Great Day
The events at both Tyne Cot and at Menin Gate went really well. The choir was wonderful and the public response was really positive. Now the girls are relaxing before our long journey home.
More on our return.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Concert in Menen
The morning of Wednesday was spent first walking up the hill in the footsteps of the NZ troops during the Battle of Mesens. This was 
followed after a choir practise and lunch with a bus trip to see the Peace Pool - a lake in one of the mines that were exploded at the beginning of the Battle of Mesens. We also explored some trenches that have been preserved - from the German side - and where a Cpl A Hilter served.
followed after a choir practise and lunch with a bus trip to see the Peace Pool - a lake in one of the mines that were exploded at the beginning of the Battle of Mesens. We also explored some trenches that have been preserved - from the German side - and where a Cpl A Hilter served. 
After dinner it was into performance uniforms and around to the church ( which was totally destroyed in the war - the crypt was a German dressing station until captured by the NZ troops). This is where Samuel Frickleton gained his VC
The concert was fanastic and very well received with two encores. After the concert gifts were exchanged at a mayoral reception. We gave the painting - Petone to Passendale and received a framed series of photos from Menen.
For photos by a professional Belgium photographer go to the following site Photos Click on photos. At the top left of the photo click main menu, select phototoque juillet 2007 and you will then see messines concert chorale seraphim. There is also information about the whole celebration on this site - I haven't checked it out
Now we are getting ready for the big day and then the long journey home.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
London to Menen
While Mrs Dunkley sorted out the passport problem the rest of the group visited Westminster Abbey. It was the sense of history that impressed - seeing the memorials or graves of people
like Charles Darwin, Issac Newton, Handel; Rutherford as well as the Kings and Queens. The whole group met at Waterloo Station -with a new passport. The journey on the Eurostar was very smooth and we were met in Brussels by our hosts and Dr de Araugo joined us. We then had a bus journey to Menen and the Peace Village. During the evening meal a group from a boys school in the UK came in for the night! Getting in to bed on time didn't seem to be important and tiredness seemed to be easily overcome! The boring staff insisted that bed was the priority as we had an early start.
Today has been for everyone a very moving day -at different sites, including Passendale and in different ways. Some were able to locate the names of relatives, other got a big impression of the loss of life and the sacrifice made - the line in the school hymn ' to the cross of sacrifice' has gained new meaning -probably a meaning that would have been in Miss Benbow's mind when she wrote the hymn -given the date she wrote it was soon after the Great War.
Some down time in Ypres was used to sample and buy of course, chocolate. The choir then had a sound test at the Menin Gate.
While Mrs Dunkley sorted out the passport problem the rest of the group visited Westminster Abbey. It was the sense of history that impressed - seeing the memorials or graves of people
like Charles Darwin, Issac Newton, Handel; Rutherford as well as the Kings and Queens. The whole group met at Waterloo Station -with a new passport. The journey on the Eurostar was very smooth and we were met in Brussels by our hosts and Dr de Araugo joined us. We then had a bus journey to Menen and the Peace Village. During the evening meal a group from a boys school in the UK came in for the night! Getting in to bed on time didn't seem to be important and tiredness seemed to be easily overcome! The boring staff insisted that bed was the priority as we had an early start.Today has been for everyone a very moving day -at different sites, including Passendale and in different ways. Some were able to locate the names of relatives, other got a big impression of the loss of life and the sacrifice made - the line in the school hymn ' to the cross of sacrifice' has gained new meaning -probably a meaning that would have been in Miss Benbow's mind when she wrote the hymn -given the date she wrote it was soon after the Great War.
Some down time in Ypres was used to sample and buy of course, chocolate. The choir then had a sound test at the Menin Gate.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
London
Saturday was largely spent travelling from Vienna to London. One passport was lost on the bus to the airport. Fortunately when finally Mrs Dunkley was able to talk to the London immigration officer a temporary entry permit was issued. A new passport will hopefully be gained on Monday. Local London contacts are proving very helpful. The early evening was spent getting our bearing in Shepherd's Bush Road.
Today has been spent in different ways by different groups but along with sightseeing there has beeen some serious shopping done. The sightseeing included some seeing the Tower of London, some going to the Globe and National Gallery. So there are some tired students and some empty purses. However everyone negotiated the underground safely and everyone who was not out with friends and relatives was back for dinner .
And the weather was hot and fine!
Watching Tour de France Harrods
Saturday was largely spent travelling from Vienna to London. One passport was lost on the bus to the airport. Fortunately when finally Mrs Dunkley was able to talk to the London immigration officer a temporary entry permit was issued. A new passport will hopefully be gained on Monday. Local London contacts are proving very helpful. The early evening was spent getting our bearing in Shepherd's Bush Road.
Today has been spent in different ways by different groups but along with sightseeing there has beeen some serious shopping done. The sightseeing included some seeing the Tower of London, some going to the Globe and National Gallery. So there are some tired students and some empty purses. However everyone negotiated the underground safely and everyone who was not out with friends and relatives was back for dinner .
And the weather was hot and fine!
Watching Tour de France Harrods
Friday, July 6, 2007
Vienna
In the morning the whole group went by bus to Schonbrunn Palace. This is the summer palace or hunting lodge of the Hapsburgs . It was very interesting as the tour we did was through the rooms where the imperial family especially Franz Joseph lived. This was followed by a visit the
Zentralfriedhof - cemetery to see memorials/graves of various musicians; including Beethoven, Strauss, and Shubert. We then went into an area called the Naschmarkt - where we farewelled our Czech bus. The Naschmarkt has numerous stalls and cafes. After lunch we divided into groups based on the two places that students wanted to see. This included the House of Music, the Fine Art Museum, the Hofburg Palace as well as shopping and visit other activities. This worked really well as everyone was able to visit things that interested them. Everyone made it back safely to the hotal and the evening meal. 
Now it is time to pack for London.
In the morning the whole group went by bus to Schonbrunn Palace. This is the summer palace or hunting lodge of the Hapsburgs . It was very interesting as the tour we did was through the rooms where the imperial family especially Franz Joseph lived. This was followed by a visit the
Zentralfriedhof - cemetery to see memorials/graves of various musicians; including Beethoven, Strauss, and Shubert. We then went into an area called the Naschmarkt - where we farewelled our Czech bus. The Naschmarkt has numerous stalls and cafes. After lunch we divided into groups based on the two places that students wanted to see. This included the House of Music, the Fine Art Museum, the Hofburg Palace as well as shopping and visit other activities. This worked really well as everyone was able to visit things that interested them. Everyone made it back safely to the hotal and the evening meal. 
Now it is time to pack for London.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Two big cities
After visiting a nature reserve and two smaller towns we have ventured first to Prague for a day and now to Vienna on our way to London. So what I think of as the three city middle phase of the trip.
We began our trip in Prague with a ride on the Metro to the Castle. We watched the changing of the guard and then had our lunch in the palace gardens before waling in the castle. This actualy a very large area of building including two churches: St Vitus Cathedral and St Georges.
We then walked down from the Palace passed St Nicholas's Church to the Charles Bridge over the Vlatva. There was lots to see and the time was short - never a good combination. Fortunately although there was a heavy shower of rain this passed and the weather improved. We continued our walk through the old Town square and the Astronomical Clock to Wenceslas Square where everyone has some time to shop and look around.
Today after tearful farewells to their hosts we left Pardubice - it was great to spent time in such as pleasant Czech town with really good hosts.
We arrived in Vienna after a 4 hour drive. We crossed the border with no problems and arrive in Vienna around 1 pm. After some instruction we set off in groups to walk into St Stephan's Square. All the groups managed this activity showing the skills of the geographers and orienteers in the party. Each group went to the top of the tower of the cathedral - this was in alift - a good thought in a gothic cathedral one student thought. However this cathedral was damaged in the war and has been reconstucted so it was not the medieval stone masons who put in the lift - though they would probably have appreciated it. The Mozart Museum was our final visit for the day - again an extremely interesting place to visit. Very well presented with a audio tour but also amazing to think this was where the Marriage of Figuro was composed and to a feel for the actual man. The house the street all being basically as when he lived there.
After the walk back I don't think there will be any problems keeping to our own rule and the hotels request for silence after 10pm!
After visiting a nature reserve and two smaller towns we have ventured first to Prague for a day and now to Vienna on our way to London. So what I think of as the three city middle phase of the trip.
We began our trip in Prague with a ride on the Metro to the Castle. We watched the changing of the guard and then had our lunch in the palace gardens before waling in the castle. This actualy a very large area of building including two churches: St Vitus Cathedral and St Georges.
We then walked down from the Palace passed St Nicholas's Church to the Charles Bridge over the Vlatva. There was lots to see and the time was short - never a good combination. Fortunately although there was a heavy shower of rain this passed and the weather improved. We continued our walk through the old Town square and the Astronomical Clock to Wenceslas Square where everyone has some time to shop and look around.Today after tearful farewells to their hosts we left Pardubice - it was great to spent time in such as pleasant Czech town with really good hosts.
We arrived in Vienna after a 4 hour drive. We crossed the border with no problems and arrive in Vienna around 1 pm. After some instruction we set off in groups to walk into St Stephan's Square. All the groups managed this activity showing the skills of the geographers and orienteers in the party. Each group went to the top of the tower of the cathedral - this was in alift - a good thought in a gothic cathedral one student thought. However this cathedral was damaged in the war and has been reconstucted so it was not the medieval stone masons who put in the lift - though they would probably have appreciated it. The Mozart Museum was our final visit for the day - again an extremely interesting place to visit. Very well presented with a audio tour but also amazing to think this was where the Marriage of Figuro was composed and to a feel for the actual man. The house the street all being basically as when he lived there.
After the walk back I don't think there will be any problems keeping to our own rule and the hotels request for silence after 10pm!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Visit to World Heritage site
Today was another early start. We drove 36 kms to Kutna Hora.
We visited three sites the Cemetary chapel and Ossuary. This lead to some interesting discussions and while it was a strange place the feeling of respect and honouring people - it gave a specially strong impression of the impact of the plague and various wars. We then visited the Cathedal of Saint Barabora. The girls sang two songs which were appreciated by an English tour group as well as others. After lunch we went to the Italian Court. This is a fascinatimg building which has been a mint, a part residence for the king, a
hospital during the Napoleonic wars and a girls school. At 3.30 we went to the church of st. John of Nepomuk first to practise and then to give a 1 hour concert. The choir was very well received - they were clapped back for another song.
Today was another early start. We drove 36 kms to Kutna Hora.
We visited three sites the Cemetary chapel and Ossuary. This lead to some interesting discussions and while it was a strange place the feeling of respect and honouring people - it gave a specially strong impression of the impact of the plague and various wars. We then visited the Cathedal of Saint Barabora. The girls sang two songs which were appreciated by an English tour group as well as others. After lunch we went to the Italian Court. This is a fascinatimg building which has been a mint, a part residence for the king, a
hospital during the Napoleonic wars and a girls school. At 3.30 we went to the church of st. John of Nepomuk first to practise and then to give a 1 hour concert. The choir was very well received - they were clapped back for another song.
Monday, July 2, 2007
The Big Surprise
On the programme Monday was to be a day with host families but instead our tour hosts organsied a special day out visiting the Moravian Karst country. This includes a large cave comples with some wonderful formations and a very interesting boat ride through a maze of tunnels again with wonderful linestone formations. Walking through the forest was interesting - while some girls felt it was like NZ, I
think this was the walk rather than the trees which were all European mixed deciduous trees. The trip also involved a ride in a motorised road"train" and a trip up to the top of the chasm to look down into another by gondailler. The bus ride to the area was about two and a half hours and so we have been able to get a realy good impression of the central Czech landscape and patterns of villages, farming styles ( crops, no fences and cows housed indoors in barns even in summer). We returned tired but very grateful for a really special day.
On the programme Monday was to be a day with host families but instead our tour hosts organsied a special day out visiting the Moravian Karst country. This includes a large cave comples with some wonderful formations and a very interesting boat ride through a maze of tunnels again with wonderful linestone formations. Walking through the forest was interesting - while some girls felt it was like NZ, I
think this was the walk rather than the trees which were all European mixed deciduous trees. The trip also involved a ride in a motorised road"train" and a trip up to the top of the chasm to look down into another by gondailler. The bus ride to the area was about two and a half hours and so we have been able to get a realy good impression of the central Czech landscape and patterns of villages, farming styles ( crops, no fences and cows housed indoors in barns even in summer). We returned tired but very grateful for a really special day.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Successes
On Saturday night after singing in two more categories during the day we all made our way to the venue for the announcement of the winners. We were all very thrilled for Ella and the girls when they won silver awards in each of the four classes they had entered. So it was tired but very happy group that returned rather late to the hostel that night.
On Sunday we participated in a concert in the town of Chrudim about 15 minutes drive south of Pardubice. It is a very pretty town with an interesting historic centre including a plague statue in the middle of the square like Pardubice. The present church , in neo gothic style (thanks Mr Butts we are on to the styles) dates from the 11th century. We had a discussion with our hosts about the history and the oppression of the Hapsburgs was mentioned with particular distaste - dating back to this time. Other more recent aggressors were not mentioned.
The Seraphim Choir sang in the church with two other choirs and by special request sang Kihi Kihi on the church steps. We then had time to eat our packed lunches and look round the town before spending time in the famous and very interesting puppet museum. Unfortunately I can't upload photos on this computer or I would put in a lovely shot of some of the girls using the puppets in the interactive area to do the lonely goatherd from the Sound of Music.
We returned to Pardubice for a walk around the castle and historic town centre. All the students and staff went to the top of the green tower to get a good view of the area - with some overcoming their fear of heights or at least pushing the limits a little further.
The girls met their billets with some being hosted by students they hosted last year. We are all going on a surprise outing today - as a Geographer I am think it will be great and hopefully the students for whom it is still a surpirise will think so too.
On Saturday night after singing in two more categories during the day we all made our way to the venue for the announcement of the winners. We were all very thrilled for Ella and the girls when they won silver awards in each of the four classes they had entered. So it was tired but very happy group that returned rather late to the hostel that night.
On Sunday we participated in a concert in the town of Chrudim about 15 minutes drive south of Pardubice. It is a very pretty town with an interesting historic centre including a plague statue in the middle of the square like Pardubice. The present church , in neo gothic style (thanks Mr Butts we are on to the styles) dates from the 11th century. We had a discussion with our hosts about the history and the oppression of the Hapsburgs was mentioned with particular distaste - dating back to this time. Other more recent aggressors were not mentioned.
The Seraphim Choir sang in the church with two other choirs and by special request sang Kihi Kihi on the church steps. We then had time to eat our packed lunches and look round the town before spending time in the famous and very interesting puppet museum. Unfortunately I can't upload photos on this computer or I would put in a lovely shot of some of the girls using the puppets in the interactive area to do the lonely goatherd from the Sound of Music.
We returned to Pardubice for a walk around the castle and historic town centre. All the students and staff went to the top of the green tower to get a good view of the area - with some overcoming their fear of heights or at least pushing the limits a little further.
The girls met their billets with some being hosted by students they hosted last year. We are all going on a surprise outing today - as a Geographer I am think it will be great and hopefully the students for whom it is still a surpirise will think so too.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Finally an Internet cafe. We had a good flight -very long but only one delay and then only for about half an hour. On arrival late at Prague we were met by Johanna who came to NZ with the choir last year. An hour and a half later we were in Pardubice and everyone was very quickly into bed. Since then we have been busy with the festival. People in the festival get free bus travel which has made it easy to get about. The festival venue is in the shopping centre and close to the historic centre of the city which makes it very easy for meals. Tonight is the awards night so it will be interesting to see who has won and what the judges thought of Seraphim. People have responded well so who knows.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Getting Ready
Today a student said we will soon be counting on one hand. I think I have been aware of students counting day since 30 days to go. Of course for the planners and fundraisers the count down has been longer and more pressured.
This blog will hopefully record aspects of the trip to Europe by the Seraphim Choir from Chilton Saint James School.
Our itinerary briefly, is fly to Czech Republic to take part in the Bohuslav Martinů Festival and Choir Competition in Pardubice. Sightseeing will be included and we have a day in Prague and two days in Vienna. The Choir will then take part in the 90th anniversay celebrations of New Zealand's involvement in the Battles of Messines and Passendale before having a day in London and returning to New Zealand.
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