Twinning - Parish Report
Twinning Association representation at the Nether Stowey Annual Parish Meeting that was held in the Village Hall on Monday 23 April 2007 at 7 pm.
The following item was raised by the Vice-Chairman under Agenda item 3. “Items for Discussion”, and the Chairman of the Parish Council responded that the matter would be discussed at the next PC meeting.
The biennial visit to Stowey from members of the community of Theillay, our twinned village in the Loir-et-Cher department of France, is scheduled to take place next year, 2008, from Thursday 1- Sunday 4 May.
We should like this to be an occasion of interest to our whole community here in Nether Stowey and we seek the advice and support of the Parish Council in this respect.
The following Report was made by the Secretary under Agenda item 5. “Reports from Local Organisations”.
Nether Stowey French Twinning Association: Report on activities between 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007
Nether Stowey Twinning Association’s main objective is to encourage friendship and understanding of the cultural, educational and commercial activities between the linked communities of Stowey and Theillay in Central France.
Our Association is a loose-knit organization from Stowey and outlying villages, currently with 43 family memberships at an annual fee of £10, and 29 individual memberships at £5.
During the last 12 months we have run a number of social and other events which have been open to members and non-members alike, in order to foster our aims and in particular to raise the funds needed for twinning visits.
In April 2006 we hosted a 4 day visit from our friends in Theillay to Nether Stowey and organised a number of activities to make our French visitors feel welcome including a trip to Dunster, a barn dance and supper in the Church Centre, and a family games afternoon in the village.
In addition during the last 12 months we have run a number of social events. These included a:Garden Safar;Boules Match; Quantock Walk; Barn Dance; Safari Supper.
We also held a series of monthly quiz nights at the Rose and Crown which have proved a popular event for members and their friends.
Members of our Association have recently returned from the excitement of the biennial visit to Theillay where we were officially welcomed by the Mayor, greeted by Nether Stowey residents already there and staying with Theillay friends, enthusiastically hosted by the twinning committee and people of Theillay at a variety of events, and very generously accommodated en-famille …. all this even though some of us couldn’t speak each others’ language!
Nether Stowey has been formally twinned with the village of Theillay in central France since 1998. Next year will see us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Twinning Association with the biennial visit to Stowey from our friends in Theillay, from Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 May 2008. We are now planning how to host as memorably superb a weekend as we have just enjoyed in France.
