We have found this extract from an old boys magazine where Robert writes about his memories of a school cruise. We hope you find it of interest:-
“During my time at WHS (1958-1975) I led five school cruises. The idea came from a contact at another school who suggested that we formed a party. So it was that about a dozen boys joined the Devonshire, a pre-war troopship, at Cardiff to sail down to Madeira via Lisbon, Vigo and Santander. This proved a success and let to my wife and myself taking four other parties, mainly to the Mediterranean, flying one or both ways to or from say Venice and/or returning by sea. These trips, I think, were all on the Nevasa. Life on board was well-organised, each party having its own dormitory and classroom, with lectures, inters-school competitions, dances and other entertainments when at sea. At ports, we were divided up for coach trips to historic sites or to have free time to explore on our own, shop or swim – whatever.
Foremost – and vividly – among my memories: I shall never forget the drama of BROOKES AND MATTHEWS (where are they now?) swimming across the bay at Tangier in a cold sea with an off-shore wind. The other boys were in and out of the water quite quickly but there were two unclaimed towels! No sign of B and M, so I went out in a boat….Nothing. Returned to base…..still nothing. Now what? Then two small figures were seen walking back along the beach. Guess who? ” Oh – we swam to the ship”!! They remained on board for the rest of the trip. Yes, I did begin to flap.
Then, in Naples, boys went off in groups of four or five to explore the streets, having been told to be back for lunch at one. How many came back? None!
One one occasion, one boy (PASK-HUGHES?) came to me after three days. saying he had spent all his pocket money. But Sir, being a brute, said “bad luck”. It was, after all, an educational cruise. Talking of money, the first trip, lasting sixteen days, cost the boys £39. I remember hesitating to ask the parents for an extra £5 for pocket money. It was a lot of money in those days.
We went to some fabulous sites – Venice. Dubrovnik, Istanbul, Ephesus, Pompei to name a few. Some of the archaeology may well have been above the boys’ heads but I felt that seeds were being sown.
One remembers too, young Hodgson cross the forum in Rhodes and kicking a stone and shouting ‘And Villa scores again” – a good mix-up of cultures.
But it was all good clean, innocent fun even if there were some tears at the end – when leave had to be taken of girls that had been fallen for – but then it WAS an educational trip.
