Newsletter July 2008
2008 EXCHANGE VISIT TO LAON
Un weekend inoubliable
An early shuttle “sous La Manche” necessitated a very early start. About 30 “twinners”, plus the members of Kate Morgan’s Clifton Singers,
joined the coach at Worthy Road at 04:15 and we left at 04:30 prompt. The coach
was very quiet during the trip to the Channel Tunnel but by the time we arrived
in Calais people were at last starting to wake up. A substantial breakfast was
taken at the Holiday Inn at Coquelles; thanks very much to Philip Morgan for
organising this.
The next stop was at the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site of Canada
www.vac-acc.gc.ca where we explored the
restored trenches and admired the monument, which took 11 years to build.
Restoration of the monument was completed in 2007 after 2 years work.
A lunch stop was made in Arras, where we made use of various local restaurants,
and we continued to Laon where we were met by our French hosts later in the
afternoon.
 Saturday was free for us to explore the city and its surroundings with our
French hosts. In the evening we were treated to a wonderful concert at the
Mairie by the Villanelle Choir and by the Clifton Singers. The concert was a
great success; the programme was interesting and varied and was enjoyed by
English and French alike.
The concert was followed by a civic reception.
We were welcomed by the Maire de
Laon, Antoine Lefevre, and the Mayor of Winchester, Michael Read, replied on behalf
of the English guests. Philippe Bourgeois and Thierry De Nitto, chairmen of Laon
and Winchester Twinning Associations respectively, also addressed the group. A
“bring and share” supper concluded a most enjoyable evening.
Sunday saw another early start. We were taken first to the Ecomusée de
l’Avesnois at Fourmies
www.ecomusee-avesnois.fr where we were treated first to a film describing
the museum and its history, and, after a welcome cup of coffee, we were given a
guided tour of the former woollen mill and its operation and history were
explained to us in great detail.
The wooded hilly area around Avesnes was home to many early craft-based
industries. Like the Pennine valleys of Lancashire and Yorkshire, it was busy in
France's "industrial revolution". There are many streams to drive waterwheels.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, water powered the spinning machines to make yarn
from wool; looms in workshops to weave cloth; bellows to smelt iron; and the
tilt hammers to forge metal goods.
By the end of the 19th century, large-scale industries boomed on the lowlands of
the Nord coalfield, especially around Lille. Bigger coal-powered factories using
steam engines could make goods cheaper, but the small factories and workshops of
the Avenois only slowly went out of business. Today the area has become a quiet
rural backwater.
The museum covers 8 sites - each preserving a relic of these old craft
industries, and where possible recreating its skills and the past way of life
associated with those craft workers of a bygone age.
We went on to Glageon where we had a very good lunch at the restaurant “Les
Tourelles”.
In the afternoon we were taken to the château at Puisieux
www.puisieux.com where we were given a
guided tour of “Les jardins du château”. The château was built between 1780 and
1782 on the site of an old medieval fortress. For the last few years it has been
owned by Hervé and Valérie Bernardeau who are operating it as a “chambres
d’hotes” and have recently opened a “gite rurale”. After the tour we were
treated to more food – lovely home made cakes and tarts – washed down with local
cider or soft drinks.
We arrived back in Laon about an hour later than expected but it didn’t matter –
we had had a wonderful day.
The weather forecast for the weekend had been very poor, but in fact we had
plenty of warm sunshine on both Saturday and Sunday; it rained overnight but
that didn’t matter.
On Monday morning we started our homeward journey. We stopped for lunch and some
shopping at the Cité d’Europe before taking the Shuttle back to Folkestone.
Although it was a bank holiday we had a good journey back to Winchester .
Thanks to our French hosts, Thierry and Celia, Kate Morgan, and the other
committee members for organising a wonderful and memorable weekend.
Phil Waterton
How the local French paper reported the visit…
Anglais et Laonnois
d’une meme voix
Le jumelage avec la ville de Winchester est toujours bien vivant. Après un
séjour de la Villanelle, l’an dernier, dans cette ancienne capitale anglaise, ce
sont des habitants d’Outre-Manche, parmi lesquels des choristes, qui sont venus
à la rencontre des Laonnois ce week-end.
Accompagnés par Michael Read, le maire de leur cité, les Britanniques ont
participé à des activités avec leurs homologues français.
La découverte de la ville, ses monuments, et les lieux touristiques alentour
était naturellement inscrite au programme de ce séjour, mais aussi plusieurs
échanges basés sur la musique.
Ainsi, samedi soir, la Villanelle et The Clifton singers ont donné un concert
dans la salle des fêtes de l’hôtel de ville. Un moment de partage très apprécié
des membres du comité de jumelage comme du public.
Phillipe Bourgeois, le président du comité laonnois, s’est réjoui de ce bons
moments : « C’est à travers ces échanges basés sur des valeurs humaines que nous
donnons à l’Europe toute sa légimité ».
2008 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETNG
The Association’s 15th Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 24th
October 2008 starting at 7.30 pm. The venue as usual will be St Lawrence Hall,
Colebrook Street, Winchester.
Members who would like to add an item to the agenda or propose a member for
election to the Committee should let the Secretary know at least two weeks
before the meeting.
AGENDA
Welcome and apologies
Minutes of the last meeting
Matters arising
Chairman’s report
Treasurer’s report
Election of auditors
Election of the committee
Any other business
A glass of wine will be served after the meeting.
SUBSCRIPTION TIME
A reminder to members that subscriptions for 2008/9 are due on August 1st.
At the last AGM it was decided to make a small increase in subscription rates
which had been unchanged for some years. The new rates are £8.00 for individual
members; £10.00 for family members; £12.00 for Corporate membership. Still
excellent value!
Please send your subscription to Gill Foster at: 12 West End Terrace,
Winchester SO22 5EN.
Gill would like your e-mail address, if you have one, to make communication
more efficient.
PIQUE-NIQUE EN SEPTEMBRE
Members, family and friends are invited to join fellow Twinners at a late
summer “Bring and Share” picnic at the recreation ground by
Littleton Memorial Hall on
Sunday 7th September 2008
2.30 to 5.30 pm
Please bring a savoury dish to share, the Committee will provide
sweets/desserts, tea and soft drinks. You may bring wine/beer if you wish and a
folding chair/rug to sit on.
The cost is £4.00 for adults, children free.
Please let Harry Wright know if you are coming and send him a cheque made out
to Winchester-Laon Twinning Association, before August 24th. His address is 45
Stockbridge Road, Winchester SO22 6RW. Telephone:01962 854278.
Ample parking at the hall. Meeting room available if wet.
News of the French Student Teachers
Members will be interested to hear of the possibility that this popular and
very worthwhile exchange visit will be reinstated next year.
M. Jean Moral who for some years organized the visits on behalf of the Teacher
Training Department of the University of Amiens has now retired and a new
contact was established during the recent exchange visit to Laon.
If a possible visit gets the green light, no doubt Harry Wright will soon be
knocking on our doors seeking volunteers to accommodate the young teachers.
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