The May half-term was full of adventure as our cricketers jetted off to South Africa and our linguists to Germany.
South Africa Cricket Tour
Twenty-eight boys and four staff members excitedly set out for South Africa on Thursday 9 February for a sun-kissed cricket tour and a superb adventure.
On arrival, with brilliant blue skies overhead and the impressive backdrop of Table Mountain in the distance, the boys dived straight into their training at Bishops College in Cape Town before heading off to watch South Africa v Sri Lanka in the first game of the Women’s World Cup. What a way to start a tour! During their action-packed week, the boys enjoyed multiple cricket matches, playing against Bastion Primary, Curro Durbanville Primary, Reddam House and Paarl School. Whilst the competition was high, and there were many notable wins, there was also great camaraderie and new friendships formed as boys revelled in their shared love of cricket. Friendships were furthered by a series of great nights out and meals with their hosts.
In between fixtures, the boys also found time to get up close with crocodiles and penguins (safely in different locations), as well as elephants and rhinos on a thrilling game drive, hit the beach and the pool and sightsee at Table Mountain (although, sadly, as it was a rare overcast day, it was mainly clouds).
After a most wonderful week of cricket, there is palpable excitement for the season ahead (and, hopefully, coupled with some South African-style sunshine).
Mr Lincoln commented, “What a superb tour! I can safely say that a great time was had by all. The boys were fantastic ambassadors for the school, receiving numerous compliments during the week.”
Brilliant Berlin Trip
Our Y7 and Y8 boys headed to Berlin over half-term for a wonderful German adventure.
After arriving, the boys were soon out exploring the incredible history, art and blend of cultures in this exciting city, taking in Parliament and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Next, the boys enjoyed a cultural tour of the East Side Gallery, an inspiring 1.3km open-air gallery of murals by 118 artists from 21 countries on the longest surviving section of the Berlin Wall, followed by a scary trip to the Berlin Dungeons.
A walking tour of Berlin took the boys to the striking and haunting Holocaust Memorial. Within its information centre, the boys saw the names and dates of birth and death of the Jewish men, women and children locked up in the concentration camps during the Second World War. It was then on to the Olympic stadium, another location with an eye-opening history.
Food, as always, was a real highlight for the boys, who got to try their first Currywurst mit Pommes in an Imbiss (takeaway kiosk) as part of a tasting session. The following evening, they were confident enough to order their own from another Imbiss. A real treat to eat and an even bigger treat to hear the boys’ great German language skills!
The boys also enjoyed museums galore: from the Checkpoint Charlie Museum (do ask your son about how people from the East escaped to the West side) to Berlin’s Spy Museum (that one’s a secret!) to Futurium for a future-tastic adventure. A speedy shopping trip to the famous Ampelmann shop, a dedicated shop for the symbolic East German traffic light, proved popular, especially as the boys spotted this little figure all around the city, which made for a memorable aspect of the trip.
Throughout the week, boys soaked up the city’s culture, practised their German, expertly navigated the city’s underground and sampled copious amounts of local cuisine. Then, as with all the best trips, it was time to return home all too soon but complete with a wealth of experiences to remember.
