RGS Camps

A Legacy of Adventure and Discovery 

For nearly a century, camping has been a defining part of life at the Royal Grammar School Newcastle – a tradition that has taken generations of boys far beyond the classroom and into the hills, fields, and forests of Britain and beyond. What began as a bold experiment in 1926 quickly became one of the most treasured and enduring elements of the RGS co-curricular experience. 

It all started at Dipton Mill, near Hexham, where the first weekend camps were held in the summer of 1926. Organised by Mr RFI Bunn (staff 1925-33) and the remarkable Michael Roberts (staff 1925-31, 1934-41) – teacher of English, Maths and Physics, and a noted mountaineer and poet – pupils travelled by train on Friday evenings and walked from the station with their kit. Bell tents and cooking gear were transported by lorry. Over 200 boys attended during that first summer alone. The Headmaster, Mr ER Thomas (staff 1922-48), called it “a very interesting experiment revealing the great value of such activities in the life of the school.” 

Camping quickly became an RGS institution. By 1928, weekend camps at Dipton Mill were a regular feature of the summer term. During the 1930s, the programme expanded rapidly, with camps running not only at weekends but also during Newcastle Race Week in June – when the school traditionally closed. Boys camped in Allendale, Rothbury, Bardon Mill, Wensleydale, Borrowdale, Langdale and Greenrigg, and further afield in Glen Cloy on the Isle of Arran from 1934 to 1939. 

International adventures soon followed. The first overseas camping trip was to Normandy in 1930, repeated in 1931, and by 1934, Michael Roberts was leading climbing expeditions to the Alps. 

Transport was an adventure in itself. Rural train lines still reached remote destinations, and boys might complete their journey in open lorries or cattle trucks. The lack of modern health and safety – and the sense of independence – made it all the more memorable. 

Camps like Wensleydale (1930–2001), Ryedale (1937–2000), Eskdale (1949–1990), and The Border (1952–2001) became legendary for their longevity and character. Staff such as TT Anderson (staff 1924-60), WA “Spike” Thornton (staff 1949-76), George Pallister (staff 1926-66) and Laurence Watson (staff 1930-71) gave decades of service, returning year after year to lead camps and mentor generations of boys. 

By the 1970s, camping was described by headmaster Alister Cox (staff 1972-94) as a “superb feature of the RGS tradition.” Even as education and travel changed, the values at the heart of RGS camping remained: independence, teamwork, resilience, and discovery.