York Trip 2011
Here are some pictures from Form 4's trip to York this year.
Sophie Gladstone's commentary will lead us through the snaps. (Sophie's comments are in tthe speech marks.)
"We had just come back from home and everyone was in a fluster to get on the bus to the station. Loaded with heavy bags, Mr. Curry guided us onto the train. The journey there was extremely fun as we had no idea what lay ahead of us. Miss. Graham taught us Sudoku and we chatted almost the whole way."
On Dunbar station ready to leave!
William and Jamie told Mr. Curry all about Doctor Who Top Trumps.
Dinner on the first day; by the Ouse.
"Finally, our group arrived in York and we bustled off the train. We could see the bright sun in the sky so we headed out to find the hostel. Soon we were in the dorm and I launched my rucksack onto the bed. We were all starving so Mr. Curry took us down to the River Ouse so we could have lunch. Geese were honking like car horns as we dangled our legs over the river wall.
Before we knew it, we were off to the Castle Museum. Miss. Graham took my group and we looked around the interesting departments. There were old Terry’s sweet shops, horse and carriages and grocery stores in the Victorian Hall. The boys adored the World War section and to my surprise there was even a sixties area full of brightly coloured posters and pictures."
The Castle Museum: Victorian room. Watch out for Susannah's tongue later on.
Will lectures the horrid pupils.
One of the first grocers.
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside! Susannah, Cleodie, Pandora and Flora do, anyway.
Somewhere there are two villages without their idiots.
More holidaymakers.
Noughts and crosses with William and Flora.
Some were very good at hoolahooping ...
... others tried valiantly but could do with a little more practice.
Flora ready for take-off.
A manic smile accompanied by that rogue tongue again. I don't remember Bobby Moore doing that ...
Two drunk Wills in the pub.
The girls catch up in a moment of rest.
While the boys act as Vikings.
"I also love the Jorvik Viking Centre which we went to after the Castle Museum. There was a glass floor on top of an ancient Viking house which was fascinating, as well as a ride through a typical Viking town.
Next, Form 4 met a ‘real’ Viking who gave us a historical tour around York. It was very interesting although I got a bit confused over all the Kings and dates. After a long day we were all exhausted and went to bed as soon as possible!"
We bumped into a Viking who told us about the grizzly end of King Ælla of Northumbria, which happened just behind us ...
... and Flora renacted the last scene of the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Micklegate Bar.
We managed to walk the entire length (1.9 miles) of the walls.
Jamie atop Clifford's Tower (York Castle).
Will and Archie discuss the moral implications of The Harrying of the North.
A lovely inglenook fireplace.
Hamish and Enzo.
Miss Graham and Mr. Rawson taking a minute.
Archie and Amy with the Minster in the background.
Amy, Will, Archie, Jock and Wilf.
Going down.
Sandwiches on Fishergate Bar.
"I woke up in a startle and showered quickly. Today I knew was going to be crammed full of activities. First, we walked the old city walls and clambered up the hill to Clifford’s Tower. The building was amazing and teachers told us about the many stories it had gone through.
We then popped on the bus tour around the city. The bus guide had a strong Geordie accent but was very kind and funny. We were shown many burial sites and even the smallest house in York!"
The sandwich was as big as Jemima's whole face.
More bar wall walks!
Mr. Rawson explains the function of the Barbican.
Dig York archaeological site.
Amy.
Pandora, Jock and Jock.
"DIG was over next activity which I greatly enjoyed. We were all armed with shovels, ready to dig up some treasure. There was a Victorian, Medieval, Roman and Viking site to dig up artefacts of the age. We then sorted out genuine bones and pieces of pottery from the Viking time into different categories.
We then headed off to the York dungeon which was extremely scary. In most of the rooms the girls were desperately clinging to Miss. Graham’s arms in fear. There were topics on Guy Fawkes, Dick Turpin and so on."
Susannah and rogue tongue again.
Vicor and Hamish working well.
Holding genuine Viking artefacts dating back 1,200 years.
The fudge shop proved very popular, surprisingly.
"In a complete change of scene we were suddenly in the York sweet shop, stuffing our faces! On top of that we were given a talk on how to make fudge and given a sample which was delicious!"
As did Pizza Hut. Silly hats optional.
"We walked across the road to Pizza Hut where we had our tea. Mr. Rawson had 15 slices which made me feel sick! Next, it was the ghost walk. It was terribly scary and some of us swore we saw a phantom in the bushes. For a demonstration, Skye had to lie on a table with a pile of bags on her tummy to show how people were crushed to death!"
Ghost Walk.
Lady Gray.
Monkgate Bar.
The 'Devil's Door'.
Skye is Margaret Clitherow being crushed to death.
"We then watched a film called “A Knights Tale” which was exciting. Everyone lounged on the sofas scoffing their sweets!"
"Today was our last day and in my opinion the best day. It was Jemima’s birthday so we were all hyper opening the presents! We first walked the city walls to the York Minster. Everyone was astonished about how big the Cathedral was. The stained glass windows were colourful and probably took years to make. The ceilings, we were told, were a Gothic style, but looked like paradise."
Three girls agog at the sight of ...
... the York Minster window. The size of a tennis court, it takes fifty years to clean. There are two million pieces of glass in the MInster and they get cleaned in a continuous two-hundred year cycle! (Someone should buy them a dishwasher.)
St. William's Centre; how the Minster grew.
The boys.
William putting kings into order.
Jock and Wilf constructing a Norman arch.
"Next, Form 4 were off to a small street called “the shambles”. Apparently, it was the best kept Medieval street in the world and was first used for butchers. It wasn’t wide enough to fit a car through and a cobble floor lay beneath our feet. At the end of the street there was a lane called “WHIP-MA-WHOP-MA-GATE” which we all laughed at."
The Shambles.
Sophie and Pandora on the walls with the minster behind.
Flora, Jock and Susannah.
"Lunch was next, which we had in the Museum Gardens beside a ruined Abbey. The tress and flowers were all beautiful and we sat down in the middle of the park to admire them."
Flora at the ruins of St. Mary's in the Museum gardens.
"It was now the end of the trip, so we headed back to the station feeling extremely tired. On the way to Dunbar, Skye leaned down to get her iPod and as the ticket collector walked past, he stole one of her bonbons! She had no idea what had happened and when we told her a few minutes later she was very angry at the ticket collector and wanted repayment!
Over all, it was an extremely fun and exciting trip which I will never forget. Everyone took heaps of photos and bought a few souvenirs!" | 
