Devon Twinning Circle Home to Home Autumn 2016 Annual General Meeting The Devon Twinning Circle Annual General Meeting is on Saturday October 15th. 2016. It will be held at The Masonic Hall, Crediton, EX17 3AR. at 2pm. Lunch will be served at 12:30pm at £6.50 a head. The menu will be:- Pate, Salmon or Hunters Chicken with selection of vegetables. Choice of Desserts - Vegetarian option available. If you have any dietary needs please advise well in advance. We hope you will be able to join us for Lunch. Meals need to be booked The committee look forward to seeing you and other members of your Association at the meeting. If you are able to wear a badge with your name and Association on please can you do so. It is for better and easier communication with other members. Badges and a pen will be available for you to make one if necessary. There are 4 vacancies on the committee at the AGM. One is a committee member having to retire due to ill health. The others due to retiring members having served their 2 years. They are eligible for re-election but new members are always welcome. Would you like to join the committee? There are 4 meetings a year held on the 3rd Saturday in January, April, July and October. Contact Secretary Pat Sherwood Email: [email protected] or Tel: 01363 772103 REPLY SLIP with your PAYMENT PLEASE I would like to book lunch for …….. person/s at £6.50 a head. Please return this slip with your cheque made payable “ Crediton Twinning Association” Mr. P. Evans, Shirley House, Elston Lane, Copplestone, Crediton, EX17 5NS. 01363 84356. By 8th October. Your choice of main course please tick and state how many. Salmon Hunters chicken Vegetarian Special Dietary FROM…………………………………………………………….ASSOCIATION NAME……………………………………. CONTACT NUMBER …………………………………… Tiverton town Twinning Association host visitors from Chinon May 2016 Thursday May 19th a day we had long awaited, but our wait was not as long as expected, as they arrived fairly well on time. Unfortunately, the fine day we had had, decided at the last minute to change, and the arrival was marred by rain, the first time I can recall rain at the actual arrival. But greetings were exchanged and it was off to home for supper and a good night’s sleep. Friday we met at Tiverton Football Club and left promptly for a coach trip to Palmer’s Brewery at Bridport. It was a fine morning, the countryside looking its Spring best, and was much appreciated as we took the ‘pretty route’ over the hills from Cullompton to Honiton. As I recall the number of sheep in the fields caused great interest. Arriving safely at our destination, we were split into 4 groups for the visit. Fridays happen to be the ‘cleaning down’ day at the brewery when there is no actual brewing taking place, and so, it was explained, we got a bit extra on the tour, being permitted to see into places normally forbidden through ‘Health & Safety’. A fascinating tour, made enjoyable by a guide with a sense of humour and a wealth of knowledge. A free glass tankard as a memento at the end of the visit was a pleasant surprise for our visitors – but the best bit? The beer to go in it – a tasting session. The shop appeared to do a fine trade too, but mostly cider or non-alcoholic for our visitors…. they don’t do that at the ‘Caves’ in France! It was then a very short drive to West Bay, our lunch and exercise stop. Surprisingly, quite a few of our guests have heard of ‘Broadchurch’, but I don’t know if any of the landmarks were recognised – I think most of our minds were focused on lunch. Varied option , but quite a few decided on fish and chips, and what better place to have them than at the seaside! Saturday saw the reception at the Town Hall with the Mayor, Steve Flaws, hosting a lunch provided by the Town Council. As always a chatty affair, but with plenty of lubrication, it was a time for catching up with friends, old and new. After an afternoon to recuperate, it was out to Calverleigh Village hall in the evening for a Burger and Beer night. The burgers went down a treat, and we actually ran out of beer, the cider running a close second favourite. We were treated to two entertainments during the evening. The first was a presentation of cheeses by Iain Thompson, with tastings. He waxed lyrical on our local produce, and possibly shocked some of our guests when he emphatically suggested white wine with cheese. Here, I have to say, they are VERY polite, our guests………. The second entertainment…….well what is there to say? The 2 John Smiths were their inimitable selves with a sketch which had us all in stitches…….(I KNEW it would involve women’s clothes)………But seriously, thanks to both Johns they do us proud with their uninhibited stage productions. Thanks must also go to Pat Smith, playing a supporting role, and Phil Stone for the building of the props. A very enjoyable, relaxed and friendly evening. Sunday, a day of rest & leisure, to do as we liked, and from reports, a varied list of activities too, many featuring long lunches and drinks, quite in the French style really. The evening saw us gathering at Halberton Village Hall (parking NOT a problem!) for our Celebration Dinner. A refreshing change from the norm, in a village hall with a caterer Iain Thompson - with family waiting on. Iain’s theme for the 4 course dinner was ‘Devon’ featuring local produce including again a cheese presentation! A few minor hitches, but another enjoyable evening, our guests were most appreciative. Monday a later start for the coach to Exeter, a buffet lunch at The White Hart before a Redcoat guided tour of Exeter, with 3 differing routes. The lunch was very good value, the staff were most attentive and helpful, and the ‘olde worlde’ charm did just that. The tours of Exeter were very well received, Exeter is a ‘ very lovely City’ so some visitors reported!. Doesn’t it go to show that fresh eyes look at things differently…………. Not only the surroundings, but also the happenings. There may have been a few ‘mumbles’ amongst us hosts, but our guests were more than pleased with their visit, and that’s what we should be thinking of, their pleasure, not our own. The most memorable moment of the visit for me was at the dinner when Patrick insisted on saying thank you to us all for the help we had given to enable him to make the visit. By raising a few pounds, we had made all the difference to one wonderful, and happy man. And I for one, am proud and pleased with that- that is Friendship, and Twinning. Many thanks go to Pat Smith for all her hard work, and effort in making this visit such an enjoyable one, and of course everyone whose work went to ensure our guests went home wanting to come again. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (Wrington Twinning Association) The Redhillbillies at Villeneuve-lès-Béziers Summer came late to the South of France this year but right on cue for the Soirée Musicale in our twin village Villeneuve-lès-Bézers in the south of France - and the perfect setting for the headline performance by Tom Vowles and Jo Deane of the Wrington based group, the Redhillbillies on 22nd June. As the sun dropped behind the mediaeval buildings, the floodlights came up on the music stage set up in the central Place Michel Solans. In the warm dusk the festival started with ‘Le Coeur des Guitares’ – 21 acoustic guitarists providing a range of up-beat Spanish dance music – followed by various other musicians providing a remarkable range of music. Then Jo and Tom took the stage and, from the first number, were on top form, a mix of country rock and ballads. The square teemed with locals revelling in the warm summer night and, before long, was alive with impromptu line dancing, young people jiving, and an appreciative audience beating time and sipping drinks under the plane trees. As the local paper said the following day Tom and Jo ‘had shown the full range of their talent with the superb guitar and banjo playing’. Putting a play-list together earlier that day, Tom and Jo had sought a quiet rehearsal space under the impression that they would provide about 40 minutes of music. Such was the demand that they were still playing well after midnight. The evening had begun with aperitifs and an excellent seafood supper on the square in front of Les Enfants Terribles, a popular stop for Wrington visitors. Winding down after the event, those with energy remaining joined Tom and Jo at the excellent brasserie La Crémade beside the Canal de Midi for post-concert refreshments. A tremendous visit that crossed the generation gap. We hope there will be a repeat. Seaton’s Town Crier was heard in France Seaton’s Town Crier, David Craner does have a voice which travels! On this occaision so too did David, when he joined Seaton Twinning Group on their visit to our twinned Town of Thury-Harcourt in Normandy. Both groups were treated to an amazing cry on Friday in French and English, when they assembled at the welcome meeting in the Town Hall of Thury-Harcourt. Pictured is David in full reglia along with the Mayor of Thury-Harcourt and the chairs of French and English Twinners Nathalie Anne and Sharon Bruce.