The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place and four years have passed since we closed the doors and turned our backs on the Sedbergh Valley. It is time we gathered.

On the weekend of September 13/14, Old Sedberghians, their families and friends are joining together at the village hall of Notre Dame de Bonsecours to inaugurate SALLE SEDBERGH, now the home of our school's memorabilia. The village hall is surrounded by a soccer field with Sedbergh goalposts, a baseball diamond, with the Sedbergh backstop, the Sedbergh bell standing proud beside the door, and by two Sedbergh huts nestled together not far off. It's almost a question of "deja vu"!

But that's not all. The weekend will also serve as a celebration of the life of that well-loved teacher, Pat Pettigrew. Stories even now are being collected, some no doubt enhanced by the passing years, but all of us who knew and loved Pat will want to be a part of that celebration.

And will you believe it, Vipassana, the new owner of Sedbergh, has generously offered us an Open House on the Sunday. Visits to the Valley, to the building itself, to the huts, to Duxbury Cabin, to favourite haunts, and conversations with Vipassana's administrators will allow Old Sedberghians the opportunity to be reassured that while differences clearly do exist, similar values to those espoused by Sedbergh are hard at work at Vipassana today.

And to top it all off, that jewel in our crown, HIGH LAKE, is being opened by its current owner for our barbecue on Sunday. What an opportunity to bring your children and show them where you were married, or to point out the cliff from which so many of us jumped!

Nothing has changed at the Lake and the new owner is determined that nothing ever will. Isn't that great news!

It will be THE perfect weekend for CLASS REUNIONS, and we are encouraging as many classes that can manage it to have a reunion within the gathering It may be the last opportunity to get the largest number of your classmates together.

So there it is. WHAT's MISSING? You, of course - for without you, there is no point. Be you student, GAP, exchange, teacher, kitchen staff, maintenance staff, parent or friend, you are all part of the Sedbergh family. So come and join us.

In the next few days, I shall be sending out announcements about costs and registration for the weekend. All information will also be on the Sedbergh website and on the Sedbergh page in Facebook. Today's announcement is simply to reserve the weekend and for you to begin to look for accommodations.

You will have questions. Ask them. I shall do my best to answer them.

Now, go and search out your classmates. I look forward to seeing you on the 13th.

Best regards,

Tony