Last week our intrepid Year 9 pupils spent the night on the College's very own island, Lynch Island. A short boat ride away from the College, Lynch is situated in the middle of the Thames. Students were tasked with building their own shelters and cooking dinner, before a night sleeping under canvas. The overnight adventure has become a Shiplake tradition and highlight for Year 9 pupils.
Two of our pupils filed the following reports:
Last night the Skipwith Year 9 boys all camped on the island across from the school. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I packed my sleeping bag, overnight bits, and of course my essentials……. Biscuits!!! We started off the evening making our tents with ropes attached to the trees and covers thrown over, which we then pegged into the ground. Supper was burgers and sausages in rolls with toasted marshmallows to finish. It was a really fun night, a great way to bond with friends new and old. My biscuits were finally eaten when I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t get straight back to sleep, a great midnight feast!
Report by G Baker, Year 9 Skipwith House
We walked down from the main school building to board the boat to the island. As soon as we got to the island, Mr Macpherson gave us the do’s and don’ts of the island and he also told us where the lavatories were. Soon after that talk, the Headmaster arrived on the island to have a chat with us and he wished us all the best for the island night. Just as the Headmaster left, Mr Macpherson let us go to find a spot to set up our shelters. Alec and I made one near the river just under a tree. But when night fell, that was my favourite part: the burgers cooked on a nice warm fire, and sausages just to finish it off. I felt like I was eating like a king on that night! The next morning, the sun had risen, I heard a dog in the distance and we were told to get up! We packed up the tarp that we had used the previous night and collected the pegs out of the ground. Then we got a boat trip back to Shiplake and on the way we got Yorkie bars. I would definitely do it again just for the experience.
Report by J Turnbull, Year 9 Orchard House
