School in Cumbria. Not knowing just how significant that decision was to be for him, and so many, Michael arrived at Sedbergh railway station along with the rest of the new intake, in September 1946. His all-round sporting abilities and natural friendliness ensured that he thrived in the Sedbergh environment. 

Another story about Michael, this time from his early days at Sedbergh: he suggested to his first-year friends that they should not stand for anymore bullying from a few of the second-year boys but go and sort them out. His friends rallied around him, and Michael led the charge into the second-year common room. Hearing the ominous click of the common room door close behind him as his support group disappeared into thin air meant he came out on the wrong end of a few blows, but with the respect of all involved for his courage in standing up for what he felt to be right. 

Michael did not allow himself to be discouraged if confronted by a set-back at any stage in his life.  An early example of this, which he was to prove manifestly wrong by the financial acumen that he displayed in his business success in later years, was his maths report for the Lent term of 1949: 

“Adams resembles a roulette wheel, in that there seems to be no particular reason why one number should come up rather than another. But he is cheerful, at least.”  

School holidays back from Grosvenor house and Sedbergh were spent above the shop in Kings Heath, his mother now running the business in its entirety. After leaving Sedbergh, National service with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment came next. This took Michael to Vienna and Graz. Because of his immense modesty, it took a great deal of prising out of him to find out that he was the only National Service Officer to be promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, such was the distinction with which he served the regiment and led his men. And, like his time at Sedbergh, Michael made lifelong friendships. 

A sales course at Nottingham college followed his time with the Royal Warwicks and this in turn led to a job as a commercial traveller covering the South coast for a firm called Sharp Perrin. Throughout his life, Michael always worked hard, and played hard. He loved leading or, equally, being part of a good team. In this chapter of his life, he indulged in his passion for playing cricket and rugby for a club in Wimborne. 

In August 1957, he was invited on a blind date of mixed doubles tennis. It was there that he met a certain Jan Lowe, who caught his eye immediately. Three months later they were engaged, and another three months later, on 29th March 1958, Jan and Michael were married. It was a wonderful marriage – Michael always said he worshipped the ground Jan walked on – that was to last 63 years. Shortly after the wedding, Michael was promoted to a different sales area, in the North-West of England, and the newly-weds moved to the Wirral near Liverpool. A couple of years later, he was persuaded to join his mother, to help run the business. So, in 1960, he and Jan moved to Solihull. Mark was born in November of that year, and Guy in January of 1964. By 1966, there were 5 shops, and the business was flourishing. In 1968, the family moved to live in Broad Oaks Road which was a home Michael absolutely loved and which has remained his and Jan’s home ever since. 

As a father to Mark and Guy growing up, he was always encouraging, always listening, and always wanted the best for his sons. He offered his advice, but never forced it on them. He was determined to give every possible opportunity for them to do what they wanted with their lives and supported them to the hilt. As well as running the business and being a family man, Michael generously volunteered his time to be founder Chairman of Knowle and Dorridge Round table, the Chairman of Warren Pearl (a nursing home in Solihull), and Chairman of the Grove Retirement Home, also in Solihull. 

The business plans that Michael and his mother had were given an unexpected boost in 1973 when a national chain of menswear shops, called Foster Brothers, approached them to see if a merger would provide the right impetus to expand Adams Childrenswear across the country. A deal was struck and within a few years there were 70 Adams Childrenswear branches on the UK high street. Michael became Managing Director of the Fosters group of companies and achieved considerable commercial success in the subsequent decades. Adams childrenswear expanded to over four hundred branches or concessions throughout the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, and Michael became a main board director of the holding company, Sears. 

As with his school years, as with his army years, in his working years Michael made lifelong friendships with those he liked and respected. 

One of Michael’s mantras about business was: ‘Be ruthless about the decision, but then be as compassionate as you can be about how you carry that decision out’. An example illustrates MPA (as he was known at work) doing just this: In a poor national economic climate, in the strike ridden and union dominated Britain of the 1970s, the Fosters group of companies needed to cut costs in order to stay in business. The board, led by MPA, recognised that they needed to lay-off the entire lorry-driver workforce. MPA told the board that he would convey the decision, in person, and asked for the lorry drivers to be gathered together for a meeting with him. The men were assembled, and MPA went in to break the news of their impending redundancy. After he had finished, there was a pause, and then, to a man, the lorry drivers all stood up and applauded him. Already held in such high regard by his staff, these men recognised and respected the honesty and integrity which characterised MPA, acknowledging it as best they could with their applause. 

Since 1974, when Mark followed in his footsteps to Sedbergh, Michael had a constant involvement with the school. He became a governor and was Chairman of the OS Committee. 

Michael retired in 1993. He held some non-executive roles, but having more time allowed him the opportunity to do the things he wanted to do, such as his and Jan’s generous involvement with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and extended sojourns at La Ville Josse, (Jan and Mike’s property in Brittany since 1990), which was another home that he loved. 

Many happy years were spent with Jan, travelling to La Ville Josse or Loftus Manor in Sedbergh, trips to New Zealand, Canada, around Europe and the much-prized visits to Australia. He loved family time and family holidays more than anything else and the last holiday together was a memorable trip to South Africa in 2018. 

Difficult to believe for someone who was such a high achiever, but Michael loved nothing more than his model railway, pottering in his greenhouse, or turning over his vegetable patch, or growing amongst other produce and plants, his tomatoes and sweet peas. In France, he whistled so contentedly when sawing and then bringing in logs for the fires. 

To say Michael relished and thrived on good company throughout his life is an understatement. It was a huge tonic for him. He would, almost always (!), judge the occasion perfectly and decide whether to be deliberately controversial, irreverent, fun, quiet, serious or whatever was best suited to the proceedings. When debating, he would marshal his argument cogently, and expect the same from whomever he was debating with. However, he didn’t like it if he was proven wrong and didn’t win the debate! Michael’s presence could not be missed. He even had a big presence round the breakfast table first thing in the morning. 

Michael and Jan together were an amazing team in every way and especially when it came to hosting a whole range of people and events. And, they always had their eye out for whoever might need some gentle encouragement and support.  

The last 8 months of Michael’s life were difficult for him as his health deteriorated. Jan, as she has done throughout their life together, looked after him with a love and care that no one else could match. Jan’s dedication to Michael was the foundation on which he built his life. He would have been utterly lost without her. 

And how did Michael deal with the problems that beset him in those last few months? With the same courage, determination and perseverance that marks out his entire life. Still able to absorb pressure and remain calm, he was selfless, uncomplaining and positive. Right to the end his mind was as sharp and active as ever. He passed away peacefully, dignified and proud, kind and thoughtful to the end. 

Loving, generous, considerate, witty, loyal, bright, modest, shrewd, thoughtful, forgiving, fun-loving; a gentleman, a gentle man, and a gentle giant. Michael was many things, and thoroughly deserved all the good things for which he worked so hard.  

Back to that remarkably prescient school report from lent Term 1949, and what his Housemaster and Headmaster thought of him: His Housemaster: “I am sure such worthy effort will gain it’s reward in the end; and no one can show a character more honest, sincere, and commendable”; the Headmaster, “he really deserves the greatest credit.” 

Well done, Michael, you certainly do. 

Guy Adams (Winder 77-82)