Year 6 en France

How many years are there between generations? Regardless of the answer, this, Mr Kennard’s annual French trip, has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of Farleigh pupils. Now in its twentieth year, it must surely have crossed several family generations.

Whilst there have been various tweaks over the years (a change of hotel, for the better I might add) and small changes to schedule (alas no more sampling of oysters in Cancale and no post-Sunday lunch shopping in Dinan) there is much which is reassuringly familiar about the trip. It gives an enourmous sense of security for the children and parents, many of the latter finding the time apart from their children harder than the children themselves for whom this often their first trip without their parents.

Right from the off, always a 5 o’clock something departure, a thoroughly pleasant crossing with Brittany Ferries, with the Tricolour seeing us off past the Round Tower in Portsmouth followed by pain au chocolat, entertainment, lunch and a quiz, the children are in the hands of an expert team who know exactly what to expect at each turn. For those of us on the trip (and for those parents whose older children have been before), the predictability is strangely comforting and whilst we, the staff, all age gracefully, we must remember that these 11-year olds are viewing it all with fresh eyes.

And so, into day three of this year’s trip which is whizzing past with alarming speed largely due to the outstanding weather we are enjoying. The familiar crossing is over and the usual French coach is our main form of transport around Brittany (this year driven by Lionel following Denis’ retirement. Mind you, our first coach driver Michel, who served us so valiantly for so many years, can never be replaced. Miss Redmond has never got over the news of his retirement a few years ago.) Crazy golf, the beach at Dinard, the 'olympic' swimming pool, and of course, Le Rendez-Vous Français sessions are already underway, and we have the market, the boat trip to St Malo (once again, the children are convinced we’re rowing!) and much more to look forward too over the coming days. As always, this year’s group are impeccable ambassadors for Farleigh, charming and impressing the locals at every turn who are all too ready to compliment them.

Rest assured, we’ll arrive at Farleigh 59 minutes after we leave the ferry in Portsmouth and board our English coach in a few days’ time. Clockwork, the trip runs like a well-oiled antique clock and we love it. Genuinely, we all love it.

Marcus Reeves