Year 5 have safely returned from their three day trip to Normandy, France.
Leaving school at 5am (!) on Tuesday morning, we journeyed to Portsmouth where we boarded the Mont St. Michel ferry to start our six hour crossing to Caen. Breakfast and lunch were enjoyed on board and a film ‘Incredibles 2’, a spot of retail therapy and lots of excited chatter about the impending trip. Having enjoyed a very smooth crossing, we were off to the German Battery at Longues-sur-Mer in glorious sunshine. A chance to enjoy the fresh air and stretch our legs. We arrived at the Gite, keen to unpack. We enjoyed a delicious supper prepared by our host Mathieu, a but of down time and then a much needed shower and good night’s sleep.
Day 2 saw us venture to the city of Bayeux after a delicious breakfast of baguette and hot chocolate. We saw the Tapestry and visited the Museum. WE were able to do a touch more retail therapy at Bayeux Market where bandanas and bracelets were the purchases of choice this year. The weather was extremely kind to us, and despite Camberley being under a permanent raincloud, we were able to enjoy a delightful picnic in glorious sunshine before spending some peaceful and thought provoking time with the fallen soldiers at Ranville Cemetery. There we were able to find the grave of a paratrooper buried with his service dog and the grave of 16 year old R. E. Johns a private with the Parachure Regiment who died in July 1944. We then drove to Pegasus Bridge in quiet reflection where we were told all about the daring troops who glided from the North Normandy coast to take Benouville Bridge into Allied hands in the early hours of D-Day 1944. Finally we returned to the Gite for more delicious food and Games Night.
Day 3 saw us leave the Gite early and travel to the Graindorge Cheese Factory to learn all about what goes into making 4 speciality cheeses of the region. Some of us even dared to taste them! Then onto the Tuillerie Farm to meet Jacqueline who gave us a tour and an insight into what is takes to look after all the animals and the cows that produce milk that is used at the cheese factory. A fond farewell to good friends who we have visited for many years and then a final drive to Caen to board the early evening ferry back to Portsmouth. Despite a few stomach churning rolls which we were distracted from by watching The Greatest Showman and Beauty & the Beast we landed safely in Portsmouth. We finally returned to school at 11.15pm, very happy to see our parents and full of stories about our adventures in France.
We look forward to sharing our trip with our Parents in an Assembly on 26th June 2019
