A LEADING Catholic boarding school in Ryedale has appointed its first ever lay headmaster.

David Lambon will join Ampleforth College from St Malachy’s College in Belfast, and will take over in September this year.

He will replace Fr Gabriel Everitt, who announced his retirement as headmaster last October after ten years.

A trained engineer and mathematician, Mr Lambon also has an MBA in school leadership and management and worked as an engineer in France and Germany before becoming a teacher.

Abbot Cuthbert Madden, the chair of governors, said: “The recruitment of the college’s first professional lay head was a big step, but in David we are confident we have found an exceptional teacher and leader with a strong record of commitment to, and achievement in, Catholic education, who will work with the community to retain the school’s Benedictine character, and will take the college to new levels of success.”