Merton Music Foundation

Information for parents/guardians and pupils involved in the Loire Valley Tour between 23 – 28 July 2024

Key Info

📍We will be staying in Angers in the Loire Valley region of France.

🚌 Please arrive at Merton Abbey Primary School at 4:30am on Tuesday 23 July for departure check-in

☎ Emergency contact number whilst we are away: 0044 7958 117 232

Tour Dates

Depart: Tuesday 23 July (arrive at 4:30am for check-in).
Return: Sunday 28 July, 23:55 (approximately)

📑 Please see below for a detailed itinerary.

Parent/Guardian Tour Meeting

Tuesday 9 July , 6:15pm – 7pm. Parent/Guardian Tour Meeting online via Teams (we will send you the link via email beforehand)

Extra Rehearsals

All tour rehearsals take place at Merton Music Centre, South Wimbledon (Merton Abbey Primary School, High Path, SW19 2JY)

Saturday 20 April	MYJO  MYCB  Voice Box  Strings  Guitars	14:00-18:00
Sunday 9 June	MYCB VoiceBox*  Strings  Guitars	10:00-14:00  (VoiceBox until 12:00)
Sunday 23 June	MYJO  VoiceBox*	10:00-14:00 (VoiceBox until 11:30) NB: Invited rhythm section members to stay until 4pm.
Saturday 20 July	MYJO  MYCB  VoiceBox*  Strings  Guitars	10:00-16:00 (VoiceBox until 12:00)

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Itinerary

NB: this itinerary is subject to final confirmation and change. Photos are for reference only.

Day 1: Tuesday 23 July

4:30am: Check-in at Merton Abbey Primary School, SW19
5:30am: Coach departs for Loire Valley via Dover-Calais ferry crossing.
8:00pm: Arrive at hostel, unload van and have dinner (included)

👜For Day 1, you will need travel money to buy breakfast / lunch from service stations and the ferry as well as any drinks / snacks. We will eat dinner late, around 9pm, after arriving at the hostel.

Day 2: Wednesday 24 July

Breakfast, free-time and rehearsal at hostel
Visit Angers, buy own lunch and explore city centre
Depart for Montreuil Bellay (approx. 1 hour 15 min journey)
6pm – 7:15pm: Concert 1 at Montreuil Bellay Castle Grounds
Return to hostel

👜For Day 2, you will need: money to buy lunch in Angers (cafés / restaurants or supermarket) and any drinks / snacks or souvenirs.

Day 3: Thursday 25 July

Breakfast at hostel and depart via coach to Angers
Visit Terra Botanica theme park
6pm – 7:30pm Concert at Pl. Saint-Martin Church, Le Bignon
Return to hostel

👜For Day 3, you will need money to buy lunch at Terra Botanica theme park, as well as any drinks / snacks and souvenirs.

Day 4: Friday 26 July

Breakfast at hostel and depart by coach to Saumur
Free time in Saumur, pupils to buy own lunch
Saumur Forest Adventure Park
Dinner provided at concert venue
8:30pm – 10pm concert at Fontevraud l’Abbaye
Return to hostel

👜For Day 4, you will need money to buy lunch in Saumer (cafés / restaurants or supermarket) plus drinks / snacks and souvenirs. You will also need to wear comfortable shoes / clothes for the adventure park (NB: laser tag activity might be muddy).

Day 5: Saturday 27 July

Breakfast and free time around the hostel grounds (optional open water swimming)
Depart by coach to Fougeré
6pm – 7:30pm concert at Place de l’Eglise, Fougeré
Return to hostel for pizza and end of tour celebration

👜For Day 5, you will need to buy lunch from around the hostel – a supermarket and Burger King are both nearby- plus any drinks / snacks.

Day 6: Sunday 28 July

Breakfast at hostel
Depart by coach at 9:30am
Calais-Dover ferry crossing
Return to Merton Abbey Primary School around midnight

👜For Day 6, you will need to buy lunch and dinner from service stations / the ferry. There will also be the option to buy some food for this day from the supermarket the day before.

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Tour Music Sharepoint

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Packing List

‼ Important: you must bring all items in a soft bag / suitcase (no hardcases). This is due to space restrictions on the coach.

For Concerts

⬛ MMF Polo Shirt (long sleeved black shirt for guitar ensemble) 
👖 Black Trousers/Skirt 
⬜ White school-style shirt 
🎷 Instrument 
🔧 Spare strings / reeds etc. 
🎵 Foldable Music Stand 

Day-to-day 

👕 General clothing for all 6 days. Pack for warm weather, but options for colder/wet weather. 
🌧 Rain jacket 
🧥 Jumper / hoodie for cooler weather 
👞 Comfortable shoes 
🎒 Backpack / day bag 
🕶 Sunglasses / sunhat 

Activity Specific

👟 Trainer style shoes you don’t mind getting muddy (for high-wiring/laser tag) 
🏊🏽‍♂️ Swimming costume (if partaking in open water swimming) 
🏖 Swimming/beach towel

General

🛂 Passport 
⚕ GHIC Card 
🚿 Towel (The hostel does not provide towels, so you must bring your own) 
🧴 Toiletries 
💶 Travel Money 
💳 Travel Money Card (NB: increasingly shops in the region are going cashless)
🦟Insect Repellent (as we are staying near a lake, please ensure you pack this) 
🧴 Suncream 
🔌European adaptor
📱 Chargers 
💧 Reusable water bottle

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Important Information

School Absence Approval

The tour departs during the last week of the Merton Summer Term, please check your school’s term dates to confirm if your child will therefore be absent from school.

It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to request that any absence is authorised by their school, however this letter does not need to be shared with MMF.

The Template Letter above is provided to support your application for an authorised absence. Should you wish to use this letter, please edit the document to include your child’s name / details.

Code of Conduct

All pupils that participate in MMF trips and tours are required to read and adhere to our Code of Conduct.