BRENTWOOD School’s second master returned to Belgium to meet with hospital staff, emergency services and authorities and thank them for their help during the coach crash that involved thirty-four pupils and six teachers from the school at the end of June.

The crash in Middelkerke, West Flanders, left the driver dead and two pupils seriously injured.

After visiting the AZ Sint-Augustinus Hospital in Veurne, which treated both pupils and teachers following the crash, David Taylor and his wife Marisa, who’s head of Italian at the school and whose colleagues were affected, travelled to Middelkerke to present the Mayor, Janna Rommel-Opstaele, with a watercolour print of the school.

They then met with representatives from the police, fire brigade, Red Cross and trauma team. The following day he met with the British Ambassador to Belgium, Alison Rose, the consular teams, and had lunch with a representative of the Secretary of State for Cooperation and Development, Bart Tommelein.

Finally, he visited Saint Jan Hospital Emergency Department in Bruges, who treated a pupil for a fractured leg.

Speaking before he set off, Mr Taylor said: “I felt it was important to acknowledge the invaluable help, support and communication provided by the agency and consular team together with the emergency services first hand.

“My wife and I travelled to Belgium on the day of the crash with Deputy Head Jeremy Quartermain and were astonished by the huge outpouring of help coming from all directions. The school owes them all a huge debt of gratitude.”

Headmaster Ian Davies also travelled to Amsterdam to meet with the British Consul who assisted the school.