With that 7 o'clock start still startling most people's systems after the late previous night, we set off again at the intended time of 8:45 a.m. We departed then to the Somme area, one of the bloodiest and most sought over pieces of land during WWI. In this area we saw the Vimy Ridge memorial, to commemorate the Canadian troops that took part in the war and their dead, not just at Vimy Ridge but for the whole of WWI. The signs requesting silence were not needed as we beheld the memorial in awe, that shows the true suffering, as well as glory, that comes with not only this war but every war.

This mood was soon broken as we headed down to some of the few preserved trenches on the Western Front, and were able to walk through and explore for ourselves. We moved onto the Guards Cemetery, where Lauren found a second relation who died there. Peronne Museum was next followed by the Theipval Memorial, which commemorates around 70,000 soldiers unaccounted - missing, never returned. Here there was a search for a cousin of of Mr Royden's, plus a look at the disciplined layout of the graves of the unknown soldiers.

The Newfoundland Canadian memorial to their war dead at Beaumont Hamel was next, where extensive trench systems still litter the landscape, together with surrounding cemeteries. It was here that the Hawthorn Ridge mine was set off which began the Battle of the Somme in July 1916.

A few miles along the country lane which headed back north, and still following the trench line, Mr Royden was able to stop at another small isolated cemetery of Buocquoy Road where he could pay his respects to his great grandfather who died near the Somme in March 1918.

We were then able to make our way back to base, and prepare for the long awaited disco and quiz, won by the outstanding 'Who Cares' team who walked away with the grand prize of an Easter egg between them. The rest of the night was spent boogieing away to the tunes provided by the students, and off to bed for the last day.

After another exciting breakfast at the chateau we made our way onto the coach to travel to Boulogne. After buying plenty of chocolate and goodies for the journwey home we drove up to Calais and had a little tour of the town before catching the ferry. The ferry was fun on the way home; especially for the sixth formers, as they were lying in the wind on the top deck apart from poor Sophie who was not feeling too well, but she felt better when she got outside!

We had quite a long drive when we got back to England but it did not seem to last that long at all. After a final farewell to Duncan the Driver at Knutsford services we made the final leg back to school. Everybody really enjoyed themselves and would definitely love to go on the trip again!