SCHOOL NOTES

 

Robin Silk, our former Headmaster, writes:

It is with considerable sadness that I say goodbye to St Bees. My three years at the school trying to lead the revival of this august institution have been challenging but, even more so, fulfilling. Best of all has been getting to know St Beghians, who are so obviously proud of their old school with all its idiosyncrasies and foibles. Every time I have met St Beghians I have been impressed by their camaraderie, good humour and spirit of ‘can do’.

The fascinating history behind the school, the beautiful location and the small size engendering its sense of close knit community, are some of its most endearing features, but conversely these features have made it all the more difficult to run. Its remoteness and beauty, nestled in the valley of the picturesque, friendly village of St Bees make it hugely attractive but yet so hard to recruit to, while the beautiful old buildings and exposed site means maintenance and upkeep take ingenuity and determination. 

These are qualities that have fortunately been in plentiful supply and during my short stint as the Head, I was blessed with a superb leadership team of Laurence Gribble, Ceara Fisher, Vanessa Johnstone and especially Andrew Keep, who I am delighted to say has stepped seamlessly into the role as interim Headmaster before a new one is appointed for September 2025. This team, the governors (Local Advisory Committee and Trust led by Mark George) and Full Circle have ensured the school has expanded to 130 students over the last five years and will continue to grow into the future.

Sporting fixtures, trips, academic competitions and community events are up and running again, and importantly we are doing very well in all these areas, and increasingly so on the academic side that must be the school’s principal strength going forward. On that note we were delighted to receive our first Oxbridge place since reopening this year and a whole host of other excellent offers to the Russell Group and other great universities. 

My highlights are manifold: most of all, just watching the students in our care develop into fine young people, who have empathy, resilience, creativity and a care for each other at their core. Personally, I enjoyed setting up and leading the Wainwright Club and doing over 60 Wainwrights with the students in the three years I led it and, most of all, organising and leading the Everest Base Camp Expedition. The party of 24 staff, students, parents and one OSB (Richard Postlethwaite) had some considerable adventures. Not least because health and safety regulations meant it was so difficult to organise, and in true St Bees fashion and to make it financially viable, we organised the whole thing ourselves rather than going through some trekking company in the UK. Schools just don’t do that anymore, but in the spirit of adventure that has always characterised St Bees School we did it despite all the challenges. My hope for everyone involved is that they will have lasting memories of this adventure that followed in the footsteps of another Old St Beghian, Tom Stobart, a renowned cameraman and filmmaker, who was the official photographer and film maker of the 1953 ascent of Everest. I am not sure whether he epitomises St Beghians, but according to Lord John Hunt’s ‘The Ascent of Everest’, he was a great raconteur and waxed lyrical when given a moment on all his adventures, in Antarctica, India and the wider Himalaya, Australia and further afield. 

As I exit stage left (or perhaps right, as I am heading so far East to set up a school in Cambodia), I would like to thank all the St Bees community for their support and good humour and I hope you all continue to support your alma mater into the future. I will be watching from afar and look forward to visiting St Bees soon- both the village and its wonderful people, and the school. I hope I will take the spirit of ‘Ingredere ut proficias’ with me wherever I go. Whether entering or exiting on our travels, I hope we all keep learning. All the best.

Robin Silk

 

 

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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