John Hampden Hockey Team Stranded by the Ash Cloud

"Never mind, it's only John Hampden", says this bitter ex-St. Bernardian. Over the road from John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe, those of us who attended St. Bernard's Catholic School didn't have the luxury of hockey trips to Greece.

With a plethora of individual ash cloud stories, it is no surprise that the Bucks Free Press have chosen their own. The under 16 hockey team from the Wycombe school had been due to return home following a successful trip in which they became the first team to beat the Greek Under 21 national side and they were the first touring group since the gold winning Australian Olympians of 2000.

Owing to the ongoing restrictions on flights amid safety fears, twenty-six students and three teachers are stranded in the Greek capital of Athens. Deputy headteacher Andrew Wright informed the local newspaper that the group of boys "Are coping extremely well. They've spent most of the day in the hotel lobby playing computer games and listening to iPods, so they're a little bored but in good spirits.

Has history forsaken the curriculum at John Hampden or are the teachers worried about letting their precious winners outside in case their healthy, pink lungs should become encased in poisonous ash and they all start foaming at the mouths?

The deputy head went on to say that they'd be let out for a "long lunch-break." Granted, re-booking accomodation was hassle enough but come on, you're in Athens! Take them out and show them a bit of culture. Or would that involve a separate risk assessment? Perhaps the children aren't covered by the insurance in case of a medical emergency prompted by an 'act of God.' Perhaps that's just Hampden for you. Bunch of sissies. I'm not bitter...