SIXTEEN lads from the Trinity Church’s 6th/7th Inverness BBs so enjoyed themselves on their once-in-a-lifetime trip to France this summer that some were loth to come home at all!
Lieutenant Jimmy McIntosh, one of the officers with the boys, told News & Views, “I’d like to thank all the folk in the Merkinch for their support. The boys had a ball canoeing, rafting, swimming, hill-walking and visiting an Aquaparc.
The party was living in a farmhouse about 2000ft up in the foothills of the French Alps at Gorge du Tarn. They left on 21st July and came back on 1st August, travelling by coach. Throughout their stay the weather was lovely and hot.
“Most of the boys would never have been able to afford this trip if it were not for the support of the community,” said Jimmy. “As it was, because of the £5,500 people contributed the cost to them was only £140 a head. Once again, a big thank-you from the boys and myself.”
Other adults on the trip included community policeman Alasdair Stewart and his wife Rhona, the only woman in the party.
Trinity BBs were the first in Britain to camp abroad, in Italy in 1959. Next year they are going to the Black Isle but already they are starting to raise funds for the next trip abroad, in 2004!