INVITATION TO THE 2017 OS PILGRIMAGE – THURSDAY 7th SEPTEMBER TO SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER
Dear Old Sedberghian,
Following our highly successful and most enjoyable visits to Mons in August 2014, Gallipoli in October 2015, and the Somme in September 2016, this year the focus of our Pilgrimage will be Ypres and Arras.
We have teamed up again with Cultural Experience, one of the market leaders in the provision of high quality, expert led military history tours, and I am delighted to announce that we will once again have the benefit of the services of Dr Bruce Cherry whose extraordinary knowledge and enthusiasm kept us enthralled during the Somme and Gallipoli Pilgrimages.
The itinerary has been designed to ensure that as well as gaining an overall appreciation of the battles fought in the area in 1917, the sites relevant to the sacrifices made by former Sedberghians will be visited.
The planned itinerary is:
7th September Travel to Lille from St Pancras departing London at 08:54 and arriving into Lille at 11:23 where we’ll be met by coach. The first of our battlefield visits will encompass those north and west of Ypres, around Poperinge. Then perhaps the most infamous if not actually the first of that terrible year; Passchendaele. In the evening there will be the opportunity to attend the ‘Last Post’ ceremony at the Menin Gate. Overnight: Ypres.
8th September Our second day sees us crossing the Messines Ridge, scene of the Allies’ great strategic victory in June 1917, before crossing the Artois to look at battlefields connected with the Arras Spring offensive. Vimy Ridge will be just one of the iconic battlefields we’ll visit. Overnight: Novotel Hotel Noyelles near Lens.
9th September We’ll begin our day learning more of the tunnelling operations that were so much a feature of the Arras campaign, and tour the Arras ‘Wellington’ tunnel complex. Later that eventful year, English church bells rang out to celebrate a great November victory won by the newly employed tanks. It was premature. Another costly battle of attrition followed, the allies were repulsed and the Hindenburg Line remained unbroken. Overnight: Novotel Hotel Noyelles near Lens.
10th September Our final day sees us behind the lines. We’ll visit Doullens; this is a quaint town site of the famed conference of early 1918 where Haig conceded supreme command to Foch and the tide began to turn leading to the final 100 Days offensive. Return Eurostar from Calais to London departing Calais at 16:01 and arriving into London St Pancras at 16:05 local time.
What’s included:
– Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille and Calais to London St Pancras (Standard
class)
– Executive coach travel while in France
– 1 night’s bed & buffet breakfast in the four-star Novotel in central Ypres
– 2 nights’ bed and buffet breakfast in in the four-star Novotel Lens Noyelles
– 1 x 3-course set menu meal to include wine and coffee, in the hotel or a recommended
local restaurant
– 3 lunches (probably packed lunches)
– The services and all associated costs of your expert guide, Dr Bruce Cherry
– The services and all associated costs of an English tour manager (if required)
– 100% financial protection through our ATOL (T10153) and membership of The Travel
Trust Association
Prices
– 10 ‐ 14 paying participants: £899 per person
– 15 ‐ 19 paying participants: £772 per person
– 20 ‐ 24 paying participants: £710 per person
– 25 – 29 paying participants: £670 per person
Single room occupancy supplement is £140 per room
To confirm place(s) on the tour a non-refundable deposit of £100 per person will be required.
All booking arrangements on behalf of the OS Club will be handled by Cultural Experience who may be contacted as follows:
info@theculturalexperience.com
www.theculturalexperience.com
Tel: 0345 475 1815
We do hope that you are able to join us on this latest stage of our OS Pilgrimage. If you are interested in the Pilgrimage and would like more information please contact Benjamin Collins at bpc@sedberghschool.org.
