SEDBERGH School unveiled a state-of-the-art sports facility this weekend at the school’s annual prize giving on July 7.

The Hirst Centre will become the hub at the centre of the school’s playing fields.

Alongside providing indoor playing facilities for netball, tennis, basketball, badminton, and indoor football it hosts a gym, hospitality suite, changing rooms and medical room.

Headmaster, Andrew Fleck, said: “It is a marvellous addition to our facilities which provides for the increase in pupil numbers we have seen in recent years. Alongside the school’s own use, we hope many members of our local community will wish to use gym and hall.”

The Design Team for the Hirst Centre were Robotham Architects Ltd, Topping Engineers Ltd and SPX Architects Ltd.

The centre was constructed by B&E Boys Ltd from Rossendale in Lancashire, between May 2017 and June 2018.

The centre has been built into the side of a hill overlooking the school’s playing fields and features an arched sedum roof and traditional stone wall construction.

It is named in honour of Christopher and Sara Hirst, Andrew Fleck said: “Christopher and Sara led Sedbergh School between 1995-2010 and founded Sedbergh Prep School in 2002.

“In so many ways, they laid the foundations of the school’s current success and it is entirely right that we acknowledge their contribution to the school by naming this magnificent building the Hirst Centre.”

More than 900 pupils and parents were at the prize giving. The guests of honour were Old Sedberghians, George Biggar and Richard Taylor.