From steep rock faces and mountain paths to fast-flowing gorges and rain-soaked campsites, this year’s Shell OA Week was once again a memorable and rewarding experience for Marlborough’s Shell pupils.
Bookended by weeks of extremely hot weather, the week itself brought very different conditions: wet, wild and, at times, genuinely testing. Yet it was precisely those conditions that helped make the experience so valuable. Shell OA Week is designed to bring the Shell together through fun, adversity and challenge, and this year it did exactly that.
As in previous years, pupils travelled in House groups to bunkhouses across Wales. Each House experienced a week with its own distinctive character, shaped by its base, staff team and the small details that make each trip unique. At its heart, however, the purpose remained the same: to encourage pupils to step beyond the familiar, support one another and discover what they are capable of.
Throughout the week, pupils took part in activities including abseiling, caving, gorge walking, rock climbing and trekking. The traditional ‘no tech’ rule remained in place, allowing pupils to leave their phones behind and fully engage with the experience, their surroundings and, most importantly, one another.
The most demanding conditions came on Thursday, when torrential downpours, strong winds and cold temperatures combined to make for a particularly challenging day. Breaking camp that morning required real resilience and teamwork, while the high-water levels in the gorge added an extra sense of drama and excitement to the day’s activities. Pupils responded with humour, determination and admirable spirit throughout.
Now running for more than 20 years, Shell OA Week remains a much-valued part of the Marlborough experience, while continuing to evolve. For Mr Webb, the College’s new Head of Outdoor Activities, that spirit of adventure lies at the heart of the department’s vision: to embed outdoor and adventurous experiences into the lives of all Marlborough pupils, while helping some discover passions they may not yet know they have — whether as future climbers, kayakers or mountain bikers. As Mr Webb puts it: “A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”
Daniel Fitzgerald-Webb
Head of Outdoor Activities
