Rhubarb December 2025

I n a colourful blur of dust, heat, and laughter, four OSE, Theo, Angus, Lachie and Scarlet, took part in Carlie’s Crossing, a tuk-tuk race across Sri Lanka. With 61 participants, the race raised vital funds in memory of Carlie Tufnell, a friend who sadly lost his battle with depression in 2021. After five days travelling across Sri Lanka and a gruelling 175km push on the final day, Theo, Angus and Lachie’s team clinched fourth place, finishing a full 30 minutes ahead of the next teams. Scarlet’s team were in third place going into the final day. Unfortunately, a flat tyre set them back, and they eventually finished 11th. The fundraising efforts of our OSE have been very impressive, contributing to the £85,000 raised for two fantastic causes – the Carlie What inspired you to take part in Carlie’s Crossing, and what did it mean to race in Carlie’s memory? Each of us felt a personal pull. Theo was on the committee and helped organise the event; Angus and Lachie knew Carlie from prep school; Scarlet had followed his story and the Trust’s work. Beyond our individual links, the race’s wider message resonated with all of us: mental-health struggles are something almost everyone encounters, directly or indirectly. When the chance came around to honour Carlie through a collective adventure, saying “yes” was the easiest part of the whole journey. Tell us about the tuk-tuk itself. How hard was it to drive, and did anything go spectacularly wrong en route? Each team got a “lesson” the day before the flag drop. We went in thinking we would be naturals and instantly discovered tuk-tuks are nothing like cars. Imagine a lawn-mower engine bolted to a shopping trolley: three stubborn gears, zero suspension, top speed 45 km/h downhill. Day one was all stalling starts and crunching gear changes, but by day two we were weaving through traffic like locals. The only real drama was Scarlet’s blow-out on the final morning. Otherwise the tuk-tuks were amazingly durable – even if they sometimes needed a push up the steeper jungle passes – just not particularly comfortable. Tufnell Charitable Trust and the T.E.A. Project .

THREE WHEELS, ONE CAUSE – RACING ACROSS SRI LANKA IN TUK-TUKS

INSPIRING JOURNEYS

LACHIE DOUGLAS-FERGUSON (Apsley, 2012-2017) THEO ROSS (Tilly’s, 2012-2017) ANGUS ATKINSON (Field House, 2012-2017) SCARLET EADIE (Oakthorpe, 2012-2017)

BEYOND TEDDIES

Anuradhapura

Sigiriya

Teddies Adventurers: L-r: Lachie,Theo, Angus and Scarlet.

Kandy

Nuwara Eliya

Ella

Weligama

The only real drama was Scarlet’s blow- out on the final morning.

28