Young OS Drinks in Durham and Edinburgh

For reasons that will become clear the annual trip north to meet up with Old Salopians at university has always been known as the ‘Northern Progress’

It is our aim at the Salopian Club to meet with undergraduates at the ten most popular universities for Salopians every year. On this trip we covered Durham, Newcastle, Leeds, York, Edinburgh and St Andrews. We hope to reinforce the message that we are here to support former pupils from the minute they leave School.

The first Northern Progress took place in 1541 when Henry VIII set out with his 5th wife Katherine Howard and a retinue of more than 3,000 to demonstrate royal power to the people of the north following the rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. In 2023 I set out with my first and only husband Mr Paul Fitzgerald (Head of Classics), Mr Toby Percival (Head of High Education) and Mr Seb Cooley (Asst Housemaster School House) to demonstrate the power of the Salopian Club credit card in a limited and responsible manner – a tradition started by my predecessor Col. Nick Jenkins who also nicknamed the trip!

On the first night we gathered at Ye Olde Elm Tree pub in Durham where it was lovely to meet up with around 40 students who were all on fine form and enjoying university life.

After a brief spin around the cathedral and only a minor delay at the railway station we headed off to Edinburgh where a similar number met up at the Wally Dug, a pub with an Old Salopian landlord (Murray Campbell O 1992-7). It was particularly good to see Henry and Greg who ‘did the double’ and attended both events.

Henry VIII and co slept in tents and ruined churches, we were in the Premier Inn and despite concerns that the weekend rail service is as reliable as travelling on horseback in the sixteenth century we made it back to Shrewsbury without incident.

Thanks to the three members of staff who gave up their coach weekend to accompany the trip.

We will be in Oxford, Bristol and Exeter in the new year.

Holly Fitzgerald, Director.

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