This trip has been completed - preserved for reference and the curious only.
The History Department trip to Belgium took place 12th to 16th February 2009.
Return journey - ETA, 6:45 to 7:00pm in Derby, see 'final' report below.
10:45am - 12th February
We left on-time this morning. It was rather slow going on the A14 until we stopped for refreshments at the services near Cambridge. Now we are travelling south on the M11 and making much better progress. Everyone is happy and enjoying the journey.
2:20pm
We have arrived safely at Dover. Now loading for the 2:50pm sailing of the ferry. Everyone's well and happy! We had a 2 hour delay for a car on fire on the A50(*). There was also a big accident on the M25. We were held up waiting for the Air Ambulance to pick up someone who had been injured. Now we've arrived at Dover, we can't wait to board the ferry and tuck into some chips. Field Marshall Neville is in full control - the troops are all happy and obeying orders!!!
(* footnote - I can't work out how they got held up on the A50, because the A50 is in Staffordshire. I'm guessing this might be the A20. Possibly someone misread the sign? - editor)
6:20pm
Finally, we've arrived safely at the hotel. The crossing on the ferry was very calm. No one complained of sea-sickness and the rest of the journey has been easy. We arrived at the hotel ten minutes ago and at the moment, we are sorting out our rooms and getting the luggage organized. The hotel is very clean, but rather Spartan. It will do no harm for the students to live like the First World War soldiers for a short while. We expect to sit down for our evening meal at about 7:30pm (6:30 UK time).
Some photos from the ferry crossing today.
And lastly for today, the evening meal.
8:55am - 13th February
Everyone enjoyed a good evening and had a reasonably good meal, with plenty
of chips! We went bowling (Sinan was the champion bowler) and played table
footy. Before going to bed, we had to cut Hugo's case open, as he had locked it
well enough to withstand a siege! Everyone was very tired and all in bed by
11pm.
All slept well and everyone was up on time, ready for breakfast at 8am this
morning. We had to endure Josh and Ollie, eating croissants in their pyjamas -
Ollie's PJs were not a sight that anybody should have to cope with at this time
of the morning!!!!!!!!!!
We are now walking round the Ypres town walls to the Menin Gate. The weather is
grey, gloomy and cold, but spirits are high.
More news, and hopefully more pictures, later on today.
8:37am - LCS party at the Menin Gate.
11:45am - At the Trenches Museum.
12:25pm
We have all had a good time in
Ypres. We walked along the walls to the Menin
Gate and then on to the museum. This was a very moving experience. Pupils were
very interested in the exhibits and the museum attendant said that we were the
most interested party she had seen in a long time. She then went on to
complement the pupils on their excellent behaviour.
We are now at
Sanctuary Wood in our "wellies", wading through trenches, mud
everywhere and squeals of pleasure. Lots of photos are being taken.
Tom Green has just fallen into the shell crater, up to his neck and Eilish
chased a rat down a tunnel.
Extremely cold still, very realistic and everyone having a "whale of a time!"
2:22pm - In a shell hole.
3:20pm
After the trenches, we moved onto
Tyne Cot Cemetery, the biggest war cemetery
in the world. The pupils were very impressed with the scale of it and moved by
thinking how many died there. Caitriona McCartney laid a wreath at the wall
where her great Uncle's name is on the plaque. Matthew Despres looked for one of
his relatives, but unfortunately couldn't find him.
We are now at Langemarck German Cemetery, which is very sombre and gloomy. We
are standing above a pit where 25,000 bodies were buried. A very sobering
thought.
Caitriona McCartney lays a wreath at Tyne Cot
Cemetery.
We are all looking forward to returning to the hotel for a hot meal.
The weather is still very cold here, but at least it has not rained.
8:15pm
We're now back at the hotel after a busy and tiring day. The evening meal was average, but with plenty of chips, so no one was complaining. Afterwards, we spent some time at the bowl. Stars of the lanes tonight were Rosei, Alex and Hemani. We'll be heading for bed at about 11pm to get some rest for our trip to Ghent. Look out for some more reports and pictures tomorrow.
9:35am - 14th February - Happy Valentines Day!
We're standing in the main square at Ghent, trying to organize everyone to take a group photograph. Last night, we had a really good time at the bowling alley. Our overall winner was Monica Rai. Everyone slept soundly and woke up eager to see Ghent. The weather is fine with a clear deep blue sky, but very cold of course - ideal walking weather, in fact. We've walked into the square from the coaches and after taking the group photo, we'll be moving on to the castle. Sights to see there are the dungeons, the torture chamber and an authentic Guillotine. I believe we have some candidates for a closer look at this equipment!
Possibly we might send some photos during the day, but the next full report isn't expected before tea-time.
Group Photo - Ghent city centre.
At the very top of the Castle.
4:20pm
We're just back at the hotel after our day out to Ghent. Everyone was very interested in our visit to the Gravensteen (Castle of the Count), the dungeons and the torture chamber. I suppose somewhat predictably, the students enjoyed the more gruesome aspects the most.
From the castle, we walked on to St Bavo Cathedral and took in the serene and calm atmosphere of this ancient building (home to Renaissance masterpieces by van Eyck and Rubens, Ed). Then we had some free time to have lunch and do some shopping. Many headed straight for McDonalds(!), but Freya led a small group to investigate the local produce. The main item on the menu was Belgian Waffles generously covered with chocolate sauce. It seems that everything comes with chocolate in Belgium!
Now we're back at the hotel and enjoying some free time before our evening meal. Most of the students are loaded with chocolate, supposedly as gifts for their parents, but I have my doubts that all the gifts will survive the journey home. We will report again in the morning as we begin our visit to The Somme.
9:05am - 15th February
We've had another good night, despite the rather bland food. We spent the evening bowling again, as well as watching the Rugby match on a large-screen television. We had problems with the owner's 4-year old daughter, who seems to be set on becoming a terrorist. She attacked us with her plastic gun until Mr Nichols confiscated both of the bullets. Then she resorted to a pushing campaign and managed to push Mr Davis over (serves him right for getting the name of the cemetery wrong above, Ed). Our children were shocked!
We had a peaceful night's sleep and a healthy breakfast, before boarding the coaches for our trip to France. We've just arrived at Vimy Ridge and we're going into the Visitor Centre to see an audio-visual presentation. After that's finished, we will take a walk to the memorial. The weather is still good, cold but a very clear sky. Hopefully, we can send a picture of the memorial later.
9:28am - In the trenches at Vimy Ridge.
9:51am - The Memorial at Vimy Ridge.
1:20pm
We've had an excellent visit to Vimy Ridge. The students found it very moving and they were impressed by the solemn beauty of the monument and the rows of white gravestones. We went to Newfoundland Memorial Park near Beaumont Hamel, which marks where the Newfoundland Regiment was almost wiped out in a single action. Here, the students could see and understand how close together the front lines were. We stood taking pictures for a while in the shivering cold.
12:46pm - At the Thiepval Memorial. 12:48pm - Jon Holmes finds his great grandfather.
Then we drove via Thiepval to Albert, where David Whitehorn has been able to find the grave of his great uncle, Lt Potterton (Lieutenant William Hubert Potterton of the Royal Engineers, died 24th July 1916, aged 24). This was a very moving moment for everyone.
1:15pm - David Whitehorn finds his great uncle at the Albert Cemetery.
We intend to stop a little longer in Albert to see the Church of the Leaning Virgin (Notre Dame de Brebières - Our Lady of the Ewes) and the Museum.
7:50pm
Our visit to Albert was very interesting. We went underground to experience the Somme Trench Museum, although it was claustrophobic in the tunnels. When we returned to the coaches, three French lads took a shine to Katie Atkinson, but we saw them off. We drove back to Dikkebus in Belgium for a slap-up meal. That means all the chicken and chips you can eat! Literally!!! Josh Pearson eat eight quarters of chicken - that's two whole chicken, in case you weren't counting... The boys who share his room are beginning to look a bit worried.
2:31pm - Modelling at the Somme Museum
Then back to the Menin gate to hear the Last Post in the rain. The gloom added to the atmosphere of the sombre event.
Back to the hotel and we're having a disco evening. We plan to pack and depart for home tomorrow at 9:00am. As usual, we will keep you posted on the journey and give you notice of our arrival time in Derby.
8:39am - At the Menin Gate, James Key pauses below the Royal Fusiliers plaque to lay a wreath in memory of his great uncle.
8:15am - 16th February - (9:15am in Belgium)
General Neville lead a successful evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Langemarck at 08:40 hours local time. The weather is overcast but dry. The troops are in good order after a peaceful night. The evening's entertainment revived the Dunkirk Spirit following the shock news of the defeat of their comrades by the Mancunians. Our next objective is Calais, where we intend to storm the Hypermarket.
12:15pm
We have made good time to Calais. When we left the Hypermarket, we found two asylum seekers hiding in the engine compartment and the drivers had to chase them off (I laughed at this point, but Mr Nichols assured me this was no joke! Ed). We have boarded the1:30pm ferry and we're well on our way across the channel. The sky is blue and the sea calm. After landing in England, we expect to make contact again at the Dartford tunnel. By this time, we should be able to provide an ETA.
4:25pm
We have just arrived at Cambridge services for a short break. We expect to arrive back in Derby at 6:45 to 7:00pm. This will be the final report unless there are any significant hold-ups en route. The trip has been excellent and the kids have been a pleasure to be with; a credit to their parents and the school.
Ed: parents collecting students by car - please ensure the school access roads are kept clear for the coaches to manoeuvre. There should be plenty of parking spaces off the roads and on the playground at the back of the school, if necessary.
Reported by Mr Nichols, edited and posted by Mr R. Burbeck.