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Oxford – 2nd Years
As is our custom, this year-
group took advantage of some
of the sights close to home.
ach form followed its own individual
schedule for the specific parts of the day
that were pre-booked and after that, they
could take in any sights that they wished
to (by agreement with their team-leaders,
of course). These included: visiting various
Oxford Colleges, a trip to Ben’s Cookies
and a tour of the Oxford University Cricket
Pavilion with RBL. Our pre-booked trips
included a visit to Oxford Castle, a ride on
the open-top tourist bus and then a visit
to the Pitt Rivers Museum. The whole day
was superbly planned byWB, and the boys
rose to the challenge of visiting a busy city
centre in large groups. The poor weather
in the afternoon somewhat curtailed our
time in town, but the boys made the most
of their day in Oxford and they asked
some very interesting questions at both
the castle and the Pitt Rivers. The following
morning, the boys produced reports of their
own personal experiences of the day. The
standard of the write-ups was superb and
each form had a winner who was presented
with a small prize in Mini Prizegiving. For
JSB this was her final Expedition Day trip
(of many!) to Oxford, and it was good to
hear that she felt it had been one of the
most successful in her time.
JJP
Warwick Castle – 1st Years
The FirstYears headed toWarwick
Castle in glorious sunshine.
They had a fun time watching Europe’s largest
working trebuchet fire a flaming rock along
the riverbank. Fortunately, this year it missed
the wooden boathouse which had gone up
in smoke as a result a few years ago! After
this they climbed the many stairs to the top
of Guy’s Tower, and explored the ramparts.
Plenty of imaginary bows and arrows were
shot at unsuspecting groups of children below.
We then headed to the castle state rooms and
exhibitions, enjoyed lunch in the rose garden,
completed the Horrible Histories Maze and
visited the birds of prey.The day was packed
full and the boys clearly all enjoyed themselves
before the heavens opened and we were forced
to head home.The boys were all a credit to the
school and produced some excellentWarwick
Castle guides and information posters the
following morning in the projects period.
JERA
Windsor Castle – 3rd Years
3J and the rest of 3R expanded
their understanding of the
Third Year History syllabus,
which looks closely at the
development of the monarchy
under the Tudors.
The castle at Windsor – as one of Henry
VIII’s and Elizabeth’s residences and
Henry’s burial site – is an important
location in that story. It is also inextricably
linked with the story of our current royal
family. The weather was fantastic and the
spectacle of the changing of the guard was
suitably impressive. The royal apartments
were stunning and were still dressed for
the Order of the Garter investitures that
had taken place earlier in the month.
After lunch in the learning centre we were
allowed access to the glorious chapel of St
George, an integral location to the Order
of the Garter. The quire is particularly
impressive, festooned with the knights’
coats of arms. In contrast Henry VIII’s grave
is unexpectedly plain and simple; it was
both interesting and touching to see the
quiet reflection of the boys as they sat
and read the inscription on the memorial
stone. After a short walk to Alexandra Park,
followed by an ice cream we travelled
home having had a great day.
DRW
S u m m e r F i e l d s
2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 6
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