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Petersfield Twinning Association
Promoting goodwill and friendship with Barentin in France and Warendorf in Germany
Designed by Phil Chapman.
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2008
Dear Twinners,
Since our last Newsletter, we have enjoyed two extremely friendly and positive exchanges with our twin towns. First, in May, 36 of us went by various routes to Barentin, some of us inconvenienced by the fishermen’s and lorry drivers’ strikes, but, with true British phlegm, we all managed to get there. There are two accounts for you to read by two of our newer members, which show you what a delightful time we had and how well we were entertained by our hosts. We managed to defeat the weather on that occasion, for though it was raining heavily when we had our initial reception, the rest of the time was very warm and sunny.
Our Mayor and the Barentin Mayor exchange gifts.
Alas, the same was not true for the visit of the Warendorfers, when we experienced some of the wettest weather of the summer. Nevertheless, we hope that the warmth of our welcome dispersed the rain clouds, and although we could not gather for Pimm’s on the lawn at Uppark to show our visitors the glories of the Downs, we did manage to see the sun on some occasions, and Stonehenge in particular could be seen in all its glory. We have a full report on the visit, plus photos, in our next Newsletter from one of our visitors who came to Petersfield for the first time this year. We hope very much that they will all return in the next exchange.
A few of us are hoping to go to Warendorf in October, when the Germans are holding an Arts Festival (inspired by our Paint Trail here in Petersfield), inviting their French and Polish counterparts as well. They have already taken many works of art to show in their festival, so it sounds as though it should be enjoyable. Some of our members have been persuaded to give talks over the weekend (17th - 19th October).
Our Chairman presenting Roland Tessiau, Visiting the Château de Crèvecoeur
the Barentin Chairman, with the sundial
At home we have our Boules and Barbecue afternoon on Sunday, 7th Sep- tember at The Avenue Pavilion, beginning at 1.30p.m. Remember that you need to bring whatever you wish to barbecue, together with plates, glasses, drink and cutlery (and possibly garden chairs if you wish), but the Association is providing salads and desserts. If you have not already notified Phil Chapman, our Treasurer, of your wishto come along, please do so as soon as you can. There is a reply slip at the end of this Newsletter. The cost for this event is £6 per head. I do hope to see many of you there with your friends, too, if you wish. It is certain to be fine, by the law of averages!
We also have a Bring and Buy Sale on Lloyds Bank forecourt on Saturday, 4th October from 10.00a.m. to 12.30p.m. If you have nothing to sell, then be sure to come along and buy, and bring a friend to be introduced to the Association. We do have a few new members but it is always good to have some more.
The committee will be planning the winter activities soon, and if you have any suggestions please let one of us know. We do have a Quiz arranged for November 13th at The Half Moon PH, costing £9 per head, including a ploughman’s supper. The evening will begin at 7.30p.m. Philip and Jenny Brenchley have offered to organize this for us and, knowing that they enjoy crosswords, that should give some clue to the variety of questions we can expect. So do join us then with your friends.
Meantime, enjoy the rest of the summer. My thanks go to everyone who has worked so hard to make both our twinning visits so enjoyable, and to those who plan and organize events for the members here. It’s a good organization to be part of. Tell your friends!
Just to cheer you up a little, after all our poor weather, there are a few schoolboy howlers to enjoy - said to be genuine. I hope they make you smile.
Best wishes.
Gill Clarke (Chairman)
Trip to Barentin through the eyes of newcomers
Our Tom Tom sat nav took us unerringly to a little street in Pavilly, and we looked at one another in some trepidation. We were about to descend on a complete stranger and stay with her for three days. Suppose we didn’t hit it off? We needn’t have worried. Francine Jamet answered our timid ring of her bell and within a few minutes it was as if we had known each other all our lives. A lovely home set in a pretty garden, a comfortable room and, it turned out, she was a great cook with a laid-back and casual ease of putting just the right ingredients together without fuss - perfect.
Francine had commitments for the Saturday evening and couldn’t accompany us to the reception and dinner, but her son was deputed to take us and deliver us into the hands of Roland Tessiau, the French Chairman. Roland is an ebullient whirlwind of enthusiasm and irresistible charm, a man who gets things done, a creature of boundless energy and generosity. He took us under his wing and made sure we met people.
It was quite an evening, beginning as it did at around 8.00p.m. and going on until well after one o’clock in the morning! The time passed happily from one course to another; a line dancing exhibition entertained us at one point, and a champagne cascade brought the evening to a close. A long day but one to remember for a long time.
It was Mother’s Day in France on Sunday, so we met Francine’s mother, Jacqueline.
Monday was a great day. We were soon transported to the Pays d’Auge for a series of visits and a magnificent lunch, all at the expense of our hosts.
What a fantastic break! And how lucky we feel to have joined such a lively and thriving group - let us hope we can be as kind to our French guests when they come here next year.
Gentian Walls
The line dancing display
Would they understand our French? Would we understand their French? Would we ‘bond’ with our family? These were some of the questions that played on my mind prior to our visit to Barentin - our first experience in the world of twinning. All my worries were dispelled as the weekend unfolded.
We met on Saturday at 6.30p.m. at the Mairie for a champagne reception in the Salle des Mariages - a very impressive, ornate room. The Mayor of Barentin formally welcomed us, and the Mayor of Petersfield responded. We were introduced to our French family, Corinne and Dominique and their son, Gatien. The atmosphere was upbeat and full of eager expectation.
That evening we were treated to a many-coursed meal in typical French fashion, which finished with a flourish: a champagne fountain. We visitors were given presents: rose plants for the women and Barentin ties for the men.
After breakfast on Sunday our hosts took us to Rouen, sightseeing. We enjoyed seeing the market, the half-timbered buildings dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, the cathedral, the façade of which Monet painted in one of his famous series, and the site where Joan of Arc was burned as a witch.
On the Monday we travelled through the picturesque countryside of the Pays d’Auge - green fields dotted with half-timbered constructions, characteristic of the area. We visited the basilica at Lisieux, had lunch in a little restaurant, after which the Petersfielders presented Roland Tessiau (the Chairman of Barentin’s Twinning Association) with a sundial, and he presented our Chairman with a montage of photos documenting Barentin’s Petersfield connections. We carried on to Crevecoeur to visit the castle and grounds, and the pretty village of Beuvron-en-Auge. We appreciated how much effort Roland had gone to in order to show us this part of Normandy.
We had a lovely last meal with our hosts and indulged in some very special Calvados. We told Corinne and Dominique how much we had enjoyed being with them and that we were looking forward to reciprocating next year.
As we said our last au revoirs on Tuesday morning, Corinne escorted us to our car with Norman goodies to take home - local jam and biscuits. We were so touched by this completed unexpected and kind gesture.
Mari Wallace
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Please note that we wish to add e-mail addresses to the membership list. If you have an e-mail address, would you, please, telephone us on 01730 302862 … or even e-mail us on kent.rowans@ntlworld.com <mailto:kent.rowans@ntlworld.com>
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To return to the current Newsletter click on this link
To see the November 2008 Newsletter click on this link
To see the May 2008 Newsletter click on this link
To see the February 2008 Newsletter click on this link
To see the Winter 2007 Newsletter click on this link
To see the September 2007 Newsletter click on this link
