The beginning of the summer holidays started a day late for 68 students and 7 teachers as they returned tired but happy from another successful Y8 visit abroad.

This year we explored the beautiful wine growing region of Alsace in South-East France. Over the centuries this area has been under both French and German control and many of the town names reflect this Germanic influence.

We stayed in a well appointed hostel in Mittelwihr, some 30 miles south of Strasbourg. Set amongst the vineyards and blessed with reasonable weather our young people experienced the ambience from the ground up!

After a long journey down from Calais we did not rest on our laurels. After supper we walked up the hill to the War Cemetery to pay our respects to the soldiers of both sides who died fighting in the Colmar Gap during WW2. Our students behaved sensibly here and on the way down despite the fading light!

The following day we walked (again!) to the pretty village of Riquewihr where the tourist shops were full of cuddly storks. The latter have become an emblem of the Alsace and can often be seen nesting at the top of church towers.

Refreshed with delicious ice-creams and chips (Paul Heseltine was starving!) we moved on to the Parc des Singes where the Macaque monkeys entertained our teenagers, or, was it the other way round! Later we explored a castle restored by Kaiser Bill for one of his girlfriends.

Other excursions included a boat trip in Strasbourg and swimming. Our young men looked very fetching in their Speedo briefs, although the local pool master was not happy with Matthew Judge's cycling shorts and he told him to remove them! Fortunately for us all they supplied him with a replacement pair!

The trip also had its educational side and we invited them to take part in the Mittelwihr Challenge. In groups the students had to devise a poster illustrating the delights of the area to English speaking guests. After two evenings' frenzied activity we announced the winners as follows :

Ellis Fenwick, Lizzie Hare, Becky Romans, Sean Turner, Jack Walker, Jodie Toes and Sophie Ellis.

They and two other groups will receive a cash prize provided by Rondo Travel of Harrogate who arrange our trips.

By common consent Europa Park was considered the best theme park they have visited in their young lives. I heartily agree even though I have more rollercoaster miles on the clock!

So, all in all, a rewarding and enjoyable stay, followed up by five weeks holiday! What more could a young person ask for?

My thanks to all staff who helped with the visit and in particular to Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Barton, Miss Smith, Miss Barker and Mr. Childs.

Neil Snowdon, Trip Organiser September 2007