Ellie Clampin and Mark Harrison, both studying at the Paris Centre, joined the annual parade.
Ellie, an MA student at University of Kent at Paris (UKP) and Mark, a Drama and French student awarded a 50th anniversary scholarship to study at the University’s summer school in Paris in 2013, were nominated for the honour following a request by the British Ambassador to France.
This year’s Bastille Day celebrations were used by the French to launch commemorations for the centenary of the First World War. More than 70 countries involved in the war were invited to send military and youth representations to take part in the annual military parade along the Champs Elysées.
The British Ambassador to France, Sir Peter Ricketts, asked Dr Ana Medeiros, Director of UKP, to nominate two Kent students to be among four young people representing the UK. He wrote: ‘As well as having a solid reputation for educational excellence, it would be particularly fitting for the University to provide students for the Bastille Day parade given the close association that Kent has with the First World War and the millions of men and women who embarked from its ports on their way to the Western Front.’
After the parade, Ellie commented: ‘The people involved have all been incredible and it has been so interesting and inspiring to interact and socialise with young people all over the world. It has encouraged me to consider travelling to countries where previously I had little desire to visit and also taught me so much about these countries’ culture and language. All in all, it was a wonderful experience.’