Exciting outdoor activities combined with a visit to the Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker proved a winning combination for Connaught students on their annual school trip before the end of term.
The bunker, built in 1951, is an amazing labyrinth of rooms built in a hillside, encased in 10 foot thick reinforced concrete and 100 feet underground. This was built as a guardhouse for 600 people ranging from scientists to the Prime Minister to allow government to continue functioning if a nuclear bomb had gone off. Among the highlights of their tour were a BBC radio room where the Prime Minister would issue all emergency broadcasts to the nation and a map room where plotters marked up the sites of any nuclear detonations. They also saw a radiation monitoring system covering England and Europe and a separate room with air cleaning equipment. The canteen operated around the clock to provide hot food, and a sick bay equipped for emergency medical treatment which Tusli in Year 8 said she found the most interesting.
Next came the “nuclear races” assault course, featuring tough obstacle races over varied, undulating terrain. This included crawling under nets, a dual tyre lift, and scrambling over a running wall. Our exhausted students were then ready for a well deserved lunch!
The best part for many was the high ropes adventure course, where our pupils donned safety harnesses and a helmet before being briefed with safety instructions. Fearless Miles in Year 7 described the highest level as “awesome” until he got stuck and had to be helped by one of the supervisors. He recovered sufficiently quickly to enjoy the zip wire so much that he went on it seven times! Kyarna (also Year 7) soon became proficient after struggling at first, and Jacob in Year 10 had great fun on the climbing tower.
A great day out, which may be repeated for Warren house another year.
