Didcot-Meylan Twinning Association

Didcot-Meylan Twinning Association
NEWSLETTER
OCTOBER 2008
ISSUE 25
The most important recent event was
the visit by a party from Meylan to
Didcot at the end of September.Aagain
it was a delight to welcome old friends
and to see new faces. We hope they
enjoyed their visit. Thanks go to all the
people who hosted our visitors. Details
of the programme appear elsewhere in
this newsletter
The Twinning committee also raised
the profile of the Association in Didcot
at the Didcot Volunteer Day held in
July. This was a successful event for
the Association as were we able to
recruit a new Treasurer and a new
Web Master to replace Erin and Jerry
Gough respectively. Our thanks to
Erin and Jerry for their input and
support over the past years and we
wish Jerry well in France.
Didcot and Meylan have now been
officially twinned for nine years. Our
next visit to France is already set for
the weekend of September 19/20 and
we will celebrate 10 years twinning.
Please put this date in your diaries.
We are also hoping to follow up
possible links with Planegg by
welcoming a small party from Germany
in spring 2009. We wish to confirm
and extend the contacts made when
we visited Planegg last May and look
forward to a chance to show off the
delights of Didcot and the surrounding
area. Watch the web site and
newsletter for details of this and next
year’s visit to Meylan.
www.didcottwinning.org.uk
ABOUT OUR ORGANISATION
Chair Terry Joslin
Vice Chair& Sue Totterdell
Communications
susantotterdell@yahoo.com (01235 850080)
Secretary Janet Cockburn
Treasurer Robin Eastham
Web Editor Adrian Evans
Other Members Sheralyn Hares
Nick Hards
WELCOME TO NEW COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
After the AGM the Twinning Committee
is delighted to welcome three new
members. Bernard Cooper and Andrea
Mitchell will hold the brief for possible
twinning with Planegg. Robin Eastham
has taken over as Treasurer. We are
also grateful to Adrian Evans who takes
on management of the Association’s
web site. Terry Joslin continues as our
Chair and Janet Cockburn was
persuaded to carry on acting as
secretary. Extra active members of the
committee are especially welcome
when we are hosting a visit.
Apiculture
In recognition of the long journey the
previous day, the rendez-vous in
Brightwell-cum-Sotwell was set for
10.30.
A large group that included not only the
visiting party but also many of their
hosts were welcomed to Magnolia
House by Steve and Viv Moll. In bright
sunshine, the group was given an
introduction to beekeeping in the area
and shown some of the hives. A glasssided
demonstration hive allowed us to
see the queen (usefully marked with
coloured paint) and to watch the bees
bringing nectar - with so many beautiful
flowers in the garden they did not have
far to go. Later there was a chance to
buy some of the honey and wax
products.
Meylan’s Mayor visits the Orchard Centre &
Cornerstone
The mayor of Meylan, Mme Marie-Christine Tardy
arrived on Saturday morning to join the visit. She was
keen to see the changes that have taken place in
Didcot since her last visit. Together with Margaret
Turner, the deputy mayor of Didcot, she was shown
round Cornerstone, the new Arts Centre, by Emma
Dolman. After a refreshment break at Cornerstone’s
café, they looked in on a workshop where preparations
were being made for the Love Clothes Show, with
organiser Di Chesterman from Didcot First. Mme
Tardy was much impressed by the new town centre
which appeared at its best in the late summer
sunshine.
Celebrate 10 years of
twinning in 2009
September 19/20
in Meylan
The trials and tribulations of travel
The Meylan party arrived safely in Stansted airport,
delivered on time by EasyJet and ready for their
transfer to Oxford by coach. Unfortunately the coach
had broken down on its journey from Oxford to
Stansted and it was not clear whether it would be
available to make the return journey. However, after a
few alternative plans had been considered and
abandoned, the bus duly arrived and managed to get
everyone to Oxford only 30 minutes late. There, our
French guests were united with their hosts and
everyone went home to a well-earned night’s sleep.
Agriculture
After learning about bees, we moved on
to larger scale food production with a visit
to Sherwood Farm, run by Patricia and
Angus Dart. This is a mixed arable and
dairy farm at Mackney. Patricia talked
about the activities on the farm and
showed us the high-tech milking parlour,
explaining how every cow can be
monitored individually. We also saw
those cows whose milk yield is so high
that they need enriched feeding. Although
kept in a barn, their every need was
anticipated, including provision of a backscratcher.
It was an interesting
opportunity to learn more about farming
and to practise some new vocabulary.

Didcot-Meylan Twinning Association
THE RED LION FOR LUNCH AND A BEER
Brightwell is a typical English village and as such is home to a typical English
pub, The Red Lion. After a busy morning the group was more than ready for
lunch and this was an ideal place to sample pub food. It seems that most of
our French visitors, making the most of being in the UK, had chosen the fish
and chips, followed by crumble. Judging by the empty plates being taken
back to the kitchen, the food met with their approval. In addition to food, the
Red lion is also a good place to sample some beers brewed in Brightwell,
including Power Station and Brightwell Gold. The welcoming landlady Sue
Devey-Robson has recently heard that the pub has made it into the CAMRA
Good Beer Guide for 2009. Well worth a visit
TRADITIONAL DANCING FOR ALL
The final event of the weekend was the Civic Reception
and the organising committee was keen that there
should be audience participation. So, after an
excellent buffet supper, supported by Sainsbury’s
supermarket, and a formal exchange of gifts, we
were exhorted by their caller to get up and dance to
the music of Elastic Band, the name apparently derives
from the unpredictable number of players available on
a particular evening.The caller talked the couples
through a set and then we were off at speed, with the
music. Much laughter and a few mistakes later, the
first dance was complete. This set the tone for the rest
of the evening, with everyone being encouraged to join
in the country dances and respites being provided by a
display of traditional Morris Dancing by Lumbawakk.
ORIGINS OF MORRIS DANCING
Morris dancing is a traditional form of
dance, usually to music, which often
involves the use of sticks,
handkerchiefs and even swords. The
name may originate from the word
Moorish and certainly it existed in
similar forms in other European
countries. There are six main styles
of Morris dancing - Cotswold, North
West, Border, Longsword, Rapper and
Molly - danced by ‘sides’ or ‘teams’.
Lumbawakk are a Border Morris side,
characterised by their flamboyant
costumes.
Harcourt Arboretum
After an excellent lunch most people would have been
happy with a siesta but instead we travelled by car to Nuneham
Courtenay to explore the Arboretum. An integral part of Oxford
University’s Botanic Garden, the arboretum was first planted in
1835 with the magnificent Sequoias (Redwoods) being some of
the oldest trees. The visit was led by committee member, Nick
Hards who shared his extensive knowledge of the arboretum with
the party.
Unusual in this part of Oxfordshire, its acid soil suits
rhododendrons and azaleas. In autumn magnificent leaf colours
make walking through the woodland a delight with the resident
peacocks that strutted in the car park providing an exotic note.
After such a busy day, our visitors returned to their hosts
and dined either in family groups or with other hosts. Saturday
was left free so that guests and hosts could choose their own
programme. Choices included trips to Blenheim Palace, to White
Horse Hill and other notable landmarks.
JOIN THE ASSOCIATION
Our thanks to all those members who have paid their subscription for 2008/2009.
The rate remains at £5 per household. Cheques or cash to the secretary or treasurer.
Good wishes and plans for 2009
The formal part of the evening included
speeches by the mayor of Meylan and
the deputy mayor of Didcot. Both
expressed their satisfaction at the
obvious success of the twinning of the
two towns and looked forward to future
interactions. This theme was taken up
by the Chair of Didcot’s Twinning
Association, Terry Joslin and reinforced
by the President of Meylan’s
Association, Mireille Adji-Anastasiou who
reminded us all that next year will be
the 10th anniversary of the signing of
the twinning agreement and invited us
back to Meylan where plans are already
underway to celebrate this special
anniversary. Gifts were exchanged
and, in special recognition of her crucial
role in the success of the 2008
exchange, flowers presented to Didcot’s
secretary Dr Janet Cockburn.
Thanks to our generous sponsors
Didcot Town Council
RWE NPower
Sainsbury’s Supermarket, Didcot
DidcotFirst
Didcot Town Football Club