Pupils stranded on Belgium trip

The Year 11 students were on a five day visit to Belgium, as part of the International Peace School program to visit World War 1 battle sites and to give the pupils a real picture of a soldier's life during the conflict and allow pupils to have empathy between the people in 1917 and today.

The Year 11 Students, aged between 14 and 15 years old, were involved in the trip to Belgium with Oakgrove Integrated College. The two schools were involved in a qualification in Conflict Resolution. The trip was organised by the International School for Peace Studies.

The children were scheduled to return to Coleraine on Saturday at 10:55am on Aer Lingus flight EI631 but the flight was cancelled.

In order to catch this flight from Brussels the children had to leave their hotel in Ypres, Belgium at 4am. This flight was subsequently rescheduled for today (Tuesday 20th April) at the same time but unfortunately this flight has also been cancelled.

Principal Jim Frizelle said: "The anxiety of parents and pupils was well managed by the teaching staff. Nerves became frayed as pupils became homesick, clean clothes became a rare commodity and pocket money became a treasured possession.

"However, the College and parents are indebted to the teachers from North Cost Integrated College, Mr Stephen O'Hara and Mrs Frances McNeill, who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the pupils were looked after in a most professional manner and never wanted for anything.

"The College kept the parents fully informed throughout; with the help of mobile phones parents were in constant communication with their children.

"The new scheduled journey home was like a marathon. The International School for Peace Studies arranged for the pupils to leave Belgium yesterday (Monday) and travel to Calais where they will take a ferry to Dover.

"Their epic journey then involves the pupils and staff taking a coach journey from Dover to Fishguard in Wales. The pupils will then take another ferry from Fishguard to Dun Laoghaire and finally a College minibus will bring them from Dun Laoghaire to Coleraine.

"There is no doubt that this has been a challenging trip for both students and teachers alike, a conflict with volcano ash was not foreseen.

"May I thank all our local politicians - Mr Gregory Campbell MP and John Dallat and Billy Leonard MLAs for all their support and assistance in this matter."