St Savin Abbey

Town Mayor Mick Ford Speaks at

the Council Reception

The Gateau!

Unveiling the Tree Plaque

Planting the Oak Tree

30 eme Anniversaire Du Jumelage

The Journey

This is part of the story of the 30th anniversary trip to Civray, which took place between 5th – 8th October 2006.

Most of our party, which was of some 37 people travelled by plane from Stansted, this being rather a new mode of transport for our club. Some others were extending their holidays in France and had their own vehicles. We were transported to the airport by minibuses and everything went pretty well. For such a relatively short flight, the security procedures seem to take as long as you are in the air but we made it through and into the air onboard our Ryanair flight, which had a tailwind behind it and reached Poitiers in only an hour. At Poitiers there was only one other aeroplane on the ground, the airport is a little smaller than Stansted! We were collected by our hosts and driven to Civray on the marvellously clear French roads. It was nice to arrive at Civray relatively fresh after not having the extremely long coach journey from Downham.

The Welcome

The first function was The Welcome at the Town Hall by the Civray Town Council, welcome packs were handed out and the odd glass of wine/pineau/juice taken. Many old friendships were renewed and the Mayor welcomed

us.

A day Out

The start on Friday wasn’t too early at 8.30, but there appeared to be a few frail heads about! A coach transported us to the Abbey at St Savin, where we had a conducted tour by a guide who was conducting her first tour in English; she was interesting and kept her English going well. Lunchtime was approaching and we moved off to the Hotel Fleurie at Chauvigny. Salad, Duck and Pasta, Cheese and Chocolate Cake with wine and coffee all followed over the next couple of hours, our Town Mayor, Mick Ford was reported to have been grateful when he saw the salad that we were having a ‘light lunch’, he didn’t know about the next three courses! In the afternoon we visited ‘Les Geants Du Ciel’ in the Town where there were birds of prey and a flying display. Some of the Eagles, which were chained up, seemed rather sad and some of our party didn’t approve of having animals on display in such a fashion. The display was in the wind and rain and some of the birds looked as if they were having a hard time of it. Some time to explore the town followed and then we were whisked back to Civray.

Friday evening saw the official Dinner, which of course was a Twinning event, not civic. A reception took place with the odd glass of something fizzy and then Lilliane Royer and our own John Sadler made speeches about the last thirty years of twinning. Four more food courses followed, including a spectacular gateau which had fireworks attached. Wine flowed through the evening and was accompanied at the coffee stage by Cognac and liqueurs. Live music was being played through the dinner by the French ‘Accordion Club’, which had nine accordion players and other instruments. Dancing also took place.

Saturday

On Saturday morning, for those surviving from the previous evening there was the official Town Council Ceremony held in the small theatre, part of the Town Hall complex. Speeches were by the French Mayor M. Jean-Bernard Brunet, Downham’s Mayor Mr Mick Ford and M. Jacky Vetault, a Civray Town Councillor It should be made very clear the esteem that the Town Council of Civray holds for both the Town of Downham Market and it’s Town Council, this came over very clearly in the speeches. An aperitif and a buffet followed this event. Coming out from the Town Hall into the pleasant sunshine we walked to the Fire Station where a guided trip was conducted.

Later in the afternoon we all gathered at the Park Ille de fion by the Charente river for the formal planting of an oak tree, the present from Our Town Council to the Civray Town Council. A plaque was unveiled and the tree planted Officially by M. Brunet and Mick Ford, although many more of the attending Council and Twinning Club members also took some part. The rest of the day and all day Sunday were spent with the hosting families until it was time to return to Poitiers and England.

Going home

It was a most successful trip and for some the start of a new experience, our Town Mayor Mick Ford was most apprehensive before the visit but has I believe since become something of a Francophile and it was the marking of a most extraordinary event, thirty years of twinning between two small towns, the twinning is still most active and we look forward to our visitors from Civray next August but my best guess is that they will still be travelling by coach!