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QUEEN ELIZABETH II AT FERMAT
Présentation à la Reine des ECS2,1, à Mme Chirac l’épouse du Président de la République et au ministre de la justice,
Dominique Perben: ( de gauge à droite) Victor Mercier, Guillaume Mallein, Mme André-Colin (professeure d’anglais), une élève de terminale L , Elsa Lefebvre, Anna Bordes, un élève de terminales L , Elsie Fluvel, Sophie Catala, Maeva Gendre, Marc le Huec
When the Queen came to Fermat!
« If you were in God's shoes and you were to create the nation that would irritate the British the most, it would be France (Julian Barnes)"
"On April 8th 1904, the Entente Cordiale between France and the United Kingdom was signed in London; thus these two rival countries, whose common history is made up of age-old conflicts, had managed – to everyone's surprise – to reach an agreement. On April 7th, 2004, to celebrate the centenary of this event, Queen Elizabeth II came to spend three days in France ending in Toulouse, with the traditional visit to the Airbus assembly plant.
In preparing for this visit, The Queen remembered what her mother (Queen Mum, who passed away in 2002) had told her - if one day you go to Toulouse, take the opportunity to visit the Church of the Jacobins ... So, while looking at the city map (Buckingham Palace did not yet have fibre optic), Her Majesty noticed that there was a school right next door – Le Lycée Pierre de Fermat! I would like to encounter some of the students there, said she. What the Queen wants, the Queen gets, so our headmaster at the time (Olivier Rauch) was put in charge of organizing something. Alas! The visit fell during the spring school holidays – what on earth could be done???
And that was how some HEC prepas (class year 2003 / 2004), at least those who planned to stay in Toulouse to revise for their exams had the privilege of meeting the Queen of England. Despite the resentment of the rugby fans at the time of the CRUNCH, despite the French republican character and the criticism towards an outdated and anachronistic monarchy, the volunteers were numerous, the competition as to who would present the bouquet was fierce, the answers to any questions were well prepared (if Her Majesty addresses us in English, we must answer her in English, if she speaks to us in French – which was the case – we answer her in French), the protocol detailed: only speak if you are spoken to and dress appropriately. As the English teachers did !
Behatted (a veil even), begloved, dressed up to the nines – they were eager to chat with the sovereign ... In the end, Véronique Lafont de Sentenac, our dear colleague who passed away this year, was the only one to intervene so as to explain the CPGE system.
And then The Queen departed, leaving us with an indelible memory: a great lady of of small height, dressed all in purple, her hat adorned with violets, who spoke beautiful French and smiled kindly at the students.
How lucky we were at Fermat to have met Queen Elizabeth II whose long reign will go down in history."
La préparation de la visite: « the English teaching staff », dûment chapeauté et ganté : Mmes Anne-Sophie André-Colin, Annie Baud-Jorré, Frances Petit- Hurdle et Véronique Lafont de Sentenac.
Le « debrief » du « the Royal visit » dans la cour du lycée: Mme
Petit interviewée par la presse, avec des élèves d’ECS2- 2004,
Philipe Rocanières, Guillaume Mallein, Marc le Huec.
A few words from Mrs Petit, our English Teacher
La reine et Olivier Rauch, proviseur du lycée Fermat. Journal télévisé de France 2 avril 2004, France Télévision.
Olivier Rauch, Proviseur du lycée Fermat lors de la visite de la Reine Elizabeth II
"Lorsque j’ai annoncé à la communauté de notre lycée cette visite, j’avais déjà conscience de la chance que nous avions qu’elle se produise pendant les vacances scolaires. Certes, dans un premier temps, je m’étais demandé comment réunir un groupe d’élèves et vous et vos collègues de Prépa commerciale m’ont bien aidé !Mais il y a eu un mouvement républicain curieux parmi des professeurs (toutes disciplines confondues) qui contestait le principe même d’une telle visite. Ma réponse aux quelques collègues venus en délégation dans mon bureau pour porter cette protestation fut toute trouvée : « je ne vois pas en quoi cela peut vous gêner. Vous serez en vacances chez vous et personne ne vous demande de participer à quoi que ce soit ! »Plus encore, je ne pus que me réjouir de ce calendrier lorsque je fis le constat du dispositif de sécurité absolument effarant lié à la visite royale. Trois jours avant l’événement j’ai eu droit à la venue des services de sécurité (français mais accompagnés d’un agent de l’ambassade du RU) qui ont exploré l’établissement de fond en combles.
C’est tout à fait l’expression qui convient puisqu’ils explorèrent notamment les sous-sols de notre établissement -et je peux vous garantir qu’il y a de quoi faire. Le matin de la visite royale, des soldats d’élite (osons le terme de « snipers »)vinrent se poster dans les étages. Je fus prié (ainsi que toutes celles et ceux dont le lieu de travail donnait directement sur le parvis) de ne plus accéder à mon bureau. Je compris alors ce que signifiait « être la personne au monde la mieux protégée au monde » ! Et je n’osai imaginer la situation s’il avait fallu accueillir 2000 élèves ET la visite royale. Il aurait fallu trouver comment faire venir les élèves (une bonne partie du centre ville était interdite de circulation automobile), les parquer à l’autre bout du lycée pendant l’heure au cours de laquelle
SM la Reine a admiré l’église des Jacobins et nous a fait l’honneur de venir nous saluer. Bref, c’eût été un véritable cauchemar. Au lieu de cela nos élégantes professeures d’anglais de prépa (qui n’avaient pas oublié leur chapeau) et leurs élèves qui pour certain(e)s étrennaient leur belle tenue qu’ils (elles) pourraient ressortir pour les oraux quelques semaines plus tard, étaient toutes et tous à la contemplation de ce qui est sans doute resté un moment d’intense émotion !"
Elsie Fluvel (ECS 2,1 2004) offrant un bouquet à la reine, En arrière plan: Elise Rouvière (ECS 2,1 2004, bouquet pour Mme Chirac), Philippe Rocanières (ECS 2,1 2004) , Maeva Gendre (ECS 2,1 2004) , Marc Le Huec (ECS 2,1 2004) , Olivier Rauch Proviseur du lycée Fermat.
TÉMOIGNAGES DES ALUMNI
"1 month ago, I had the most optimistic experience of my life – meeting co-students 40 years later. 40 years later! Indeed.
40 years ago, we all went through the tough French "elite" system, the business school prep years. All of us applying for a national competition to enter business schools like HEC Paris, ESSEC Business School, ESCP Business School, EmLyon Business School. This reunion day changed my view of life. All students are more than grown up. All the 45 of them turned up optimistic, relax, smarter, even "enlightened". It made me, it makes me optimistic for how life goes. All of them were just well and full of projects. Their career peak behind them, but with many new projects - a song, a book, a boat, a new profession.
Energy. And you know what.
I really wondered whether I would join a group I hadn’t seen for so many years.
You know, this kind of reunion can turn frustrating, weird, boring. Every one of us hesitated. The time at the “classe préparatoire” (so it is called in France) in the 80ies was rough. Long learning hours, tests nearly every day, high pressure for results, competition.
In a place Lycée Pierre De Fermat (yes, Fermat, the one with the theorem).
A place that wanted to remain the number one prep course outside Paris. Pressure, huge learning volume, and not many good memories.
The thing is.
That’s the very reason why the reunion was so fantastic. All of us carrying the same impression of tough times. 40 years later. This is what united all of us.
Today, a fully relaxed, happy, accomplished group. After all. Now I see the world and life anew. Fully optimistic.
Yes, within a day. More than ever. It taught me a big lesson.
Life is ever rewarding. Professional and private life. For me and for my col-students.
Have you made such great experiences seeing companions after a very long time? Never hesitate to attend.
It shows accomplishment."
Laurent B. / Promo 1982 - 1983
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