Article Date: 14 July 2014
Article Date: 14 July 2014
The purpose of the trip was to educate the students on not only the gratified victories of our wars, but also the consequential sacrifices we made, one of them being the great number of lives of which were lost in honourable battles upon the French land and sea.
The trip began on Monday 7th July (avoiding the Tour de France), with a 10 hour journey to Grand-Camp Maisy. Students made their way on board coaches with sullen eyes and eager smiles, waved goodbye to parents and departed just before 5am. They arrived in Normandy, France in the late evening and were welcomed by the staff at Le Duguesclin hotel. Rooms were assigned and teachers relaxed for just a moment or two, students began to unpack and settle in. The unaccustomed foreign food was not an acquired taste to most, however students seized the opportunity of familiar foods and drinks when handed out by the teachers every night before bed.
Students were taken to various historical war sites throughout the week starting with Omaha beach then the varying WW2 cemeteries of the different countries involved in the war. Including the American Memorial cemetery at Colleville, the German cemetery at La Cambe and also the British Common Wealth Cemetery at Bayeux. Here as well as comparing the different style of memorial to the huge sacrifices made students fondly searched for possible deceased relatives. Following the cemeteries students also enjoyed a visit to Point du Hoc, the Longues battery, the Bayeux Tapestry and a 360 degree cinema which enabled students to witness rare footage of the war and the effects of those whom were left behind at home. Students visited the rich historical and beautiful Mont Saint Michel on Thursday, where they wandered in between active alleyways bursting with French culture and strolled alongside and through the ancient abbeys of the island itself.
An additional bonus of a trip to a local biscuit factory and a detour to the hospital was courtesy of Ms Biggs who broke her finger whilst on Mont Saint Michel. Ms Biggs returned a few hours later with the same bubbly personality and her sore bloody wrapped up finger, fortunately there was no permanent damaged made. Students spent their evenings on the Normandy beach outside the hotel with abandoned flip flops lying on the sand and painted toes dipped in the softly teasing sea. The boys engaged in football matches, whilst many of the girls wandered across the sand talking of the day's events. One evening all students were involved in a rounders match, which also included some of the teachers. The results concluded that the girls won out-rightly, although the boys have argued it was a bias result, due to Miss Duncan and Miss Short leading the girls' team. The girls disagree.
After an eye-opening, unforgettable week and a safe journey home, the students who participated the final trip to Normandy would like to thank all of the staff at Notley High School involved in making the trip very memorable for everyone who came. A special thank you to Miss Duncan for organising the trip over the past thirteen years, tolling up a total of just over 1,000 students who she had taken to the sites which students were lucky enough to visit one last time. On behalf of all of the 68 students, thank you, it really has been an experience which will stay with us forever.
BY GEORGIA BARTLETT, 10L
