Hampshire

TWINNING

Oise

JUMELAGE

Canal Cottage, Crondall Road, Crookham Village, Fleet, Hampshire. GU51 5SY

CROOKHAM VILLAGE/LEVIGNEN TWINNING 21st ANNIVERSARY

On the first weekend in June this year 45 visitors from the French village of Levignen in Picardy, about 40 miles North-east of Paris, visited Crookham Village .Twenty years have passed since the first "Twinning" weekend visit in 1983, and this year's visit was the 21st. Friendships have been created both within Crookham Village, and the surrounding area, and between people here and in Levignen. Numerous informal contacts occur every year as well as the official annual visits.

People stay in each others' homes, visit local places of interest, learn to speak a little of the others' language, and encourage friendship, rather than war! A certain amount of food and wine is consumed, and gradually we learn about French family, community and business life, and how it compares with our own.

Thanks to a Grant from the EU to help with. expenses, the week-end was packed with activities - a guided tour of Fleet Pond, courtesy of the Fleet Pond Society, to show how the community works to conserve wildlife habitat; a guided visit to the Wickham Vineyard near Southampton to learn how wine-making is beginning to flourish in England; a Dinner and Barn Dance; a guided visit to Odiham Castle, highlighting the French connection; a talk on how the Euro has affected French family and business life; . an Inter-Village "Sports" afternoon of fun events, such as "zap-a-rat" and a "waiters' relay race", with the winning Village being presented with a Trophy by Brian Leversha, Chairman of Hart District Council; a Champagne reception with an Anniversary Cake, speeches, and presentation of commemorative plates. All this, and a warm welcome in the homes of the host families.

Born out of the Twinning movement, which encourages international goodwill between communities, this Twinning has flourished over the past 21 years, with many lasting friendships formed. Numerous informal visits are made each year, as well as the one official one, and we look forward to the next 21 years.

To view photos click on thumbnails. Click back to return. Press F11 on your keyboard for bigger screen.

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 On the way to the castle - the Basingstoke canal lift bridge.

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 The ruins of Odiham Castle.

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 Visit to Fleet Pond.

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 The waiters' race.

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 Visit to Wickham vineyard.

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 Saturday night dinner.

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 The barn dance.

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 The Hugues Dedaudus Trophy goes to Levignen.

Cllr Brian Leversha - HDC Chairman (right) and Thierry Decouttere - President of Levignen Twinning Committee.

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 Presentation of the Anniversary Plate.
Left to right: Jean-Marie Guyot, Simon Ambler, Charles Hicks, Thierry Decouttere.

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 The anniversary cake.

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 Cutting the 21st anniversary cake.
Simon Ambler PC Chairman (CV) (left) 
and Jean-Marie Guyot, Deputy Mayor, Levignen.

The website for LEVIGNEN is weblevignen.free.fr

If you might like to become a friend of the twinning, please have a word with Charles Hicks on: 01252 850657.