Clubs & Groups
Heathfield & Waldron Twinning Association
NEWSLETTER – February 2008
The AGM will be held on Thursday, 6th March at 7.30 p.m. in the Ian Price Room, Heathfield Community Centre, Sheepsetting Lane. All relevant papers are enclosed with this newsletter. Annual subscriptions are now due and the form for this is also enclosed. We look forward to seeing many of you at the meeting. As usual, refreshments will be served afterwards which will offer an opportunity to meet fellow members informally.
The Quiz on 1st February was very successful and made a profit of just under £400 for the Association. Particular thanks are due to Sheila Drennan who took charge of the catering and provided a meal a cut above the fare usually offered at quizzes.
As we need to have a regular fund-raising programme and did not have any events last year we have planned a second one for this spring. This will be a WINE AND CHEESE TASTING on Friday, 16th May at 7.30 p.m. in the Lucas Hall, Waldron (probably). Martlet Wines (which operates from Burnt Oak Farm, Waldron) will offer a selection of Wines for Summer Drinking and Bestbier Cheese from Five Ashes will have a range of their locally-made cheeses to learn about and taste. More details later, but please note the date.
ACRES (the Adult College for Rural East Sussex) have contacted me with details of its spring/summer programme of short courses in German, French and Spanish which will take place at various community colleges across the area. There are ‘Survival Kit’ workshops and 5-week ‘Holiday’ courses which study some topics in more depth. Further details are available from me or from the Co-ordinator, Susanne Winchester, at Beacon College, Crowborough (01892 603010 or s.winchester@beacon.e-sussex.sch.uk) or on the ACRES website www.acreslearning.org.uk – click on ‘Courses’ and then select ‘Languages’.
A summary of dates so far arranged for this year:
6th March AGM
4th May Marché Européen in Forges
16th May Wine and Cheese Tasting
5th/6th July Group visit to Forges, to include Tall Ships Regatta
25th August Le Marché in Heathfield
13th/14th Sept. Visit of group from Forges.
This year we celebrate the TENTH ANNIVERSARY of the establishment of our link with Forges-les-Eaux and the occasion will be marked in both towns during the summer visits.
Gill Temple
If anyone is happy to receive future newsletters and other information by e-mail please let me have your address. This is obviously an efficient and cost-effective way of distributing such items. My address is gillian.temple@btopenworld.com
For more information contact:
Gill Temple: 01435 812861
Or
Colin Williams: 01435 862798
ANNUAL REPORT 2007
In one sense it is difficult to bring to this report anything very new. The Association has settled into a pattern of activities which suits us and our partners in Forges-les-Eaux – a pattern which is sufficient to keep all parties interested without being unduly demanding in time or money.
This pattern consists of one visit in each direction every year, annual attendance at the anglo-french markets in each town and the now well-established exchanges between the show jumpers, Cross-in-Hand Tennis Club and Waldron Croquet Club. All these events took place this year and were judged an unqualified success. In addition the Soirées Françaises take place on a regular basis and offer an informal and friendly opportunity for members to practise their French. We are grateful to Gill Rogers and Peter Gilks for hosting our gatherings this year and to Hélène Brittain for providing the native speaker element.
Nevertheless, we continue to explore new opportunities as they present themselves as this is essential if the Association is to remain lively and interesting. This year Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Club made its first (and very successful) visit to Forges and an introduction has been made between the Heathfield Hotspurs Football Club and one over there. Developments are awaited. We are also making a new attempt to forge a link between our Choral Societies. Heathfield is encouragingly keen but there are some teething problems. However, we shall persevere as this should be a rewarding exchange. The Association does not run any of these exchanges directly – it is far better and more satisfying to leave that to the organisation concerned - but has usually made the first introductions and then facilitates things as required.
This year we welcomed our French friends to Heathfield in September and took them to Bodiam Castle, where we had a picnic before visiting the castle. On the Sunday we had an excellent lunch at The Wheel Inn, Burwash. We are grateful to all those who offer hospitality when our friends visit us, both on this occasion and for Le Marché. When we went to Forges at the end of June we visited a World War II V1 Rocket site on the Saturday and on Sunday paid an interesting visit to a château with a sculpture garden where we had a picnic.
Although members pay their way in all these activities we still need funds to offer our French friends hospitality here and to support, as we can, any group which participates in an event in the name of the Association. We have not managed to organise any fund-raising activities this year so plan to hold two next year. We look forward to seeing many of you then!
The committee has worked hard this year to make things run smoothly and our thanks go to the Treasurer, Colin Williams, to Pamela Rihal, the Minutes Secretary, to Sheila Drennan who takes charge of catering and to all the other members. We are always pleased to hear from anyone who would like to play a more active part so please speak up at the AGM!
2008 will see the Tenth Anniversary of the twinning link and this will be recognised both when we visit Forges at the beginning of July and when the French come here in September. We look forward to a very good year.
Gill Temple
Chairman