Monday 9th March 2020
History of the SES Russian Exchange
The academic year of 2019/2020 has been historic considering the Modern Foreign Languages department, with two of our exchange programmes hitting big anniversary milestones; marking the 60th year of the German Exchange (read more here) and the 25th anniversary of the Russian exchange (read more here).In celebration of this, our Schools Archivist, James Buckman, has unearthed the history of some of our exchange programmes - including the Russian exchange.
Written History:The Russian Exchange Trip was initiated in 1995 by Alan Crombie. He joined Stamford School in 1988 to teach Modern Languages. ‘He quickly made his mark in the classroom as a strict disciplinarian and also generated massive enthusiasm for the Russian Language, something which, over the years, was to see interest in this subject blossom’.His enthusiasm for Russian language and culture may have been an underlying motive in the origins of the Exchange Trip to Moscow; it was one of very few in Britain at the time. For most of the students of the 1995 trip, this was their first visit to Russia ‘and we had little idea what to expect’. It was an enjoyable trip; ‘one which we will remember for the rest of our lives’ (Robin Swithinbank). Mr Crombie left the School in 1998.
Students' thoughts from the time:Browse the Stamford Endowed Schools' digital archives yourself, here.
Written History:The Russian Exchange Trip was initiated in 1995 by Alan Crombie. He joined Stamford School in 1988 to teach Modern Languages. ‘He quickly made his mark in the classroom as a strict disciplinarian and also generated massive enthusiasm for the Russian Language, something which, over the years, was to see interest in this subject blossom’.His enthusiasm for Russian language and culture may have been an underlying motive in the origins of the Exchange Trip to Moscow; it was one of very few in Britain at the time. For most of the students of the 1995 trip, this was their first visit to Russia ‘and we had little idea what to expect’. It was an enjoyable trip; ‘one which we will remember for the rest of our lives’ (Robin Swithinbank). Mr Crombie left the School in 1998.Students' thoughts from the time:Browse the Stamford Endowed Schools' digital archives yourself, here.