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 Loire . These are now in the "Twinning Comer" of "Verwood Library.

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 midnight when they had started out at 2 o'clock in the morning and had a rough crossing.

Sunday morning was left to the hosts to take their guests to see the New Forest and after Sunday lunch we all met at the Church for a combined service led by Reverend Anthony Roberts. We and our visitors were entertained by a group of dancers from Lire, "dressed in traditional costume, followed by a group of Hillside School children performing English Country Dances. Once again the Ver wood Concert Brass were there to play for us and to accompany the hymns. The scouts and guides added colour to the proceedings and the Church was full for a very moving 

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 France.

Then came the moment that the Hillside School children had been waiting for - to perform English country dances which they had been rehearsing and which they managed to perfect in a very short time. How well they managed on the small stage when they had been expecting to dance outside and what a pity that more people could not have seen it, but the hall was packed and they finished to loud applause. Then the French dancers joined them for a repeat of their last dance and one felt that this is what the Twinning is all about joining together in things which we all understand to help us solve our differences.

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.

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 6.45 p.m. they departed amidst a feeling of sadness that the visit had been so brief, but with many new friendships made and the promise of a return visit next Spring. 

Gordon Thorne, Chairman Verwood Twinning Association 

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.

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 :-

The Queen sends her sincere thanks to the Committee of the Verwood Twinning Association for their kind message of loyal greetings, sent on the occasion of the official ceremony of twinning between Verwood and the town of Champtoceaux . Her Majesty received this message with great pleasure and would like to send her best wishes to both towns joining in this ceremony. She hopes you all have an enjoyable and successful evening.

Private Secretary

Messages from the Prime Minister (Mrs. Thatcher) at 10 Downing Street :-

The Prime Minister has asked me to send her very best wishes to Verwood and Champtoceaux on the occasion of your Twinning Ceremony. Mrs. Thatcher believes that twinning is a splendid way of promoting international understanding and goodwill. Some 1,200 U.K. communities are now linked with communities across the world. Mrs. Thatcher's home town, Grantham, is twinned with Sankt Augustin in Germany .

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