Visit from Pierrefitte

The theme for the weekend was one of wine, both English and French. There was a visit and tasting at Carter’s Vineyard near Colchester. Amongst the French party was Yves Klein, a wine expert for the French Ministry of Agriculture. He was much impressed by the quality of the English wine. This was followed by lunch and time for shopping and sightseeing in Colchester.

That evening, in a gazebo in the Chairman’s garden, Yves greatly entertained by showing how to taste and assess the quality of wine from sample bottles from various parts of France which he had brought with him. There were also very good French cheeses to accompany the wine which the visitors had also brought with them.

This weekend also saw the inauguration of the petanque competition for the Alan Wing Trophy. The English beat the French at their own game! The French were also introduced to the very English game of short mat bowls.

Saturday dinner was held at the Green Dragon, and Sunday lunch after the petanque at the Rayne Swan.

For photos see Photo Gallery

Braintree Chess Club play in Rudersdorf

This was the first time that the Braintree Chess Club had been invited to play in a tournament in Pierrefitte’s German twin town, Rudersdorf. The German hospitality was as warm as the French and the weekend included some time for siteseeing in Berlin and Potsdam. Although Braintree were not successful in winning the main competitions they received a very large trophy which was too large in fact to bring home by plane. It was taken back to Pierrefitte by car and collected by the Chairman when visiting in the September.

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60th anniversary of the Liberation of Pierrefitte

During the Second World War when France fell to the advancing German army and Paris was occupied, so was Pierrefitte. In 1944 after the D Day landings in June the Allied Forces advanced across Northern France, liberating first Paris in August and then in September Pierrefitte. Many local people who had been in the underground resistance died during the last few days before the Germans were forced to retreat. Many of them were teenage boys who had been too young to escape and join the Free French. Today they are remembered by streets and buildings bearing their names.

2004 was the 60th anniversary of their liberation. Attending the ceremonies of commemoration were a group from Braintree including Graham Butland, Leader of the Council, Jackie Pell, that year’s Chaiman of the Council and Ken Kippen, President of the Braintree British Legion. Also invited were a group from Rudersdorf including their Bergermeister Andre Schaller, Chair of their twinning, Patrice Bernard and the daughter of a German resistance fighter who died in a German prison during the war.

There was an evening of speeches and reminiscences followed by a dinner in the basement of the Hotel de Ville. Wreaths were laid at the War Memorial in the Town Cemetery, followed by a drinks reception again in the Hotel de Ville. Lunch was a less formal affair being taken at a long table outdoors in the main square under large umbrellas to give shade from the unusually hot sun for September.

For photos see Photo Gallery

Visit to Pierrefitte

The sun was still shining for the return trip at the end of September. There was a chance to shop in the marvellous market in St Denis, one of the largest in Europe and a visit to a museum of Roman and early church artefacts.

After exploring the delights of the cellar at Yves Klein’s, the culinary delights of the weekend included a typical Alsacian meal, a visit to a Chinese restaurant and a meal with a Turkish flavour for all their members in an empty shop!

The highlight of the weekend was the installation ceremony for the Brotherhood of Bangards. This took place in the Hotel de Ville and was a very humorous occasion. Several people from the Pierrefitte Council, including the Mayor, as well as members of their twinning and all the visitors were initiated into this ancient order.

This was also the first time that the return French leg of the petanque competition was held. They naturally brought in their best players and therefore they were the victors.

For photos see Photo Gallery

Visit by veterans from Pierrefitte for Remembrance Day Commemorations

Three veterans from Pierrefitte took part in the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial in the Braintree Public Gardens and the church service at St Michael that followed. After the service there was time to meet members of the Braintree British Legion over refreshments in Church House.

he following day after a tour of Braintree Museum, they also had lunch in the Old Mayors’ Parlour in the Town Hall Centre with the Chairman.