Day 3

Today’s schedule was a very busy one and everybody was a bit jaded at breakfast due to our early start. The coach left for the port at 08:30 and the boat sailed for Robben Island just after 09:00. As we left the mouth of the harbour and Cape Town fell away into the distance the true beauty and size of Table Mountain and surrounding peaks came to life and the closer we got to Robben Island the more magnificent Cape Town looked. It must have been a sight for sore eyes when sailors laid eyes on its splendour for the first time.

As you arrive at the island there is a strange silence that resonates around the harbour and as the people disembark no one really knows what to expect. As Bolton School were pre-booked the manager of the Island himself was there to meet us and in fact had insisted on looking after our tour personally. The tour takes your past the main prison were the political prisoners were held including Nelson Mandela and onto the Prison House where Robert Sobukwe was held in solitary confinement for the whole of his sentence. The bus stopped at various points allowing the guide time to explain the history of the island from its early beginnings as a place to send Lepers and other sick people that were believed to be harmful to others.

Eventually we arrived at the famous sports field where once a week the inmates played both Rugby and Football. Here we were met by a once serving inmate who explained the true meaning of reconciliation and what his time here and that of every political prisoner, including Nelson Mandela, had meant. Despite the beatings and torture that were an everyday occurrence,education was also important and a lot of inmates left with two or three degrees thanks to the help of the Red Cross and the Open Universities. Once out they were better equipped to fight for racial equality in South Africa.

Our guide showed us a typical cell and everybody sat in silence as he explained the true horror of his 5 years in prison which started at the tender age of 16. His story touched everybody present upsetting some in the process but making all understand the struggle that had to be endured for Black South Africans to be free from apartheid which eventually came in the early 1990’s. Our final stop before we left the island was at Nelson Mandela's cell.It was so small it was hard to believe that he and others like him spent so many years in such conditions.

Once back on dry land the group headed back to Cape Suites for a quick change before heading off to Plumstead high School for their first light training of the tour. The coaches put the lads through their paces, giving everybody the chance to run off any stiffness picked up over the last two hectic days.

Later we again set off for another breathtaking experience, sun set at Camps Bay. As the boys entertained themselves playing beach football and Rugby the sun slowly slipped into the sea casting a beautiful red glow across the ocean.

Dinner tonight had been organised by Mr Joseph through contacts back in the UK. The Managing Director of Nandos Restaurants UK Phil Lynas had been in contact with South African counter part Lawrence Rock and organised a complimentary meal at their Camps Bay Restaurant and the Manager there Gary Matz made everybody feel extremely welcome the food was superb and a fantastic night was had by all.