Robert Hedley (FS 50-56) wrote following his visit to St Bees last May:

“The ‘Hedley Brothers’ splendid visit on the 14th May 2025 was a memorable occasion and my thanks to the OSB team for giving us so much time.

Though I have passed through St Bees and the western Lake District on too few occasions since leaving in ’56, the red sandstone never seems to change. So it was quite a surprise to set foot inside The Foundation. Whilst almost unrecognisable in today’s functions, all appeared in good order and a welcoming place to be. The new sports facility is amazing, the Library has real books in it, but the Chapel looks… tired. As we left, my glimpse of a Kenwood food mixer in what used to be the Senior Changing Room showed me how out of touch I am with modern teaching syllabi.

What we did not have time to see were the ‘living quarters’ in School House. I never set foot in either School House or Grindal, but the one thing we had in Hostel, and I assume throughout the main boarding houses, was a ‘Cube’, a private cubicle of space for study and one’s personal space and possessions. This device seemed to puzzle a staff member, but I have noticed from the internet that the concept seems to have crossed to the Orient and is now used in St Bees Dongguan.

And finally, thank you so much for the new tie, a great memento of a most enjoyable five years in a wonderful part of the world, as well as a most enjoyable return visit to St Bees. Thank you.”

Photos relating to the above piece (the Hedleys’ visit) may be seen in an article by Charles Hedley in the July 2025 Bulletin here.

 

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The St Beghian Society    
St Bees School,    St Bees,    Cumbria,    CA27 0DS.

         Tel: (01946) 828093      Email: osb@stbeesschool.co.uk      Web: www.st-beghian-society.co.uk