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Kent Remembers - WW1 Centenary

An educational and cultural initiative by Eurostar & the Peace Village Hostel

Introduction

Eurostar and the Peace Village have joined forces to offer an exclusive opportunity for up to thirty

primary schools from Kent to book a two day-visit to the Flanders battlefields over a series of dates

during 2015. We can offer a high quality trip with an exceptional educational and cultural experience

the pupils will remember. The Eurostar Station in Lille is only half an hour away from the battlefields

of Flanders, with the Messines Peace Village situated on the main road to magnificent city of Ypres.

Itinerary

We are offering two different tailored itineraries which will comfortably accommodate Year 1 to Year

7 pupils. The itineraries follow the lives of soldiers from the Great War. One of the expert guides

from the Peace Village will help choose the best itinerary for pupils and will accompany the school

party during the trip. If the school has identified pupils who have knowledge of their own family

history, it may be possible to incorporate a specific cemetery or battlefield as part of the visit.

Indeed, we would recommend that pupils are encouraged to see whether they can find out

information about their family history as it will make the visit even more poignant and relevant.

I. John Condon, age 14

Patrick Condon was only 13 when he took his brother’s name (John) to enlist in the

Royal Irish Regiment. A year later, he found himself stuck in the trenches near

Ypres during the famous Second Battle which saw the first use of chemical

weapons, exactly 100 years ago. Through the novel of renowned local author

Geert Spillebeen (English translation), we are able to walk in the footsteps of this

boy soldier and read out extracts on the actual sites. We find that this tour works

better with slightly younger pupils. This tour includes quite a number of the

traditional sites.

Sites included in this trip: Essex Farm, Carrefour des Roses, Mauser Ridge, Vancouver Corner with the

Brooding Soldier, Langemark German Cemetery, Railway Wood, Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Tyne

Cot Cemetery

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II. Geoff's underground war, revealed through Edith's love letters

A hundred years ago this year, Geoffrey Boothby and Edith

Ainscow fell in love with each other. They only spent four days

together before the war separated them. Through countless love

letters between the couple, we find out about life at the front and

back home. After a few months serving in the trenches, Boothby

is transferred to the Royal Engineers where he works in the

underground tunnels to blow up the German positions. This tour

offers a unique perspective on the war through the eyes of two teenagers who are very much in love.

We find that this tour works better with slightly older pupils. This tour includes some new sites

which are only opening up this year.

Sites included in this trip: Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Flanders Peace Field, Island of Ireland

Peace Park, New Zealand Memorial Park, Voormezeele Enclosure 3 Cemetery, St Elooi Mine Craters,

The Bluff, Railway Wood, Tyne Cot Cemetery.

III. Museums and evening activities in both tours

Museums and workshops included in both tours:

- Talbot House, the Duchess Tour

“Duchess, the Talbot House cat, has run off. Help Pettifer, the padre’s orderly, to find her”

This tablet tour is highly successful with young children. It gives them a unique insight into the

history of Talbot House and they experience the House just like the soldiers a hundred years

before them.

Talbot House is the only ‘Every Man’s Club’ on the western

front. With its unique warm and friendly atmosphere, it was a

heaven in hell for over thousands of Tommies. A short

moment of reflection in the original Chapel or a cup of tea are

possible on request and free of charge.

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- Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, a museum visit with Olly

The recently extended museum includes a recreated

underground dug-out and elaborate trench system. In

the new cinema, you can take a bird’s-eye view of the

Battle of Passchendaele. Pupils can have a child

friendly tour of the museum with Olly, a dummy

World War One shell. The interactive approach of the

museum makes it ideal for our project.

- ComingWorldRememberMe

CWRM aims at creating 600,000 statues by 2018, the total

casualty figure for Belgium during the Great War. The

children are invited to produce their own statue from the

infamous Flanders clay. This workshop takes place in the old

vaults of the Ypres Rampart, next to the Menin Gate. In

2018, these sculptures will be part of a large landscape

exhibition at the Palingbeek (The Bluff).

Optional evening activities:

- Chocolate Experience

Join Natalie and Raf, two people who know all there is to know

about chocolate, help the pupils to make their own chocolate

designs. Experience different flavours and tastes. Everything

the pupils make, they can eat or take home with them. This

workshop costs 10 euro extra per person, including all the

chocolates you make and taste.

- Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate

This year, the daily Last Post ceremony underneath the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing

will be sounded for the 30,000th time. At 8:00 pm, the local fire brigade is present together

with an average of over a thousand spectators. During most times of the year, we

recommend strongly to be there 45 minutes in advance to get a good spot to see the

ceremony. Alternatively, you can go at a later stage and take place on top of the ramparts to

listen to the bugles. There is a 2 euro extra charge per pupil for the coach hire.

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Accommodation

The Peace Village Hostel has an excellent, long standing reputation for

delivering tailored projects for different audiences. The hostel is situated

in Belgian’s smallest city Messines, amidst the battlefields of Flanders

Fields. Pupils are accommodated in four to six bedded rooms with a large

living area and an en-suite bathroom. Teachers are accommodated in twin

rooms close to the pupils. The hostel has its own in-house restaurant, bar,

conference room and games room. The outdoor facilities include a football

pitch, bonfire ring and a volleyball net. We also have several evening

activities available to resident groups. A full Health and Safety audit was

carried out by Kent County Council in 2013.

Budget We offer both itineraries at the same rate. Both tours include the Talbot House and Passchendaele

Memorial Museum as well as the CWRM-workshop. A fully qualified guide and coach driver will

accompany the group during both days when they visit the sites in the area. Also included are all

meals (no packed lunch for first day!) and a one night stay in the Peace Village Hostel.

* £ 91.54 (on 12/01/15) only payable in euros

An extra night can be booked optionally. The tour is usually booked for 25 people, including staff. If

extra pupils or staff which to join, this may be arranged. Not included in the budget are the transfer

from the school to the Kent Eurostar station and a packed lunch for the first day. Transport by

Eurostar will be £46 per child or adult for a return journey from Ebbsfleet or Ashford to Lille.

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Available dates

Eurostar Contact details

Inge Bauwens – Sales Manager Belgium

Inge.Bauwens@eurostar.com

Tel. 020 7843 5280

Peace Village Contact details

Simon Louagie - PR & Education Manager

simon.louagie@peacevillage.be

Tel +32 (0)57 22 60 40

OUTBOUND DATE DEPARTURE FROM TO INBOUND DATE DEPARTURE FROM TO

Mar-04 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Mar-05 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Mar-10 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Mar-11 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Mar-17 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Mar-18 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Mar-24 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Mar-25 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Apr-22 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Apr-23 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Apr-28 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Apr-29 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

May-13 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille May-14 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

May-20 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille May-21 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

May-27 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille May-28 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Jun-09 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Jun-10 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Jun-16 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Jun-17 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Sep-02 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Sep-03 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Sep-07 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Sep-08 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Sep-15 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Sep-16 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Sep-30 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Oct-01 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Oct-06 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Oct-07 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Oct-13 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Oct-14 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Oct-27 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Oct-28 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Nov-03 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Nov-04 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Nov-17 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Nov-18 18:36 Lille Ebbsfleet

Nov-30 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Nov-19 17:36 or 18:36 Lille Ashford or Ebbsfleet

Dec-08 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Dec-09 18:36 Lille Ebbsfleet

Dec-16 07:07 or 07:28 Ebbsfleet or Ashford Lille Dec-17 18:36 Lille Ebbsfleet