On Thursday, the French Department was delighted to welcome Marie-Claude Hawkes who talked about life in Occupied France during the Second World War. Marie-Claude talked lucidly about her family’s experiences and memories of everyday life in rural Normandy during the war, particularly in the weeks following the D-Day landings.

The insight she shared was profoundly personal, and she recounted captivating, sometimes chilling, anecdotes. This period in history is a key theme in the A level French course and a focus in the IB HL French curriculum, making her first-hand recollections both highly valuable and enlightening for our Year 12 and 13 pupils.

It was a thought-provoking talk with ample opportunities to ask questions and pupils gained a great deal from the experience. Many thanks to Marie-Claude. We look forward to seeing her again next year.