Writes Alexander Z. (U6th)
On Tuesday, the Senior Geography Society welcomed OMT members, Alex Munro and Simon Peart, who had taken part in the Richard Green Memorial Prize expedition, who shared reflections on their journey to the island of La R茅union. The session opened with a brief explanation of how future candidates can apply, as well as an overview of how the competition was founded through Richard Green鈥檚 passion for global exploration.
The talk explored both the practical challenges of travel and weather, alongside the island鈥檚 striking natural environment. Particular attention was given to Cilaos, a remote mountain town renowned for its breathtaking scenery. Access to Cilaos was highlighted as a defining feature of the trip, with transport infrastructure playing a key role in shaping their experience. Despite the island鈥檚 rugged terrain, the speakers noted that transport was surprisingly efficient.
The speakers explained that travelling across La R茅union can be physically demanding yet highly rewarding, with persistent rainfall and long, steep hikes presenting significant challenges. They also reflected on everyday life on the island, including food and supplies.
One memorable observation was the island鈥檚 reliance on imported goods, exemplified by Fanta being imported from Vietnam, which underscored La R茅union鈥檚 geographical isolation and dependence on global trade networks.
Much of the talk focused on the island鈥檚 exceptional natural beauty and climate. La R茅union was described as intensely scenic, with lush landscapes sustained by highly variable cloud cover. Mornings were often characterised by bright sunshine, while rainfall was common later in the day, contributing to the island鈥檚 dense vegetation and biodiversity. This balance of sunshine and rain was presented as central to the island鈥檚 powerful natural environment.
Overall, the talk conveyed a vivid impression of La R茅union as a place of outstanding natural beauty, shaped by its climate, geography and isolation. The speakers effectively communicated both the challenges and rewards of their journey, making the trip a fitting testament to Richard Green鈥檚 legacy and something the school can be proud of.
The Richard Green Memorial Prize is open to all current Year 13 students. Successful applications can win up to 拢3000 to go towards an expedition into the wilderness. For more information, or to receive an application form, please email Mr Murray-Brown (alm@mtsn.org.uk).
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