Verwood
and Three Legged Cross Twinning Association - UK
Please select the Verwood and Heathland Heritage Centre web sites or links below.
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Please select the Verwood and Heathland Heritage Centre web sites or links below.
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A report by Dorothy Curd (written in 1984) who is a long standing member of Twinning and was for many years on the Committee. At last, Saturday the 26th May arrived, and our plans for an open-air ceremony in the courtyard between Safeway (now Morrison’s) Stores and the Leisure Centre were foiled by cold, lashing rain. The tables and other gear were, therefore, hurriedly moved to the covered-way by the Leisure Centre. Shortly before the time for the ceremony, the public began to arrive, and the Verwood Concert Brass started to play incidental music; but we still had no French guests! We
had previously arranged with the So, with the ferry an hour late and Customs Officers making a thorough search of the coach, our guests finally arrived only a few minutes before the ceremony was due to start. With rain continuing to fall, hosts and visitors were hastily sorted out and despatched home for a quick change and the ceremony delayed for half an hour. Somehow we managed the timing and were soon sheltering under the awning outside the Leisure Centre to hear a message of welcome given by our Chairman, Mr. Gordon Thorne. A letter of congratulations from H.M. the Queen was followed by the French Mayor, Mr. Alain Levoyer, who gave the interpreter, Mr. Paul Bourdais, a rest, by reading his speech in English. Cllr. Harold Witt, Chairman of the Parish Council, replied and then Mr. Robert Adley spoke in both languages, both he and the Mayor keeping us amused with some very witty comments.
from l. to r. :- The Charter was then signed and Verwood Concert Brass, whose playing had lifted everyone's spirits during the long wait, played both National Anthems Visitors were introduced to their hosts, returned to their homes to change for the evening's entertainment in the Leisure Centre. Guests were greeted with a glass of sherry and incidental music provided by "Courtlye Musicke", a five-piece ensemble playing medieval music on replica medieval instruments. They continued to play throughout dinner, and occasioned much interest and appreciation. We sat at tables for eight persons, with a long top table for our Member of Parliament, Mr Robert Adley, M. Alain Levoyer, Mr & Mrs Harold Witt (Council Chairman), Mr & Mrs Gordon Thorne (Association Chairman). Here the atmosphere was really festive. Members of the Flower Club had succeeded (against their better judgement) in making two beautiful arrangements in red, white and blue, and these were placed on each side of the top table, behind which the two national flags were draped. The caterers had placed flags and flowers on each table and the menu cards with place names were specially produced by Mr. Leo Roberts to be a souvenir of the evening. During
the evening presents were exchanged. We gave a glass goblet,
engraved with the Twinning logo, to the French, and a
smaller one to Mr Darner for his artwork. We received two
large photographs, one of the gates to their "Old
Chateau", and one of the "Cul du Moulin" on
the
Somehow the caterers had managed to keep the food hot during the long delay and we all had healthy appetites by now and gave it our full attention. Later on, the Mayor of Champtoceaux was presented with a pennant beautifully embroidered by Mrs. Pauline Barrow with the Twinning logo and also a glass goblet etched with the same design. He returned the compliment by giving commemorative medallions to Mr. Thorne, Cllr. Witt and Mr. Adley and two framed pictures of Champtoceaux to be hung in our Town Hall! No Prizes will be given for guessing where that is. We also took this opportunity to show our thanks to Mr. E. Darner for his weeks of work in producing the charter, by asking Mr. Adley to present him with a glass candlestick decorated with the Twinning sign. The
evening finished with a really lively selection of dance
music by Graham Church which pulled everyone to their feet
and had them dancing round the tables before the end. He
even managed to find a few French tunes to make the visitors
feel at home. One can only marvel at their stamina to keep
going until Sunday
morning was left to the hosts to take their guests to see
the Then
we repaired to the Memorial Hall where members of the Wives
Club served an English cream tea, with scones, served by
Verwood Wives and the Brownies acting as waitresses. Butter
and jam kindly provided by Safeway. Once again tables were
gaily laid out with flags and flowers and it all looked very
welcoming. After the Sunday lunch most people kept their
intake to a minimum but that left plenty for the children.
Because the weather was still playing up, it was impossible
to dance outside so tables were cleared and chairs brought
in for a concert indoors. It started with an impromptu
recital by a few of the Champtoceaux Choral society who were
with the visitors and they gave us several songs, one of
which was English, while the French Folk Dancers changed
into their costume, which is rather intricate and takes
about an hour. Then the dancers entertained us with the
first half of their repertoire, introduced in French by
their accordionist and interpreted by Mr. Bourdais very
amusingly. The dances themselves were a good mixture of
amusement and colour and included one which used to be
danced at court in the old days. We were very interested to
hear that this is the first time that they had performed
outside
The Breton Dancers performing in Verwood Memorial Hall Then
came the moment that the After this, the French gave us a few more dances and then changed back into everyday wear for their evening entertainment which was skittles and a ploughman's supper and plenty of laughter and conversation. I can still see their oldest member, a farmer of 69, chuckling away as people hit or missed the skittles, although he must have found it quite tiring standing for so long in the crowded room. I can't answer for what time people re- tired to bed but feel that talking went on in their own homes long after closing time.
Les danseurs francais. (The costumes are Breton) Carnival Day dawned, cold and windy, but it did not deter the Lire Dancers from giving a delightful performance in the exhibition area. Interestingly, one "Mum", who had seen the dancers the previous day, dressed her daughter in a similar costume, which she had made overnight. What a grand turn-out it was and how grateful we should be for this free entertainment on which so many people have worked so hard. After walking in the procession, the Folk Dancers were kindly slotted into the arena entertainment early as they had to change and have supper earlier than expected. Although unused to dancing on grass, being normally on wooden flooring, they performed a few dances in the arena and were then whisked off to change and see a little of the Carnival activities Somehow we managed to 'man' our stall, a tombola in the shape of a peg-board with a clown painted on it by Cherry Thorne, which had proved very popular and has been used year after year. We
assembled at Hillside School at about 6.15 for the send-off,
to the music of the bagpipes, played by the Campbell's in
full Highland Dress, and sang Auld Lang Syne before our
visitors boarded the coach. At
Gordon Thorne, Chairman Verwood Twinning Association
We apologise to all those who waited so patiently on a very wet and cold Saturday evening to witness the signing of the Charter. Tile ceremony was delayed due to the late arrival of our French visitors who had been held up by rough weather in the Channel, amongst other things. Special thanks are due to Verwood Concert Brass who did an excellent job playing for an extra half an hour with frozen fingers. Many new friendships have been formed during the week-end, and we hope that many more organisations and individuals will, over the coming years, make happy and fruitful contacts with our friends in Champtoceaux.
Messages from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace :-
Private Secretary
The Prime Minister is sure that you will enjoy the Ceremony and Celebration Dinner and is confident that Verwood and Champtoceaux will long maintain entente cordiale. Deputy Press Secretary
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On behalf of the Verwood Twinning
Association. 1 would like to thank all the organisations and
people of the village who joined with our committee to make
what we hope was a very successful week-end for our friends
from Champtoceaux.
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