TWO of the main stalwarts of the Thame and Montesson Twinning partnership announced, during a very successful exchange visit to Thame, that they are stepping down.
The Chairman of the Thame and District Twinning Association, Nigel Champken-Woods, announced that he would be stepping down at the Association’s AGM later in the month, but would remain within the Association.
Didier Bruzet, the President of Montesson’s Twinning Committee, also speaking at an assembly of both Thame hosts and visitors from Montesson on Sunday, announced that he too would be stepping down. As Didier is now a deputy mayor of Montesson, and the Montesson mayor’s office gives money to their twinning, he is not permitted to maintain the presidency.
Despite these changes in the twinning between Thame and its French counterpart, the three-day stay was a huge success – not least because of the beautiful, warm sunshine that pervaded the whole weekend.
On Friday, May 9, the Montesson contingent plus five Tamensians, took a coach to Bristol to visit the SS Great Britain, the first screw propelled, ocean-going, wrought iron ship, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Before going aboard, the visitors enjoyed, what one of the French visitors called, the ‘mother of all picnics’ beside the river, provided by the Cottage Bakery in Thame. (Follow LINK
to find out more about the SS Great Britain)
The following day, Saturday, the French visitors went to Brighton where they were astonished by the Royal Pavillion in Brighton, being particularly amazed by the magnificent, seven-tonne chandellier that hung above King George IV’s dining table, and by the number of Engish people slowing burning a brighter shade of pink on the beach!
(See LINK
to find out more about the Brighton Pavillion)
The French guests spent Sunday morning with their host family, some visiting local places of interest, including a trip out to the Chilterns to see the bluebells currently carpeting areas of woodland.
Deputy Mayor from Montesson, Madame Huguette Fouche and her husband, Jacque, attented Mass at the Catholic church in Thame, and were able to extend an invitation to father Mark, to visit Montesson some time in the future.
In her speach of thanks, Huguette said: “The programme organised by Thame Twinning was superb as usual and the hospitality from hosts new and old has been wonderful, enabling us to make new friends and contacts.
“Our visit to the SS Great Britain made us realise that it is easier to take the short crossing over the Channel by ‘Shuttle’ these days than to sail to Australia with 600 other people altogether for two months!
“We were very impressed by the extravagance of the Chinoiserie of the Brighton Pavillion, but for us the ‘cherry on the cake of that day was the meeting between a couple from Montesson with their daughter who now lives near Brighton. It is an important aspect of our twinning that such reunions can take place.
“We look forward to welcoming many of you to Montesson in September.”
The Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton, said: “A huge thank you to all of the host families; without you such visits as this would not be possible.
“It is nice to see such co-operation between our two towns. I would hope that this spirit of co-operation can spread further into our communities and others can follow your lead.”
Cllr Bretherton said that he regretted not being able to visit Montesson during his year as Mayor, but hoped that he and his wife, Margaret, would have more time once his year as mayor ended next week, and that they would be able to visit Montesson in the future.
The farewell get-together concluded with the presentation of a lighted candle to blow out, and the singing of happy birthday to both a Montesson visitor and one of the hosts, who shared a birthday on Sunday.
A contigent from Thame will visit Montesson in September.