The blue sky and bright sun that greeted us on Tuesday morning was auspicious. 'This is going to be a great day!' agreed the Year 5 boys gathering in the Yard.

The staff at Horseshoe Lake certainly had the same idea. They greeted us warmly, helped us to settle and led us to the first activity: a dragon boat race. And so the boys divided into two groups and cheerfully followed their team leaders, boarding the boats and setting off on the lake. 

From the shore, we could see them rowing the course, and we could certainly hear them well too. The staff were obviously enjoying the friendly competition just as much as the boys! A raft-building session followed. Here, three teams used ropes, plastic barrels and wooden posts to create floating crafts. All boys worked industriously and with accuracy. To their credit, all rafts returned to shore in one piece after another small race. Stand-up-paddleboard and kayak sessions allowed all to test balance and manoeuvring skills. 

It was a wonderful day full of fun, camaraderie and discovery of new skills. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the boys. They listened well, looked after themselves and each other with great care and represented Pilgrims' admirably. Laughter, shouts of joy and beaming smiles were the running theme of this fabulous day and I look forward to more adventures with this group.

My thanks go to all those who assisted us in organising this trip and to Mr Greenwood and Mr Townend for accompanying us and for participating in the activities with infectious enthusiasm.

Mrs Laura Brill
Head of Classics
Head of Lower Prep