Fond Farewell to Development Director, Jan van der Velde

This summer Sedbergh School bids a very fond farewell to Development Director, Jan van der Velde. Jan’s association with Sedbergh began back in 1977 when he arrived fresh faced from Grosvenor House Prep School to join the new Year 9, or 3rd form in old money, intake of Lupton House. Like so many Sedberghians Jan, or Vanders as he was known by some contemporaries, enjoyed the opportunity to explore the fells, quickly becoming a keen runner. In his final year he and fellow Luptonian Paul Page undertook the last known successful attempt of the Sedbergh Blue Ribband, running from Sedbergh to Whernside, completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks and running back to Sedbergh. Jan and Paul rang their housemaster, Brook Dowse, from Dent on the return leg of the run asking to be collected. Brook, accompanied by Sedbergh stalwart Nigel Horsfall, drove to Dent, threw a few bars of Kendal mint cake out of the car window, and told the boys to keep running. Perhaps this was just the level of support that the boys needed as they made it successfully back to Sedbergh. Jan was Head of School in his final year, supporting the newly arrived Roger and Dorothy Baxter as they became accustomed to Sedbergh life. Jan remained lifelong friends with Brook, Nigel and the Baxters.

Jan’s loyalty to Sedbergh was strong from the start. Immediately after leaving School he accepted an invitation as a former Head of School to join the Old Sedberghian Club Committee. Jan served on the committee for 42 years, including 12 years as Chairman. During his time he oversaw the modernisation of the Club, welcoming wives and partners to events for the first time, as well as the first female Old Sedberghians, and sought to recognise the contributions of many in our community through the awarding of honorary Old Sedberghian status, a rare but revered honour.

After a career that spanned work with GC Avionics, Price Waterhouse, and building a successful education products company, Kit for Kids, Jan returned to Sedbergh in the role of Development Director in January 2023. During his time in post Jan has created an ambitious programme of events to mark Sedbergh’s 500th anniversary, he has elevated the Roger Lupton Scholarships and Bursaries Scheme, rightly placing it front and centre of the School’s fundraising aims, and has enriched the lives of many in our community with his personal visits, cards, letters and phone calls. Having raised the Development Office to the level required to support a thriving School in the current financial market, Jan returns to the world of business. Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur it seems…

This week Jan graduates from Manchester Metropolitan University following completion of his second degree in Marketing. Those who have worked alongside Jan over the last two years will be astounded that he managed to fit in studying around the many events and campaigns he masterminded, not to mention acting as a pitch side photographer at many School sports fixtures. Having completed his studies, Jan is excited to be returning to the world of business, supporting developing businesses in a consultant role and shares his decades of experience with other entrepreneurs who will no doubt greatly benefit from the wealth of knowledge he brings.

Jan will be sorely missed by many in our community, as a friendly face visiting those isolated members of our community in their own homes, as compere at School and Old Sedberghian Club events, as an astute and witty writer who entertained many with his newsletter and newspaper articles and personal correspondence and as a sincere friend to all who needed a listening ear. Jan has made many friends over the years and would like to stay in touch with as many as possible. As such his new email address is janvdvelder@gmail.com.

We wish Jan the best of luck in his new venture.