The son of Jamaican immigrants of the Windrush generation and born in north-west London, domestic violence broke his home and forced him to be raised in care. At school he was steered towards manual labour, but he insisted on studying A Levels and went on to gain a teaching degree. Simultaneously he was proving himself to be one of the most exciting young talents in English rugby union and was pursued by a host of top-flight rugby clubs to play for them. Mr Steadman played for the Saracens 469 times over 10 years, and in 1989 captained them to promotion to the old first division – all whilst being a schoolteacher. He also broke new ground in the teaching sector, becoming the first black teacher and Head of Sport at St Paul’s School, and only the second black Headteacher in the independent sector when appointed to Salcombe Prep School.
Mr Steadman published his autobiography – A Week One Summer in 2021. He works with numerous charities that provide education and opportunities for children and young adults who have grown up in care. His charity work takes him into schools – such as ours – to talk about diversity and inclusion. He was awarded the OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list for his services to rugby, education and charity, and in May 2024 he was appointed of one of only five new Deputy Lieutenants of Cornwall.
He spoke with honesty about overcoming adversity, resilience, and the importance of self-belief. His willingness to share his wisdom about leadership, sportsmanship and equality was an unforgettable lesson in contemporary Black British history, as he encouraged students to challenge perceptions, address unconscious bias and lead with compassion. His talk made an undeniable impact on our girls, who were disappointed when the Q&A had to end – with some staying behind during break to ask him even more questions!
We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Steadman for his time and the invaluable insight he shared with our THS community. He presented two copies of his book to our Head Girl Team for our library which have already been snapped up by students for reading.
