Student completes historical tour

10:10am Monday 1st September 2008

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A HARROW student who has just completed a tour of important historical sites in France and Britain is encouraging others to try the experience.

Krishni Muruganathan won a Vimy Foundation scholarship to visit some of the battle sites of both world wars, as well as museums and monuments in Britain which document the events of the wars.

She was one of just two students from Britain given the chance to go on the two-week trip, and believes more people in Britain should apply next year.

She said: “If you have an interest in history, or want to learn more about history, then you should do this.

“We are all used to having lessons, but to actually go down and see the battle sites brings everything to life.

“I had a great time, it was the best experience of my life.”

Krishni, 16, was joined on the trip by two students from schools in Harrow's French twin town, Douai, and 11 pupils from Canada.

They spent the first week based at Harrow School, visiting the Imperial War Museum, the Army Museum in Greenwich, and Dover Castle, and got a history tutorial at Oxford University.

Then the group, led by Canadian history teachers, went to Vimy in France, visiting some of the beaches involved in the allied landings during World War Two, Flanders Field in Belgium, and the Somme, an important battle site involving French and British troops during World War One.

Krishni, a pupil of Heathfield School, in Beaulieu Drive in Pinner, applied to go on the trip after hearing about it from a fellow pupil.

She had to write an essay in French and English, and go through an interview process, before being selected to go.

The 16-year-old has just returned to Britain and is eager to tell others about the experience.

She said: “Not a lot of people know about it, but it is well worth it to have better knowledge of what happened in the wars.

“It is something you don't get from a family holiday, and I think more people should know about it.”

For more information about the scholarship, which is open to pupils aged between 15 and 17, visit www.vimyfoundation.ca