PBHS HISTORY TOUR TO UK & FRANCE – JUNE/JULY 2013
26 JUNE D DAY!
After months and months of planning, the day everyone has been looking forward to for so long has finally dawned! The atmosphere was electric as 37 boys accompanied by an array of family members gathered at OR Tambo, all looking so very smart in their uniformed attire. I feel enormously privileged to be associated with PBHS on their 2nd History tour and it has been a joy to work with Second Master & acclaimed historian, Mr John Illsley. My ‘Independent French’ tour is also leaving on the same plane tonight and with a total of 85 ‘Personal Touch’ passengers on board the magnificent A380, we will be a force to be reckoned with! Upon arrival the boys will connect to London, where they will be met by their dedicated 24 hour tour escort, Peter Voice. I will update the site once I have found connectivity in Paris and heard from the chaperones tomorrow…
27 JUNE SAFE ARRIVAL & GREAT EXCITEMENT!
It was wonderful to see the PBHS boys on the plane last night - they are really so lovely, with impeccable manners mixed with a good dose of fun! Of course there was not much sleep during the night, but when we said farewell, all were bursting excitement for what lay ahead. I look forward to hearing news from them, once they have had time to breathe !
28 JUNE A JAM-PACKED ITINERARY!
I have not yet heard directly from the chaperones and to be quite honest I completely understand, as there is just so much to do and so little time to do it in!! I do know though without a doubt that they are in very good hands with their Tour Escort, Peter Voice and I look forward to copying & pasting the first comprehensive report when it arrives! Tonight the boys will enjoy the WestEnd Production of ‘You Will Rock Me’, so they are all bound to be in high spirits!
29 JUNE FINAL DAY IN LONDON!
So sorry, but I have still not had any word from the group - NO need to be worried though, as I know for sure they are all happy & in safe hands with Casterbridge Tours! This morning they were due to visit the National Army Museum and then have a fascinating tour of HMS Belfast. After a walk through the city’s Southwark area, they would have visited the London Dungeon to relive some of the more macabre aspects of the city’s past and their evening would have been spent in lively Covent Garden. Tomorrow morning they will pack up and travel to Brighton – so hopefully some ‘hot off the press’ news then!
30 JUNE FAREWELL TO A CROWDED LONDON!
I have received a message from Mr Illsely who says that they have been having a wonderful tour - a full programme in a very packed London! Today they travelled to Portsmouth and tonight they will all enjoy a relaxing evening of 'fish & chips' on the beach near Brighton. They will be spending the evening at YHA TRULEIGH HILL Tel: 00 44 1903 813 419
1 JULY ONWARD TO DOVER & BELGIUM!
This morning the group travelled to Dover and en route they stopped at Capel le Ferne to view the Battle of Britain Memorial. They visited Dover Castle and then had time to explore the WWII tunnels. In the early evening they crossed the English Channel by ferry, during which time they ate dinner on board. Upon arrival they travelled by coach to Kortrijk in Belgium, where they will be staying for the next 2 nights at Hotel IBIS KORTRIJK CENTRUM Tel: 00 32 56 257 975.
2 JULY MOVING LAST POST CEREMONY
I have still not heard directly from the group so can only imagine that they are following the finely tuned programme! Their visits today included St. George’s Memorial Church, the Flanders Fields’ Museum and the WW1 trenches at Sanctuary Wood. In the early evening they participated in the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial and I am really looking forward to a full update from Mr Illsely, because I know that he had planned for this to be a very special occasion for the Boys High students…..
3 JULY SOMME BATTLEFIELDS
With still no word, I contacted Casterbridge directly and they assured me that all are well and that the programme remains on track! The boys are just busy, busy, busy - so we have to be patient until we receive a detailed update! Today was dedicated to the Somme Battlefields and in the late afternoon they travelled to Delville Wood, where they visited the South African Memorial Museum, which pays tribute to all those who died in service to the Union. Here Mr Illsely has arranged for the boys to lay a wreath on behalf of PBHS and I eagerly await details of this very formal ceremony. A reminder that they will overnight at the AUBERGE de JEUNESSE in Amiens Tel: 00 33 3 22 33 27 30
4 JULY ONWARD TO PARIS!
I am delighted to have received a text message from Mr Illsley with a short summary of events: “The tour is going very well and the itinerary is full & rewarding. Our two WW1 days included a wreath laying at the Menin Gate in Ypres, with hundreds in attendance and here we proudly flew the school flag. The next day we had a private ceremony at Delville Wood, accompanied by our very own bag-piper, who then also played at the Pipers’ Memorial in Longueval – both very special occasions indeed!” The group today travelled to Paris, visiting, Le Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace en route. After having settled into their residence and freshening, they hopped on the metro and made their way to Montmartre, where they will enjoy dinner at a restaurant on La Place du Tertre. Spare a thought for other diners in the restaurant as the 37 PBHS History students meet up with the 35 PHSG Art students!! A reminder that they will be staying at the Youth Hostel, Paris Pajol for the next 3 nights and the contact telephone number is 00 (33) 1 44 89 87 27
5 JULY ANOTHER FULL DAY!
I have just received this text updated re yesterday: “We walked through the fragrant forest of Compiegne to the Armistice site where I provided a talk on the event and then on to the Air and Space museum for a few hours, which the boys really enjoyed. We booked into our very new youth hostel and then to Montmartre for supper, which was very good - some had portraits painted and it was all good fun!” Today the group will be visiting the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame followed by La Conciergerie, the Hôtel des Invalides and the golden Église du Dôme. Their final visit will be to the Musée de l’Armée and their evening will be spent relaxing in the Quartier Latin.
6 JULY SO MUCH & MORE ON THE GO!
A brief update from Mr Illsley: “We had a very full day yesterday, cover ing all in the itinerary and more, as we included the Deportation Memorial next to Notre Dame and the Roman Amphitheatre. The city is very hot and crowded, but the boys are like pros on the metro now!” After breakfast this morning they all headed off to the Louvre, where they enjoyed a guided tour and then they spent time in the Tuileries Gardens before embarking on a ‘shopping walk’ along the Avenue des Champs Elysées! After having ascended the Arc de Triomphe where they witnessed some of the most chaotic driving in the world, they headed off to the Eiffel Tower followed by a relaxing cruise on the River Seine. Their final dinner in Paris was again served in a local restaurant and was both excellent and copious!
7 JULY ONWARD TO NORMANDY
Au revoir to Paris, as they traveled by coach towards Normandy. Their first visit was to Versailles, where they enjoyed a guided tour of the magnificent Palace & spectacular gardens, before continuing on to Caen to visit the Airborne Museum at Pegasus Bridge. A reminder that they will be staying for the next 2 nights in the hotel IBIS BUDGET BAYEUX Tel: 00 33 8 92 70 20 09.
8 JULY D-DAY LANDING BEACHES
Mr Illsely reports that 'the tour has gone really well and todays visit to the D-Day beaches and related museums was really memorable'.
9 JULY LE MONT ST MICHEL TO SAINT MALO
Today they visited the Airborne Museum and were also able to include the Bayeux Tapestry, before making their way to Le Mont St Michel - there was apparently great excitement, as the Tour de France was due to pass through here. They then had a relaxing evening in the seaside resort of Saint Malo and enjoyed walking along the ancient ramparts. Their final dinner was really special as the boys reminisced about special aspect of this amazing tour.
10 JULY HOMEWARD BOUND!
Homeward bound today and en route to Roissy Charles de Gaulle, they will pass through Le Mans, where they will visit Le Musée de l'Automobile. After lunch they will continue on to Roissy Charles de Gaulle, where all will say a fond farewell to their driver & to their 24 hour Tour Escort, Peter Voice. He has been an integral part of the tour and appreciated by all. I have confirmed their return flight on AF 990 which will depart at 23h20 tonight and I am sure there is no need to remind all excited mums & dads that their beloved sons are scheduled to arrive at OR Tambo @ 09h50 tomorrow, Thursday 11 July. By all accounts this has been the most wonderful tour and it is indeed heartwarming to re-read Mr Illsley’s introduction to his tour brochure: “We are not only going to be enjoying a tour of historical places, but also making some Boys’ High history - such an ambitious tour has never before been undertaken!” They will undoubtedly be exhausted upon arrival and whilst the many wonderful anecdotes may not immediately be forthcoming, they will I know reveal themselves in the days, months and even years to come! To act ‘in loco parentis’ is no mean task and your sons have been so privileged to have travelled with Mr John Illsely, Mrs Sheri van Wyk and Ms Tarryn Parker - they have formed a formidable team and taken great care of your sons! They have really appreciated the boys' participation & enthusiasm and they have been fine ambassadors for their school and their country. What a road we have all travelled together and it is always emotional when it comes to an end - it remains for me to say ‘merci beaucoup, bon retour et à la prochaine!’