On Friday 26 January, 45 students in year 9 and 10 headed off to Bovington in Dorset for a Design and Technology based trip to the world famous tank museum.
As always, the museum and staff were incredible; the museum has over 300 vehicles across multiple buildings and is extremely well set up for catering to school kids.
Our first stop was the Mk IV world war one tank where, in groups, we got to spend some time in the tank and hearing what it would have been like to experience the earliest tanks in battle. It was a fairly horrific environment; 45 degrees celsius, full of toxic fumes, no suspension and so loud there was no way of talking to one another in the vehicle itself. By modern standards, this rudimentary design was a game changer in the war and helped turn the tide against the Germans in 1917 and 18 particularly.
Moving on, we got to participate in a similar experience but this time in a relatively modern Chieftain tank. These were in service until the early 1990s and, although far better protected and rather safer to be in than the deadly environment of the Mark IV, it was still an incredibly tight squeeze where the tank crew may have to spend days or even weeks.
In the afternoon, we looked around the conservation centre where we got to see the massive collection of stored tanks and the workshops where they are maintained and repaired. We were given a superb tour of the facilities and the mechanics and engineers talked us through the numerous issues they have encountered in looking after vehicles that, in many cases, have been out of service for decades.
It was a full on, fantastic day and the staff at the tank museum complimented the students on their impeccable behaviour, attitude and attentiveness on the trip, and were particularly impressed by their excellent manners.
