Charitable aims at home and abroad join for a lecture on three great mountain peaks

 

Jim Fletcher previews a forthcoming lecture in Marlborough by famed mountaineer Doug Scott

This week I was fortunate to be asked to interview Barney Rosedale  who is a long time Marlburian and one of the driving forces behind the Kempson Rosedale Trust.

With Doug Scott, one of the Britain’s greatest mountaineers of all time, Barney and his wife Rachel are organising a lecture at the Theatre on the Hill, St. John’s School next Friday (September 12.)  Doug Scott’s lecture is called “The Three Peaks – Everest, K2 and Kanchenjunga” – which sounds like an adventurer’s dream.

All the proceeds from the lecture will go to the Kempson Rosedale Trust and to Doug Scott’s own charity Community Action Nepal (CAN.)

Each trust has different objectives, but are linked by the common theme of mountains, climbing and the challenges involved.

The Kempson Rosedale Trust is Marlborough based and run. Thirteen or so of our fellow citizens meet to consider funding bids from St. John’s Academy or Marlborough College students who wish to spend their holiday time taking on some enterprising activity.

The students who are usually in the middle of their sixth form studies, may want to travel across China in a motorised rickshaw, sail around the Mediterranean, work in an African orphanage, research marine life in the coral reefs of the Gold Coast or travel the length of Vietnam.

The philosophy of the trust is based on the belief that young people with commitment, a broad mind and an active life are necessary for the foundation of our future society. The grants are given in response to a presentation by the student to the board of trustees. On being approved the student must commit to provide information on their progress and a final report.

The Kempson Rosedale Trust was formed in 1988 in memory of a treasured Marlborough College master and mountaineer, “G” Kempson. In 2009 the trust was extended following the tragic death of Barney and Rachel’s son Rupert Rosedale who died in an avalanche on Ben Nevis.

Rupert was a former St. John’s pupil who inspired generations of young people undertaking outdoor challenges. As head of outdoor activities at the College he bridged the divide between the two schools and was the leader of many expeditions to wild places.

After years funding students’ challenges from the interest on the trust’s funds, there is now a need to generate some fresh income hence the fund-raising link to Doug Scott’s CAN project.

CAN is set up to help the porters and sherpas of Nepal whose lives are dedicated to the mountaineers who climb in their homeland. The main thrust of CAN’s work is to provide fair remuneration and working conditions for not only the porters but also their families and the local, permanent staff.

Without adequate equipment and clothing, they too often suffer from the extreme conditions in the mountains as they assist and guide the visiting mountaineers.

So, support the trusts, and come along to Doug’s lecture, meet Barney and Rachel and chat to them about their work and their commitment to young people at St. John’s and Marlborough College. Perhaps you’ll even join in their inspired work.

 

The lecture is at 7.30pm in The Theatre on the Hill.  Tickets £15 or £5 for students from Marlborough Box Office or from Davina Nicholls at St John’s dnicholls@stjohns.wilts.sch.uk