We are delighted to announce an Old Pauline trip to Ypres, visiting the battlefields, graves and memorials which commemorate the 93 Old Paulines who fell on the Ypres Salient during the First World War, as well as those who survived.
We now have dates fixed for this September and a package price which will cover transport and accommodation. Our tour guide will be Graham Seel, former Head of Faculty Humanities at St Paul’s School and Author of Scholars and Soldiers: A history of alumni of St Paul’s School and the 1st World War which can be read here: Volume 1: service and commemoration and Volume 2: The Ypres Salient and OPs. The details are as follows:
Day 1 – Wednesday 24 September 2025
We will travel by Eurostar to Lille, from where we will be transported to Ypres by a chauffeur driven coach and stay in the Novotel leper Centrum Flanders Fields. Walking tour of Ypres led by Graham Seel (GES). Evening seminar by GES.
Day 2 – Thursday 25 September
SPS and the Southern Salient. Evening seminar by GES.
Day 3 – Friday 26 September
SPS and the northern part of the Salient. Evening seminar by GES.
Day 4 – Saturday 27 September
Behind the lines and travel home
We are also aiming to present a plaque to commemorate those OPs who fought and fell on the Salient to the St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres.
The work that Graham Seel did which sparked this tour idea is about the 93 OPs who fell in Ypres Salient. Graham’s online talk is very much worth a watch here and many OPs also heard Graham talk at last year’s Old Pauline Club Earliest Vintage Lunch.
The tour, which will involve some walking, will take in such locations as Lijssenthoek cemetery, the Menin Gate, Ploegsteert Memorial, Hooge and Messine Ridge.
The price per person will be £656 if we are a group of 15, though this could come down to £546 if we recruit 20, so please do spread the word to friends who you think would be interested. Partners are of course welcome.
At this stage we are not looking for payment but for a firm expression of interest by email to James Grant on jsg@stpaulsschool.org.uk. We will collate all responses and confirm the package price at the end of April.