Every year Extended Diploma Public Services students at Usk Campus get the chance to experience a ‘Kip on a Ship’ – a couple of nights on HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy Ship, on the River Thames. This year, although yet again highly successful, the event had a slight twist – there was no ship.
Unfortunately, a week prior to the event the gangway collapsed into the Thames causing their bunks for the trip, as well as the rest of the ship, to close until after Christmas. Nevertheless, the trip continued with the students staying at a nearby youth hostel from 5-7 December.
First stop for all 22 students was the Imperial War Museum, a branch of the British National Museum organisation which also includes HMS Belfast. Inside the students experienced emotional stories from the Holocaust to Afghanistan, and admired planes, tanks, naval guns and the berlin wall. They also got inside World War II houses, experienced the trenches and read letters sent home from soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan.
The next day was spent shaking hands with the stars at Madame Tussauds, running from the horrors in the dungeon section, experiencing a 4D superhero show and the grand finale, a visit to the Lyceum Theatre on the Strand to see the Lion King branded “a ravishing spectacle,” by The Mail on Sunday, and by the students, “awe inspiring” and “epic”.
Lecturer Samantha Davies accompanied the students: “Although we didn’t get to kip on the ship, the trip was a resounding success as each student had a fantastic time. They got to witness a little piece of history in the dungeons of Madame Tussauds and inside the Imperial war museum – it was a great experience.”
