IT really was a very historic moment when the Lochgelly High School Polar Academy team left for the Arctic.

The gravity of the moment certainly told on the youngsters and parents involved.

None of the parents and guardians this time last year would have believed that their children would be spending ten days in the Arctic.

The preparation work done by the ten pupils and rector Carol Ann Penrose will ensure that they can tackle the arduous conditions they will be confronted by in the frozen north.

Bad though our weather has been it will not be anything like what they are currently meeting.

But when they return they will have some stories to tell and they will be taking the name of Lochgelly High School all over Scotland as they spread the story of the trip to the Arctic.

The emotions displayed when the party left to fly out to the Arctic were understandable for this is a massive ask of adults far less teenagers but the Lochgelly group will do the area proud.