Soham Grammarians - Trip to Bouillon, Ardennes, August 1961

from the Spring 1962 Soham Grammarian

BELGIUM, 1961

On 23rd August, the School Party, under the distinguished leadership of Messrs Hart, Sherrington, Bozeat, and Ades, left for Bouillon, a small Belgian town nestling in the Ardennes. The holiday turned out to be as near perfect as possible, the food, weather and accommodation being excellent.

Of the six days spent at the Hotel, three were spent touring, mainly in Luxembourg and Northern France. The trips into France included one which ended at Charleville, where it was market-day, and one to the two and a half miles of caverns known as the Grottoes of Han.

We spent the week-end in the town itself, which had much to offer in the way of attractions. The river which flowed through the town provided swimming and canoeing, and the golf-course also became a firm favourite. Some of the more energetic climbed the side of the valley to get a better view of the town. On Saturday evening, the party went up to the Castle for a "Son et Lumière" performance, in which lighting and voices were used very effectively instead of actors.

One of the last trips was to Luxembourg, when we met the German border at Echternach and followed it past the tempting vineyards, until we finally left it and passed into Luxembourg itself. The last afternoon was spent at Sedan, where there was much shopping done.

The following morning we had to leave, accepting a kind invitation from the proprietor to return at a later date. We were especially grateful for the opportunities to practise our French with his daughters and niece. We should like to thank all masters responsible for the trip for making it such an enjoyable and memorable one.

MJF, 4L

[A return visit was indeed made in 1963]


Dannie Nicholas 59: has provided photos: "It was a trip to Boullion in Belgium, with day trips to places in France, Luxemburg and Belgium. We stayed at LE TYROL hotel - I have a postcard I sent my parents showing the hotel, postmarked 24/8/61."


Belgium 1961: It is believed that, working from the front, Terry Mackender, Stuart Porter, Lionel Hart, John Dimmock, Alan Christie, Geoff Fernie, Dick Smith are in this photo.
Are these right? Also present Roy King and Mr Sherrington.

 


France 1961: Roy Bolton?, Lionel Hart and Norman Sherrington

Bouillon http://www.info-bouillon.co.uk/index.php


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page created 19 Nov 10