On Friday 5th December, 18 year 7 pupils and 3 adults went to Belfast on a school trip.  Many of the children had never been to Belfast before and were thrilled to have the opportunity.

We had an early start, leaving school at 8.30am to walk to the train station.  Once we got off the train, after a quick walk around the Christmas markets, we went inside the City Hall.  There we were greeted and taken upstairs to meet the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Maire Hendron.  The ex- teacher chatted easily with the children and we all had juice and biscuits.  The children and their teachers were amazed by the grandeur of the room – and some of the girls decided they wanted to get married there as it was like a castle.  Councillor Hendron then gave each child a lovely stationery set – which they were all delighted to receive.

We were then taken on a tour with Cindy and all enjoyed trying on the Councillor’s robes – which cost a princely sum of £4000!!  Following that we were taken in to the council chambers and got to sit in the Lord Mayor’s seat.  Onwards from that we got to inspect artefacts from the Victorian era and Titanic memorabilia.

Afterwards we had a Titanic bus tour of Belfast, including the Titanic Centre, the murals and Belfast Castle.  Next we had a final longer walk around the continental markets, where the children most enjoyed the sweet stalls!

After a train journey home we were safely back in Portadown by 4.30pm.  All thoroughly enjoyed their trip and behaved very well indeed.

Mrs Martin (class teacher)