Newsletter - March 2007
Dear Members
2007 has kicked off with a raft of activities which you will read about in this newsletter. This year I believe will be a defining point in the development of the Association and a number of initiatives should come to fruition. I have had an excellent meeting with the Chamber of Commerce which should lead to more involvement between local businesses. Some of the more "social" members of the Tennis Club have committed to help me get an exchange programme off the ground. During the French visit in May, Chantal, the President of the Twinning in Bricquebec, will be meeting with representatives from Perins and Sun Hill Schools to try and set up some exchange activities (probably on an individual rather than group basis). Watch this space!
I am particularly pleased with the development of our PR activities. Hopefully you all saw the feature article in the February edition of the ALRESFORD FORUM and the front page article in the Alresford Advertiser. Local people are now very aware of our activities and this should provide us with the platform for furthering our objectives.
French Markets
We were hoping to announce a date for a new Normandy Market at Alresford at the end of April. We have an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce to organise such an event, however, the date proposed is only two weeks before the Watercress Festival and this is seen to be an issue for the organisation. We are therefore hoping to find a date in the Autumn.
Foire Expo Arts et Produits du Terroir
This event is held annually in Bricquebec to raise money to help fund exchange visits to the UK for their young students. This year it will be held over the weekend of 22nd/23rd September.
If you are thinking of visiting Bricquebec in the autumn then this is a good weekend to go!
We may even entice some of the members of the local Chamber of Commerce to support it … how do you think the French would like a watercress scone washed down by a pint of Itchen Valley or Cheriton Bitter!!!!
Spring Ramble
led by Charles Cuthbert
Meeting at
the ‘Trout Inn’ car park
on Sunday 22nd April, 2007 at 10am
followed by lunch (optional) at
‘The Trout Inn’
If you would like to go on the walk followed by a meal, or would simply like to join us for lunch, please phone (by Tues. 17th April) Eileen Cuthbert (Tel: 01962 734920)
Sunday lunch can be pre-ordered:
choice of Lamb or
Beef Roast Dinner £9.95,
Tomato, Spinach and
Pesto Tagliatelle £9.95,
Scampi/chips £9.95,
Sausage/chips £8.95,
Burger/chips £7.95,
Lasagne £7.95,
Ham/egg/chips £9.95
or a selection of Bagettes @ £4.95—£5.25.
A full menu can be emailed to you—ask Eileen
Friends and families are welcome on this easy-paced nature walk along Public Footpaths between Itchen Abbas and Chilland.
(Please wear sensible footwear as the paths may be muddy and slippery)French Visit
We have now confirmed the weekend 25th-27th May for the visit of our friends from Bricquebec. Due to the French Presidential elections taking out three Sundays in mid May and early June, the Spring Bank Holiday Weekend ended up being first choice. Although we will be contacting you nearer the time, to make life easier, we would like people to volunteer now to host our visitors. Could you please confirm to Marian (Tel: 01962 732000) if you can help. If you have hosted (or been hosted by) any specific families or friends please confirm this as well. We can then ensure we allocate accommodation correctly.
At the moment it looks as if we will have a party of at least twenty visitors, excluding any sports clubs (Badminton and Tennis) that may join them. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Recent Events
President’s Evening
On the evening of 13th January 38 members and friends attended the President’s Evening at Fiddlers Green. Terry Foreman hosted the evening and the committee provided an excellent and colourful finger buffet. Philip again did a sterling job serving the complimentary wine, which helped keep the "ambiance" bubbling! During the evening. John Noble ran the raffle which not only contributed to covering the cost of the evening but helped us put a few pennies in the coffers. I am sure this will come in handy when our friends from Bricquebec visit us at the end of May. It was also pleasing to see some new faces and we signed up ten new members on the evening. All in all an excellent kick off for 2007!!
Skittles Evening
It was a very wet night on the 2nd March when the Alresford Twinning Association members gathered
in force to play skittles in The Undercroft of the Swan Hotel. The evening kicked off nicely as the 40
participants arrived to find they were bowling straight away in a team match. It was a close fought
game with Team A finishing as the winners on 205 points to Team B’s 202 points. Prizes were then
given for two outstanding individual performances: Stephen Tompsett had the highest score (16) for
knocking the most skittles down and was awarded a bottle of wine by President Terry Foreman. Meanwhile,
Gerald Gledhill also won a bottle of wine for skillfully directing the most balls around the skittles!
At 8.30 pm everyone adjourned to the Buffet Bar where delicious pre-ordered hot food or Ploughman’s
was waiting. This was a good chance to catch up on each others news and to stoke up energies for the
second part of the evening – ‘Killer’- when everyone returns to defend their three ‘lives’ on the Alley.
They say that behind every successful man there is a good woman and the winner of ‘Killer’ was very
fortunate indeed to have a wife who could knock down the single remaining skittle so that he had a full
set to aim at on each of his turns! The last ball was thrown at 11.20 pm and winner David Chidgey
gracefully accepted his prize of a bottle of wine (one which April Chidgey fully deserved to share!).
The evening was wound up with a few photographs before everyone left in good cheer despite the relentless rainfall.
(Eileen Cuthbert)
More photos of events can be found in the Gallery.