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Past Events 2011 |
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November
September
June
May
March |
Bonfire
Night in Edenbridge gave us the opportunity to dress up and publicise the
twinning association. We entered a float in the parade called Entente
Cordiale. During the walk we collected about £125 for local charities. We
won third place in the Rupert Bear Trophy and came second in the Middle School
Shield. There was much time needed to decorate the float and make
costumes, however all of those that took part enjoyed themselves .
It
was another full weekend during a recent visit made by a group from the
Edenbridge & District Twinning Association to our twin town of Mont Saint
Aignan (MSA) in Normandy and we were pleased to welcome along some
first-time visitors who had decided to try the delights of ‘twinning’ having
been reassured that non-French speakers can stay with English speaking
hosts. Travelling in cars we left early on the Friday morning enabling us to
stop en route at the Abbey and Gardens of Valloire. The gardens are a
wonderful display of plants and shrubs and we were pleased to find so much
to view in September, enhanced by glorious weather, and I recommend a visit.
Our pleasant journey continued, with time for a quick shop at the MSA
Carrefour, before our rendezvous and dispersal to the homes of our French
hosts with whom we were to stay our two nights. The Saturday event was a
visit to the city of Le Havre. Travel there was by a coach shared by the
large group from both Twinning Associations. We were aware that the town and
port had been devastated by allied bombing after German occupation in the
2nd World War. However it became obvious that it had been completely rebuilt
in a futuristic and original style which had been organised in the 1950’s by
a group of architects led by the famous Auguste Perret, transforming the
town centre from rubble to homes and offices. 
2011
was Edenbridge and District Twinning Association’s turn to be hosts for the
main visit of the year. It was decided to have the visit from Friday 10th
June so our French friends could take advantage of Monday being a French
bank holiday and add a visit to Rye to their itinerary. Their coach arrived
late in the evening, leaving Mount St Aignan in the early evening and taking
advantage of the tunnel, which saved them considerable time. The hosts met
them and took their guests home for Friday night. On
Saturday everyone was up early for the coach journey to Greenwich. Dropped at Greenwich Park
the first thing many of the party went to see was the National Maritime
Museum (NMM). Like many of our national museums the NMM is so comprehensive
that it deserves more than one day to see half of it. However we were aware
that we had other things to do later in the day. Many went from the NMM to
the Queens House to see its art collection. As lunchtime approached people
were assigned the role of collecting the mid day picnic from the coaches
whilst others found spaces in Greenwich Park for the meal to come. There were a few
light showers, but mostly bright skies, as we spread out our picnic rugs.
Some nutriment and wine rejuvenated us for a quick walk up the hill to
the Greenwich Observatory. Good views and a photo at the Meridian Line and
off to the Old Naval College and Royal Naval Hospital before checking
watches so we got to the river tour boat by 14:45hrs. We cruised along to Tower
Bridge then Westminster pier to an amusing tour guide commentary. Then off
to the London Eye pier where we had a chance to stroll around before our
buses collected us for the return journey home. Heavy traffic and the Blackwall tunnel being closed caused us to detour via the Dartford Crossing.
This was the first time many of our guests had seen the Queen Elizabeth
Bridge. The English hosts entertained their guests Saturday evening and
Sunday but took them to the Sunday evening gathering at Rickards Hall. Pig
Ear were excellent entertainment and the catering was superb. Rested the
French were up early on Monday to start their homeward journey via Rye. We
had a few minutes to say our goodbyes and look forward to meeting this
September at the mini visit in MSA or next year. Excellent visit, and
good to see so many new children.
As
part of the Edenbridge Festival 2011 the traditional pram race was
resurrected. The Twinning Association decided to take part and entered an
Adult Mixed team. The Pram was designed and largely constructed of old
bicycle parts held together with plywood and bits of pine. The four man team
was our Chairman and Secretary and two female Asterix lookalikes from MSA.
Although overall the team came sixth of seven teams all enjoyed the day. If
there were problems it stemmed from the fact that only one of our team was
an experienced drinker, so pub stops added disproportionately to the
overall time.
On
Friday 18th March 2011, a small group of “Edenbridge Twinners” set off for
the walking weekend with our friends in Mont St Aignan. A brief lunch stop
in the town of Abbeville on the way down provided a well deserved “croque
monsieur” for the children, plus a surprising find in one of the town
churches – St Sépulcre which houses a fantastic collection of modern stained
glass windows. These were designed by Alfred Manessier in the 1980’s and are
set out to portray a spiritual journey, the colours being inspired by his
love of the region “la Baie”.Past Events 2010
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September
June
May
April |
The
September mini visit by Mont St. Aignan to Edenbridge was blessed with
clear skies, although there was a cold wind from the North. The Saturday
outing was to Lullingstone and included the Roman Villa, the Castle with its
World garden, the Hop Shop and afternoon tea at the Country Park. The
23 visitors arrived by car in 2 parties between 18:00hrs and 21:30hrs on the
Friday evening and made their way to their hosts homes. After breakfast the twinners met at the Edenbridge Leisure Centre then made their way to
Lullingstone. The first part of the day involved a visit to see the remains
of the Roman Villa near Eynsford. The English Heritage facility gives a very
good insight into Roman life over a period from about 82AD to early in the
5th century when the villa was destroyed by fire. The displays include many
Roman artefacts and the remaining structures of the villa, its granary,
temple-mausoleum and some fine mosaic floors. We then went on to
Lullingstone Castle where we had a picnic on the lawns followed by a tour of
the World Gardens and hot houses for exotic plants that require a
warmer clime than our own. The group then walked to the Hop Shop at Castle
Farm where we saw the orchards and lavender fields the Darent Valley is
famous for. Just time for a walk back to Lullingstone Country Park for a
cream tea. We made our way home and our French guests returned with
their hosts for the evening. Sunday we all met in Rickards Hall for
refreshments before we said goodbye to our friends as they started their way
home. A full and enjoyable weekend; many thanks to those that made it
possible.
The
sunny and dry spring weather gave the association a fine opportunity to
enjoy a social event on the UK. A few of the members collaborated
to stage a Garden Party. It was attended by a considerable number of
old and new friends. Apart from the enjoyment of other members company the
event raised funds, from a raffle plus objet d'art and plant stalls, for
other events later in the year. Many thanks to everyone that loaned the
marquee, erected the marquee, arranged the catering and contributed to the
stalls. We look forward to using this format for fund raising in future
years.
The Edenbridge and District Twinning Association hosted a Walking Weekend
visit by a group of twinners from Mont St Aignan, our twin town in
France.The party of 22 French visitors arrived in Edenbridge around 9.15 on
the Friday. They were met in Station Approach by their host families and
taken home for some light refreshment before retiring for an early night in
preparation for the 5 mile walk the following day. What a splendid day it
was! We set off from Haysden Country Park car park on a beautiful sunny
morning with a crisp, light breeze. Walking through the park towards
Tonbridge we passed through the tranquil and scenic country park, taking a
short break at the Tonbridge Swimming Pool to admire the Miniature Steam
Railway. Walking onwards we approached Tonbridge High Street alongside the
River Medway, with Tonbridge Castle to our left. Crossing the bridge we
continued on alongside the river towards Tudeley, passing some marvellous
riverside scenery, apple and pear orchards, beautiful farmsteads and finally
reached All Saints Church at around noon where we had an opportunity to
admire the stunning stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. On a wonderful,
sunny day such as we were enjoying, with the light shining through the
windows, they were a spectacular sight and very much enjoyed by everyone.
Then it was a lunch break at The Poacher’s in Tudeley where, after drinks at
the bar, we were served with a delicious, freshly cooked and well presented
lunch, dessert and tea or coffee. We all lingered over our lunch and there
was plenty of animated talking in both French and English. Once refreshed
and replete, we retraced our path back to Haysden Country Park car park,
with a brief stop by some for ice-creams in Tonbridge and another, longer
stop at the, now operational, Miniature Steam Railway, where one or two of
the visitors enjoyed a ride on one of the tiny trains. Back home in the early
evening the host families entertained their guests individually, one or two
choosing to attend a local production of Agatha Christie’s ‘A Murder is
Announced’ in the WI Hall, others enjoying a relaxing evening at home. On
Sunday morning we all met again at Bridges in Edenbridge High Street for a
send-off tea with cakes and sandwiches – then it was cheerio to the French
visitors who left at 12.00.A thoroughly enjoyable weekend for everyone.
Past Events 2009
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September
June
May
April |
A
cruise on the Saint Martin canal and a cathedral holding the remains of the
Kings of France were some of the different views of Paris seen by a group
from Edenbridge & District Twinning Association on their recent visit to
their twin town of Mont St. Aignan in France. The last weekend in September
saw a group setting off from Edenbridge early on the Friday in a number of
cars and enjoying a smooth crossing of the Channel from Newhaven to Dieppe
for the short onward journey towards Mont St. Aignan.
Time enough for detours to Dieppe town and driving via country villages,
made the more enjoyable by the warm and sunny weather, and on to our
traditional stop at the local Carrefour before meeting up with our French
hosts at their Town Hall. After a pleasant evening spent with our individual
hosts, our English group met up again early on the Saturday morning, when
all gathered together with a large group of French ‘twinners’ including our
French hosts, to board a coach to take us to Paris. The first treat of the
day was a guided tour, in one’s preferred language, of the cathedral of
Saint Denis. This basilica stands on the site of a Gallo-Roman cemetery with
the tomb of Saint Denis, a martyred Bishop of Paris. From the 3rd century it
was a place of pilgrimage and most of the kings and queens of France were
buried here from the 6th century helping it to become a very powerful
Benedictine Abbey in the Middle Ages. A 12th century Abbott, Suger, rebuilt
much of the structure using new architectural techniques, including a rose
window, helping to turn the abbey into the early Gothic Art masterpiece seen
today. It was back to the coach for a short trip to the Parc de la Villette,
where we could enjoy our picnic lunch in the sunshine, before a short walk
to the Canal St. Denis. There we joined a large barge for a cruise along one
of the waterways which link to the Seine. The route was for the most part
along the Canal Saint Martin and made very entertaining by passing through
four double locks, two swing bridges and two tunnels, the last of which was
over one kilometre long and featured a light show projected onto the roof
and giving a potted history of the passing districts. On reaching our
destination of Paris-Arsenal all agreed that this unusual and unexpected
view of Paris was highly to be recommended. Our return route out of the
city, alongside the river Seine, turned into a true sight-seeing trip as the
good weather had filled the streets with people enjoying the day and the
subsequent slow traffic gave us time to appreciate the Notre Dame cathedral,
the Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower and more. A grand day out! The
Sunday morning found some visitors being entertained by their hosts while
those on the English and French committees met together to plan the joint
events for the 2010 season. Afterwards a farewell gathering saw the English
party on their way, for an afternoon spent visiting local sights, before
embarking at Dieppe for a comfortable crossing and evening return to
Edenbridge. Thus ended another enjoyable exchange between these two twin
towns, with the promise of more to come next year.
Past Events 2008
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November
July
June
April Account of the weekend walk and some photos in PDF format (1.2MB) |
Edenbridge
and District Twinning Association (EDTA) visit to Mount Saint Aignan (MSA)
was another great success. Not only did we have a number of our regulars but
being school holidays we had a number of children with their parents and
grandparents. The
start from Edenbridge was early so that we could stop at Ferme Des
Fontaines (Fountain Farm) near Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Seine-Maritime,
Upper-Normandy which specialised in cheeses of Neufchatel. The farmer’s
wife gave us an excellent talk regarding the milk yield cycle with calf
birth and the making of Neufchatel cheese. At the conclusion we were taken
on a tour of the fromagerie and many took the opportunity to purchase the
fresh white cheese. Met by some of our hosts we completed our journey to MSA
by 19:00hrs and dispersed to our host homes and enjoyed the usual fine
hospitality. Up early on Saturday we made our way by coach to Bayeux for a day trip.
First stop was the Musée Mémorial de la Bataille de Normandie (Battlefield
of Normandy Museum). This comprehensive collection of WW2 vehicles and
memorabilia superbly commemorate the bravery and horror of this Normandy
Invasion in 1944 and the subsequent battles that ensued as the allies tried
to break free from the Channel coast towards central France. At lunch time
we made our way to the centre of Bayeux for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we
met together at the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux which houses the Bayeux
Tapestry. The embroidery, 70 metres long, made in the 11th century celebrates the conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy. Afterwards
we strolled around the beautiful and picturesque centre of the town. The
River Aure flows through Bayeux and affords scenic views from a number of
locations. We returned by coach to MSA and spent the evening with our hosts.
On Sunday we had free time walking with our hosts and met at the MSA scout hut
for Brunch. We departed for England at about midday and were in Edenbridge
a little after 7pm. Again a very successful experience for everyone that
took part.
Past Events 2007
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September
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