Twinning Associations Issue 3

Dorset August 2005 Twinning News

Welcome to the Summer The invasion of our peace! Inside this

Dorset Twinning News Despite the lack of real summer weather, we know that the issue:

invasion of Brits on holiday has started in deepest Normandy! I hope the activities It is not only the vision of be-shorted and be-sandaled-with- Middle 2 planned, especially the socks man, eagle-eyed woman looking suspiciously for vagrant E School outdoor events, are lucky numbers on the olive oil bottles, or noisy kids rushing around Exchanges with the weather. We clutching packets of lurid ‘bonbons’ that alerts us! Other signals th have had some excellent 10 Anniversary 2 appear of Corfe Castle- feedback from In our petit coin the rubbish is collected once a week on the Pont Herbert associations regarding back of a tractor and trailer. The transparent bags, provided by their activities. the Mairie, permit the authorities to peer in for any flagrant abuse Tall Ships Race 2 of the recycling system. In June I was pleased to (At the beginning of the transparent rubbish bag syndrome, a Rudesheim 2 represent local local high-level council official went around on rubbish Christmas government across collection day checking the contents of the bags! He was able to Market identify flouters of the rules by such things as envelopes Europe at a seminar held th addressed to them etc! At the time it made us all rather aware of 20 Anniversary 3 in the EU Parliament in the new regulations! ) Blandford- Strasbourg. It was a good Mortain Now, all of a sudden heavy-duty black sacks appear indicating opportunity to view the the presence of Second Home Owners (SHOs), indiscreetly facilities and support that News from the 3 disposing of yesterday’s Guardian and last month’s Homes and towns and our MEPs receive when Gardens, empty plastic milk bottles, tins previously containing villages they work in Strasbourg. baked beans or kipper fillets - all the aforementioned items should go into the municipal recycling bins. Forthcoming 4 Please email/post your We (FTRs) are very glad to see happy SHOs and gite-renters, Events annual reports to Marion and campers etc and are equally delighted passing the time of day Dorset Twinning Stanton by 26 September in the local boulangerie, or helping out with problems at check- AGM date to enable them to be outs - usually in DIY stores, providing them with information on local activities etc. However, it is also quite nice when Piddle Valley 4 bound and distributed at news September comes along and everyone goes home again! the AGM. I wouldn’t want you to think that FTRs are anti-Brits, in fact mostly quite the opposite. However, it would be nice if, when I look forward to seeing Wimborne TA 4 you come over here, you could think about the rules and spend weekend you all again at our AGM regulations which make life in rural Normandy such a joy for all. in Valogne David Kenyon Hilary Thompson

European Diploma presentation of the European biggest group. In all we were awarded to Verwood by the Diplomas. Each year 30 with about 100 people.” Council of Europe for Diplomas are awarded. The Catharina Green said, “It is the promoting friendship European Diploma is the result of a team effort - between people in Europe. first award a town can everyone in the association The application was made to achieve; the next goal is the joins in and works together to Strasbourg in November European Flag of honour. promote twinning and it is 2004 by Catharina Green Almost every town was wonderful that we have been and the Mayor. In March the represented by its Mayor and found worthy of such an decisions were made and other council members, also honour.” Catharina said “My elation Chair persons of the The Council of Europe is was so great when I heard Twinning Associations. always very pleased to receive that Verwood was chosen. There were representatives applications from Britain. On 22 June 2005 on behalf of the winning towns in If you would like to apply for of the Mayor of Verwood, Austria, France, Germany, this Diploma please email Hughie and I and Tom and Hungary, Italy, Latvia, [email protected] Catharina Green Joyce Stainer went to Poland, Romania, Serbia, in the subject bar please put Chair of the Verwood and Strasbourg for the Montenegro, Ukraine and European Awards. Twinning Association UK. Germany being the Poole – Cherbourg Twinning Six schools used the special day hosted College St Joseph for 8 rate, enabling 450 children to years and Longfleet Combined Association – Summer 2005 spend the day either visiting their School have had a 15 year link Poole Middle School exchanges: twin school or experiencing ‘la vie with the town, firstly with Ecole Once again Poole – Cherbourg française’ in the town, shopping at Gibert Zola, but recently with Twinning Association has been the market, ordering ‘le pique- Ecole Avenue du Paris who made able to pass the benefit of nique’ or following the town trail, the return visit in June. The proximity to Brittany Ferries to mapped out by a group of visiting Association thanks Brittany Ferries local Middle School children. By teachers last year. for their support with these special very special arrangement 10 day Two schools in particular have days. trips were allocated to Poole maintained links with Cherbourg Schools, enabling them to travel schools over a number of years – Gina Wilcox on the ‘Vitesse’ at 0730; returning St Mary’s R.C. Combined School Secretary of the Poole/Cherbourg at 2000 hrs from Cherbourg. have written letters, visited and Twinning Association

Corfe Castle and Pont Herbert the Mairie. On Saturday we were Jenny Wilson our Chairman Twinning Associations celebrated taken on a coach trip around handed the plaque to Mayor their 10th Anniversary in May. Barfleur and the surrounding Monsieur Herbert and Brigitte 37 members were entertained in a Cotentin peninsula, visiting a Papin. Paul Randall, now in his glorious way by their French hosts. famous lighthouse (La Phare de nineties, organised the link with Their President, Brigitte Papin Gatteville) with 365 steps and 52 this special village 10 years ago – together with her colleague, gave windows. The day ended with a he must be so proud to see the us a memorable time. The Mayor, sumptuous dinner and dance which flourishing friendships that have Monsieur Herbert and French went on into the small hours of the been made. Gillian Humphries hosts gave an evening reception in morning. During the dinner and dance we made a presentation to them of a plaque in beautiful polished Dorset Marble, etched with a picture of Corfe Castle to commemorate 10 years of being twinned with a village we can only describe as being the most friendly group of people we have ever had the privilege of knowing.

Tall Ships Race donated two crew places; the Poole Town Twinning The PCTA sought funding to & Branch of the Tall German Christmas Market Ships Trust sponsored a third place support four crew members of the A Christmas Market of the Nations Prince William, on the Waterford whilst the PCTA jointly funded with Poole Yacht Club, Parkstone is held annually in December in to Cherbourg leg of the Tall Ships Rudesheim. It is described as one Race (July 2005).Ryan Chick (21), Yacht Club, the Jolly Pirates of Poole and generous donations of the most attractive in Germany, Tom Whittingham (17), Daniel with over 120 stalls representing Beckhouse (16) and Kalvin from a number of individuals the fourth place. At £800 per crew 12 countries. Nations from all Horlock (16) were nominated by over the world show their the Challenge member this was indeed a generous package much Christmas wares and customs in group, based at Hamworthy and the Market Square. It is possible selected as a result of their work appreciated by the four, well deserving, participants. The here to admire Europe’s largest with young sailors from the Turlin crib with its life-sized figures. For Moor area of Poole. Mayor of Poole, with other civic party members, were guests of La several years members have Funding came from a variety of visited Rudesheim during this time sources: The Lions of Poole in Ville de Cherbourg. A festival of the sea to rival Trafalgar and have taken goods to sell on a partnership with the Lions of stall. Cherbourg and Bremerhaven celebrations in Portsmouth! Gina Wilcox Patricia Gumbrell

Page 2 Dorset Twinning News 20th Anniversary Blandford-Mortain Twinning Association dinner in the Corn Exchange on the The Blandford Lions have again asked Friday night, and your committee will us to help them with their car parking 2006 is the 20th anniversary of the be planning the remainder of the duties at the Great Dorset Steam Fair twinning between Blandford and weekend over the coming months. during the last week in August. The Mortain, and we intend to mark the Funding support from events such as occasion with a truly excellent Any member having any bright ideas this help to keep the cost of twinning welcome. The twinning weekend will for appropriately interesting, madcap visits down to a reasonable amount. be the Spring Bank Holiday 26-28 or socially enjoyable events please let May 2006. We will be having a gala one of us know. Happy Twinning Jim Cheesman

N EWS FROM THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES

Award given by Wareham Cirkus Kæphoj comes to Town hours sleep at the homes of hosting Society at 2nd Annual Awards at from Holbæk, Denmark families they will arise to explore The Purbeck School our street market and Farmers The Dorchester-Holbæk Twinning Market, and then be taken (we On 12 May 2005 students, their Society organised a visit from their hope) on a tour of Palmers families and friends attended The twin town of Holbæk by 70 Brewery. nd Purbeck School for the 2 Annual children aged 10-16 and 20 adults Sunday will begin with a service in Awards Evening. The event for 10 days during June. St John’s, West Bay, followed by a recognised not only the students’ The Cirkus gave four public naming ceremony at the landward academic successes but their performances in their large, end of the Jurassic Pier, where a contributions to school life and brightly covered circus tent plus 4 plaque denoting “Place St -Vaast their fellow students. separate workshops for children la Hougue” will be unveiled in the from our local schools. The presence of civic dignitaries. The Chairman Mr C R Patterson performances took place at Amongst other activities still being gave a short speech about the Maumbury Rings and the families planned are a pub lunch on the history of the Wareham Twinning camped at Sandringham Sports Saturday and a meal at the Society and how the School and Centre in Dorchester. They were Riverside on Sunday. Sadly we Hemsbach, Germany have regular self sufficient and brought all their cannot subsidise costs to members exchange visits. The Society own family tents and camping this time. Our visitors will leave decided to encourage this by equipment with them. us at about 2200 hrs to catch the presenting an annual award to the The visit was promoted, advertised midnight ferry from Poole. student who had achieved the most and managed by the Dorchester A bientot! Derek Finch in language studies. This year the Arts Centre with support from Award went to Miss Rebecca Dorchester Town Council. News from the Douzelage Ewan and was a vocally operated Members met on 3 July for a electronic dictionary in five cream tea to plan the visit of To the International Festival in languages, together with a framed Holbæk families to Dorchester in June came 190 representatives certificate. July 2006 from 11 countries in Europe. Of Dennis Maggs all ages but with an emphasis on A similar award is to be presented youth from students on the Lingua by the Chairman, Secretary and Welcoming the French to courses to dancers, singers and Treasurer of the Wareham- – September 2005 musicians, civic dignitaries and Hemsback Society to a student at stallholders with gourmet foods the Gymnasium in Hemsbach at The latest information is that about and crafts. It was a festival of fun their leaving ceremony in June. thirty of our friends from St Vaast- and friendship, an answer to the Mrs Myrna Gomes-Maria la-Hougue will arrive in Bridport terrible happenings around us. at about 1230 am on Saturday 11 Chris MacAdie September 2005. After just a few

Page 3 Dorset Twinning News

Dors et Twinning As sociations F ORTHCOMING E VENTS Secretary: David Kenyon

Education Directorate County Hall 9 February 2006 - AGM at the Elms - 18 September 2005 – Petanque Dorchester DT1 1XJ Charmouth & District Twinning Tournament and picnic – Upton Association with Asnelles-sur-mer. Country Park 2pm -Lytchett Phone: 01305 224551 Matravers Twinning Association

7 November 2005 – AGM and dinner Fax: 01305 224499 at The Ship, Langton Matravers 7pm – 31 January 2006 – AGM at Masonic Email: Swanage Town Twinning Association. Hall, Wareham 7.30pm – Wareham [email protected] Twinning Association Douzelage – An Irish Evening on 3 September at House www.twinning.org.uk Tickets from Chris MacAdie 01935 814067

THE DORSET TWINNING AGM - Monday 17 October 2005 at Wareham Town Hall at 7.30pm – kindly hosted by Wareham Twinning Association

Twinning membership and friendships are growing Twinning Association Now in our 12th year we are invited to Longueville this September for a long weekend. Our own projects in the Piddle Valley included a summer barbecue in June, a wine-tasting in November and our annual quiz night in January. We have ten new members this year!

A former French work experience student visited us in early May with her new husband. (NB we are all finding the limited ferry times (Poole/Cherbourg) and continued high prices very disappointing. They had to arrive very late indeed on the Wednesday evening and leave on Saturday evening.

Last but not least as last year’s winners, we shall be hosting the annual Dorset Twinning Quiz this autumn at School on Friday 14 October. Our Quiz Captain will be contacting all the associations over the summer and we hope for an excellent evening. Jo Thornton

The Wimborne/Valognes The weekend was spent in a were entertained on the Saturday Association is in its 37th year and leisurely fashion and apart from evening by the Valognaise who its links with Valognes continue to the customary reception from the had individually prepared and develop steadily. A group of 27 Mayor (see photo), the group contributed to the meal for the from Wimborne travelled to walked the grounds of the lovely occasion. A large slab of Blue Normandy for the weekend 20-22 Château de Carneville and Vinny which had been taken over May and received their customary to supplement an already bulging warm welcome. It is encouraging cheese board was thoroughly to record that included in the group enjoyed by our French hosts. were 22 new members, an A most enjoyable and relaxing indication that interest in the weekend with friendships, already Association is very much alive. strong, being further consolidated.

(The WVTA currently has a Peter Rock membership of just below 200).

Page 4 Dorset Twinning News