French kids trip to Wick museum
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EXCHANGE students from France were delighted to find out about Wick's rich history.
The pupils of Collège Rémy Faesch travelled from their base in Golspie to see the sights of Caithness, including a visit to Wick Heritage Museum.
"I'm having a really fantastic time and it's great to be here. I'm enjoying this museum a lot," said 14-year-old schoolgirl Nine.
Ian Leith, chairman of the Wick Society, was at the door of the museum to welcome the teachers and students. "We're delighted to welcome this group of French students who are on exchange from Golspie High School," he said. "They come annually so we're delighted to have them back again."
After the youngsters saw archive slides and footage of Wick they walked through the extensive museum, visiting a number of furnished rooms portraying past times.
Each room contains an array of authentic household furnishings, ranging from a traditional box-bed to authentic Caithness chairs. There is even equipment from the former Wick Radio Station where the first SOS signals from the Titanic were allegedly picked up.
One of the teachers accompanying the pupils, Camille Contessa, said: "All the children are 13 or 14 years old and are part of a an exchange with Golspie High School. We've been to Ullapool and Dunrobin Castle on our first day."
Ms Contessa admitted that the weather was not great but the group had come well prepared for drizzly days in an array of colourful coats.
Another teacher, Francoise Olivier, explained that the exchanges between Golspie High School and Collège Rémy Faesch started 26 years ago.
"Every day they go excursions on the bus and it's the same when the Golspie pupils go over there. Tomorrow they're going up west to Bettyhill and hopefully get a lovely walk there. Then when we get back to Golspie they'll have a taste of Scottish hospitality with a ceilidh at the school there."
