Twenty pupils from the Fourths and Removes have returned from a six day trip to Normandy and the Loire valley that marked the start of the summer holiday. The following pupils formed the travelling party that left Charterhouse on the last day of Cricket Quarter in order to take a coach to Portsmouth and a ferry across the Channel: Lucas Rimmer (D), Fred Vacher (V), Henry Waldern (V), Archie Woodhouse (R) Edward Emeny (P), Oba Agboola (P), Edward Garnier (P), Bradley Yih (V), Oscar Hanks (B), Oliver Blackwell, (D), James McAllister (g), Toby Duffen (S), Sam Duffen (S), Harry Pascoe (S), Amaury Clerens (D), Oliver Lofthouse (S), Ifeanyi Isichei (H), Peter Wallace (B), Christopher Cole (S), Alex Daintith (V). Without exception, each pupil behaved magnificently and demonstrated his good character throughout the trip. Indeed, we received compliments on several occasions for their exemplary behaviour.
All the boys took full advantage of every visit, which included the War Memorial museum as well as the Abbaye aux Hommes in Caen, the Futuroscope theme park in Poitiers, the Chateau de Chenonceau near Tours and the Mont Saint Michel. There were numerous opportunities for the group to speak French for every day tasks such as buying their train tickets or ordering their picnic lunch in the shops. It was certainly a pleasure to see our Carthusians communicate spontaneously in French with shopkeepers and members of the public.
Three members of Brooke Hall (the teaching body) and the Modern Languages Department accompanied the group: Mrs Eleanor McIntyre, Mr Jim Price and Dr. William Baugniet. Overall, the superb atmosphere created by all who took part as well as the cultural, gastronomic and other educational benefits of the whole French experience made for an extremely enjoyable and memorable trip.