Palmersville learner Chris Stephenson gives his insight into life during the Tall Ships Race.
When I got the chance to be part of the Tall Ships Race I was overwhelmed. Firstly we had to be at the Airport for 12.30 as our plane left between 2.30 and 3.00. When we arrived in Paris and walked off the place the heat just hit us bang in the face. Then we had to get the Metro from the Airport to our hotel where we stayed overnight, it was ok but not the best.
The next morning we had to catch a train from Paris to Cherbourg where we eventually boarded our ship, Excelsior. There were eleven of us in total, myself, Michael, Malcolm, Stephen, Adam, Sarah, Jonathan and Jonny, along with three members of Palmersville Staff, Bob, Cath and Caroline and the great crew of Excelsior, they were really lovely.
We then set off on our journey and as we were sailing out of the bay at Cherbourg there were scores of people cheering us on our way across the channel to England. We landed at Lowestoft and went to a great party where we danced like lunatics. We eventually arrived in Newcastle 11 days later where we were met by our Tall Ships Liaison Offier who joined us for a curry and then we went on a tour of St James Park which was just wicked.
The following day we joined the Parade of Sail up the Tyne where we were met by loads of fantastic spectators who waved and cheered us on. Later that night we went to party at Northumbria University and when we returned to the ship we fell straight asleep.
The next day we had to pack our bags as we were leaving the ship, I felt gutted because I'd had such a fantastic time. The best bit - all of it!
Thank you to the members of staff at Palmersville who gave me this chance of a lifetime.
When Shirley Jackson (Training supervisor, Beauty) first set Beauty Learners at Palmersville the challenge of arranging a fundraising day for Breast Cancer Care, she could not have imagined how successful the day would be.”