They will never forget it: 64 students from RSG Enkhuizen spent a week in Oxford last summer. During the school trip, they also attended Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee. “The journey has now taken on more meaning for me,” says student Faye. “It is a piece of history, a ‘defining moment’, such as the death of Princess Diana in 1997, that these students will never forget,” adds her teacher.
During English class, Christiaan was told that the Queen was not doing well and that she was under medical supervision. “I reacted ‘flabbergasted’,” he says. The trip to England has taken on much more meaning for him. “On June 2nd, we celebrated her 70th anniversary with the British people and she died less than 100 days later.”
Faye had specially put on a sweater today that she bought during the trip. She speaks of ‘an end of an era’ with the death of the British queen.
full of pride
The students stayed with all kinds of host families during their trip in England. The Queen’s jubilee was often the topic of conversation at Dominique’s host family. “The house was decorated for the anniversary and the mother of the family spoke of her with pride.”
Also in Benthe’s host family there was a lot of talk about Queen Elizabeth. “The mother spoke proudly about the queen and how she looked up to her.”
Matthieu held a minute of silence for the Queen last night. “I was at the Cayen Youth Center. My brother Quincent stopped the activities there and held a minute of silence for her,” he says. “In any case, he is happy to have had the chance to be in London during the anniversary.”
Immortal
Trevor Lewis is coordinator of bilingual education at the RSG in Enkhuizen and also went to London. But he is also British himself. “Total surprise”, he says about the moment when he heard that she was doing badly. “Of course I know she’s 96 years old, but she’s always been there. Immortal.”
For Trevor, Queen Elizabeth is the symbol of the United Kingdom. “She’s seen fifteen prime ministers come and go. War and peace. The advent of computers and so on. She’s been all over the world. She’s someone everyone looked up to.”
He has no plans to go to England in the coming days. “I also have children at home, so that is not convenient. I do follow everything on television. And then you can see everything well. I remember all the memories of her.”
The school discussed the death of the Queen in class today. Furthermore, the RSG will continue to monitor all developments in the coming weeks and talk about it with the students.