Abingdon News No.51

DofE 45 boys completed a challenging silver DofE route through the Brecon Beacons. The conditions were perfect with most groups climbing Pen y Fan at 886m. CCF Easter Camp 100 cadets from the School’s CCF Contingent spent a week at Longmoor Camp in Hampshire. The cadets faced the challenges with much enthusiasm, even the early mornings! Crossing the Channel Gold DofE sailors completed their expedition crossing the English Channel to Guernsey. They sailed through the night with calm seas however the return journey brought much windier weather and rougher seas with the sails needing to be heavily reefed for the 16 hour journey back to the south coast. Boys travelled to the Vimy Ridge, the Sunken Road and the Newfoundland Park Memorial and Lijssenthoek and Tyne Cot CWGC cemeteries as well as the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. Provence The fourth-year French exchange enjoyed a week in Provence with partners from Le Lycée de La Nativité and students from St Helen’s. Highlights included exploring Roman Provence, notably the imposing arena at Nîmes, medieval ruins, the modern history of Marseille and an impressive lightshow in the Carrière des Lumières. Fishbourne Roman Palace First years learnt about palace life by examining archaeological finds and discovering the recreated ornamental gardens and mosaics. 13