On the 17th October, 41 Year 10 & 11 pupils and 4 teachers embarked upon a trip to the Château du Baffy in Normandy, France. While there, we experienced some French history, culture, and food (including frog legs and snail tasting!). On our way down to the château, we stopped off at the beautiful port of Honfleur, where everyone seemed to want to buy a baguette! We later continued to the Caen Memorial Museum. On Saturday, we had an excursion to Arromanches-les-Bains, which is next to Gold Beach. Here, we saw the remains of the Mulberry Harbour, which enabled the continued supply of provisions for the troops following the D-Day landings on 6th June 1944. We also viewed the German gun battery (part of the Atlantic Wall defences), and we later continued to the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, which overlooked Omaha Beach. There, we watched the flaglowering ceremony. We ended the day with a trip to Bayeux, where pupils could visit the impressive cathedral, view the Bayeux tapestry and practise their French conversational skills. Before we departed, we laid a wreath at the British Military Cemetery at Bayeux on behalf of Bishop Walsh Catholic School. This was a very moving element of the trip, and we were fortunate to be able to offer thanks for the sacrifice and service of the men and women who died whilst liberating France from Nazi occupation. It was an amazing experience; all the pupils were excellent ambassadors for the school, and we are really proud of them!
Mrs Bowker, Mr Yates, Mrs Condron and Miss Page