Award Scheme

The trip involved a week long visitto Aberdovey which incorporated a three day Silver Duke ofEdinburgh's Award practice expedition. The first day after arrival consisted ofourpractice walk lasting j ust one day for which we all climbed Cadair Idris which is one ofthe larger mountains in that area, approximately 900m. On the following day we all went abseiling and rock climbing on the coast not far from the Outward Bound Centre where we were staying. On the third day we set off on our expeditions, my group started walking from the Outward Bound Centre whilstthe other group set out from the North. Ourgroups first day ofwalking went fairlywell with us making reasonably good time even though certain obstacles were encountered, such as barbed wire fences and uncrossable rivers. Even so we arrived at the campsite within a disused slate quarry at about 4:30, having eaten and pitched tents the temperature rapidly dropped and the wind picked up. Next morning we all rose early and had left the campsite by about 8:30, we then had a good days walking in amazing weather conditions. Soon after lunch we met the other group going the opposite direction and thus all had a quick rest whilst filling them in on the obstacles that we had encountered so far. We then carried on walking arriving at our campsite at about 3:30 which left a pleasurable amount of time for us to pitch our tents and cook our dinner, before sitting up playing cards and trying to light a campfire. Next morning we had another early start and we actually reached our finishing point at 1:00, even though we had at one point become slightly lost. We then returned to the Outward Bound Centre before both groups went out that evening for a meal in a local restaurant.

Small scale by comparison with previous exchanges, this year's programme was nevertheless enjoyable and above all proved the value of repeated visits to the same French families. This is the last year of the Le Puy Exchange which we are discontinuing so we may concentrate on our relationship with the College St. Wimoc, Bergues, near Dunkerque. Next year as many as thirty pupils will take part; this year only fifteen `old hands' were to host their correspondents and, in the event, only nine ofthe fifteen who had travelled to Bergues in 1995 decided to go again. The smaller number of visitors who arrived at school in April enabled us to offer the French children an exacting programme of local visits, ferried hither and thither by minibus. They were genuinely delighted to see old friends again and their behaviour was an excellent advertisement for exchanges. Sutton Valence pupils not involved in the programme could not fail to be struck by the sense of excitement and fun which the Tricolore Fifteen exuded. Faye-Dee Posnette, Sophie Moore, John Arthur, Steven Johnson, James Edmundson, Dulcie Butcher, Charlotte Foreman and James Abbott were greeted by their families, on their return to France, with great warmth and hospitality. Anxious to give no offence we had eaten all ofourbeef-flavoured crisps on the boat. Steven had also consumed John's smokey-bacon packet but hardly any of us believed that he had done so for reasons connected with the War. I could tell from the behaviour of the French children that they were very proud of their English friends. I have to say that I was proud of my party too, not only because they proved to be excellent ambassadors in a tense period of Anglo-French relations but also because they all used their French extensively, one or two making dramatic progress and nobody mentioning boeuf. Bravo les Rosbi fs was a sentiment deeply felt by all the French families as we left but never uttered for obvious diplomatic reasons. MikeJillians.

We set off in two minibuses with 26 pupils and4 staff aboard. The first night \vas sperita Besancon, a largely scenic town in which we stayed in the least scenic quarter. Then on to Ovronnaz -1400 metres up via a series of hairpin bends - and to the hotel of the Tacot family, who looked after us very well. The menu includedchevreuil and venison, thick vegetable soups. Swiss cheeses and the local Fendant wine (forthose old enough! ) The weatherwas warm and the Arolla and Trient glaciers were much shrunken, having retreated some 50 metres in 3 years. We studies Sion, the Canton capital; Martingny, with its Roman remains; and the ancient mountain resorts of Evolene and Iserables. Ourfinal afternoon we spent at the Provins Valais winery. This was a most adventurous and successful field trip.

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