Y9 Battlefields - June 2024

We have had an incredible three days for this trip. This was my first time leading the Calthorpe Park WW1 Experience, a trip since the start of my teaching career that I have always wanted to run. The students were amazing and conducted themselves brilliantly on the trip - it was a pleasure to take them on this trip.

Though their short-term memories of the trip may inevitably be of chocolate, laughs and time with their mates, I hope the students will remember it for deeper reasons for many years to come.

 My first Big Thank You must go to our Guides, we have worked with Andy, Ed, Dickie and Frank for a number of years but we were delighted to also have Beth and John join us this year as our guides. They are the key to the experience allowing the Battlefield sites to come alive with their unlimited knowledge and enthusiasm. Even when the weather was not so great they were still able to engage students with personal accounts from soldiers who fought, to practical demonstrations of WW1 Warfare. Without the guides our students would not take away half as much from this experience without them.

          

We managed to include the majority of the hoped-for pilgrimages – a unique, moving and valuable experience for the students involved – which will stay with them for the rest of their lives. It is a shame that we could not visit all – but the geographical logistics of completing such a large itinerary prevented all being completed. The ‘Last Post’ ceremonies and 2 wreath-layings are always sombre and powerful highlights of the trip – huge thanks to Mr Walker and Charlotte S, who performed beautifully under considerable pressure. The combination of the flute and violin this year really did bring a tear to your eye.

          

The weather was very much on our side this year, although not as hot as previous years, the challenge of wet weather can really ruin the experience, luckily for us the rain stayed away until we were on the coaches travelling towards the Eurotunnel on the final day.

Whilst the main focus of the 3 days was the daytime activities, students also clearly enjoyed their time together and particularly the evenings in the Hostel. Some were enjoying their time so much at the hostel that the perhaps forgot the time and the need for some rest ahead of a busy schedule the next day. The Messines Hostel is a superb venue with great facilities and plentiful food. Students were able to relax through playing a variety of card games and sports but also sitting around chatting about their experiences of the day.

          

I owe a huge debt of thanks not to just to our guides and drivers, but also to my 14 colleagues who worked tirelessly to ensure the welfare of our students throughout the trip. They have also helped with the many hours of planning that have gone into this trip before we arrived. A third of the staff on this year’s trip were also experiencing the trip for the first time, and the WW1 Experience makes for three very long physically and emotionally draining days.

Finally, I would like to thank one staff member in particular who handed over the reins to me for leading this trip - Mr Edwards. His support and guidance was a real help on this trip. This was his 20th and final WW1 experience with the school. As many of you know, he has provided so many amazing opportunities for our students over the years and has made the Calthorpe Park School’s WW1 Experience what it is today and will continue to be going forward. Therefore, I felt it was only fitting to allow him to be one of the wreath layers at Tyne Cot. Thank you Mr Edwards for everything you have done for extra curriculum and enrichment opportunities for our students.

Mr M-J