Battlefield Tour – Normandy Landings & Bayeux Cathedral

THIS TRIP IS NOW FULL AND ADDITIONAL PLACES ARE BY REQUEST ONLY - PLEASE ENQUIRE AT THE OB CLUB (obclub@bedfordschool.org.uk) 

In the year of the 80^th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings we are offering a very special 5-day Battlefield Tour when not only will we be able to learn about the vital role Old Bedfordians played in the Normandy Landings, (read more here), as well as learn about those OBs who fought and died in Normandy,  but we will also be able to attend the performance by the Bedford School Choir when they sing in the magnificent Bayeux Cathedral.

We have scheduled the trip to coincide with the Choir’s tour to Normandy and, as always, the trip will be a good mixture of sightseeing, history and socialising, with the added bonus of joining the Choir at the Cathedral, in addition to attending a further performance and reception.

The trip will take place between Wednesday 10 July 2024 to Sunday 14^th July and costs £1,199 per person in twin rooms. There is single room supplement of £35pppn for those who require one.

This price includes:

• Executive Coach from the school.
• Return Channel crossings.
• 4 nights’ bed and breakfast Hotel accommodation.
• 3 evening meals (not including drinks) and 3 packed lunches.
• Visits and any entrance fees to the sites listed on the itinerary.
• The professional services of an Anglia Tours Guide.
• Insurance specifically designed for groups (see paragraph on insurance).
• 24-hour emergency response cover whilst on tour.
• A pre-tour virtual presentation.
• A poppy wreath for the group to lay at the grave of an Old Bedfordian
• A tour booklet for all participants.

To give you a flavour for the trip, our provisional itinerary is as follows:

Day 1     Wed 10 Jul 24                                      

                 - Depart Bedford School in an executive coach
                 - Arrival in Dover and check in for ferry.
                 - Outbound P&O Ferries Dover / Calais
                 - Lunch on the ferry under own arrangements
                 - Arrive Calais and drive to Normandy.
                 - Arrive at hotel and check in.
                 - Evening meal in the hotel – to be included.

Day 2    Thu 11 Jul 24

                - Breakfast ready to depart at 09:00
                - All plans are subject to confirmation once arrangements for the choir are finalised.
                - Lunch under own arrangements.
                - Arromanches-les-Bains – Introduction to the Mulberry Harbour
                - 360 Cinema – Booking required, subject to availability.
                - Stanley Hollis Hut - CSM Stanley Hollis 6, Green Howards and only VC of D-Day   
                - Lunchtime concert by Bedford School Choir in Bayeux Cathedral
                - Bayeux British War Cemetery
                - Arromanches D-Day Museum - Booking required, subject to availability.
                - Return to the hotel.
                - Evening meal included.

Day 3    Fri 12 Jul 24

                - Depart after breakfast with packed lunches.
                - Merville Battery and Museum - Booking required, subject to availability.
                - Left hand flank of invasion. Site of large coastal artillery position overlooking Sword Beach
                - Pegasus Bridge Museum – Booking required, subject to availability British Glider Landing
                - Leave on foot for Pegasus Bridge (very short walk)
                - Glider Makers and battle to capture the bridge.
                - Ranville British Cemetery - Regarded as the most beautiful of the Normandy Cemeteries
                - Sword Beach - View Churchill AVRE tank en route
                - Juno Beach Memorial
                - Possible German Bunker and Churchill AVRE Tank
                - Return to the hotel.
                - Evening meal  included

Day 4    Sat 13 Jul 24

               - Depart after breakfast with packed lunches.
               - La Cambe, German cemetery
               - Pointe du Hoc, German battery & Rangers’ assault       
               - Omaha Beach
               - St Laurent US Cemetery 
               - British Normandy Memorial Ver-sur-Mer
               - Early evening - Bayeux Cathedral Reception
               - Return to hotel.

Day 5    Sun 14 Jul 24

                - Check out and depart hotel after breakfast with packed lunch.
                - Drive to Calais
                - Check in for inbound P&O ferry.
                - Inbound ferry departs Calais for Dover
               - Arrive UK local time and drive to Bedford.
               - Arrive Bedford School

You can book as an individual, couple or small group, with fellow family members or friends. We find that they quickly embrace the ways of the OB Club!

To avoid disappointment, please ensure you have either paid your deposit of £250 per person or the total cost of the trip by Monday, 8th January. We have kept the price down by asking everyone to pay by bank transfer – this eliminates the merchants fee that would be charged if paying via our website. Details of how to pay are below. Once you have reserved your place and paid the deposit/balance, please let us know at obclub@bedfordschool.org.uk

Deposit: £250pp
Balance: £949
Single Room Supplement: £140

The details that you need for the transfer to the Harpur Trust account are as follows:

Bank sort code:            40-10-02
A/c no:                         92732971
IBAN:                          GB60MIDL40100292732971
SWIFT:                        MIDLGB2102H

If you use this method please could you quote under the heading ‘reference’ OBWW2, and your initial/surname. Thank you