French exchange students enjoy noon day gun firing
French exchange students were left ‘blown away’ during their visit to Castle Cornet, when the noon day gun was fired in front of their eyes.
The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Charitable Trust had organised for children from both primary and secondary schools in Masnieres to visit the island on a week-long expedition.
‘For a lot of them, this will be the furthest they’ve ever travelled. They wouldn’t have even left France before,’ said chairman Colin Vaudin.
The students are being hosted by parents of children at Blanchelande College, with teacher Jo Harman credited for her hard work in organising the students’ week.
‘Jo Harman has been absolutely fabulous and the parents of Blanchelande College have been brilliant,’ said Mr Vaudin.
He said that 700 RGLI men who left the island to fight in the Second World War never returned home, and that Castle Cornet would have been the last thing they saw of Guernsey.
‘To be at Castle Cornet is for them to understand what Guernsey means, and that our history determines us.
‘They have an RGLI memorial in Masnieres but without that they wouldn’t know who we are. If we can help educate them in our history we can have better relations in the future,’ he said.
Teachers Agnes Le Cas and Delphine Digianantonio were both part of the trip and found that everybody was very welcoming and were thankful to all of the parents who were hosting the children.
‘For us its very important to remember the RGLI and the links between Guernsey and Masnieres is very important. If the RGLI didn’t come to save us in the war we wouldn’t be free,’ said Mrs Le Cas.
Douzenier Chris Nicolle said: ‘Despite the different cultures we have a shared history and the students have shown a tangible enthusiasm in our local history and especially the RGLI display at Castle Cornet.
‘They’ve been very enthusiastic and are taking in everything in the museums and all of their activities.’
Mr Vaudin was pleased that the students were taking in Guernsey’s history. ‘It’s fabulous seeing the children learning about the RGLI and its history.’
