Annual Dinner

The year started with an enjoyable meal at the Swan at Rayne. As usual the food and company were very good.

Visit by Pierrefitte Teachers and Photo Club

In April, the party from Pierrefitte included two teachers and members of the Pierrefitte Photo Club.

On the Friday morning, before setting out for Cambridge, the teachers were given a brief view of Notley High School. The visit to Cambridge began with a very interesting tour of Queens’ College, which was given by Dr Martin Dixon, a Fellow of the College and lecturer in the Department of Land Economy. This included the old library which is not normally open to visitors. After lunch in the University Centre, there was time for general sightseeing and shopping.

The French visitors as usual brought with them an interesting selection of cheeses and wines for an evening at the Braintree Museum Learning for Life Centre. There was also a video by Time Frame and a wonderful photo show by Jacque Dupont from members of the Pierrefitte Photo Club. Mike Childs, Chairman of Braintree Camera Club and other members were present and have now arranged a link between the two clubs.

On Saturday morning there was a visit to the Warner Collection which included seeing a sample of the velvet used for the Queen’s Coronation robes and a tour of Felsted Preparatory School by the headmistress, Jenny Burrett, followed by lunch in the children’s dining room.

The only rivalry which exists between the twin towns is the biannual petanque competition. This was inaugurated in memory of a member of Braintree Twinning who died of cancer and is played for a shield called the Alan Wing Trophy. This competition takes place twice a year, both in England (held at the Rayne Swan) and then a return match in France (on the car park of the Conservatoire de Musique). On this occasion the English were victorious.

The day finished with a very enjoyable dinner at the Swan.

On Sunday there was a very good lunch at Rivenhall Golf Club before they left by train from Witham to connect to the Eurostar for their return journey to Pierrefitte.

For photos, see Photo Gallery

40th Anniversary of the Twinning between Pierrefitte and Rudersdorf

The Chairman and Secretary, Ken and Diane Measom were invited by the Mayor of Pierrefitte to join in their celebrations for the 40th anniversary of their twinning with Rudersdorf, Germany, in June. The weekend had an artistic theme with visits to a museum of paintings by Utrillo (who had once lived in Pierrefitte) at Sannois and to the Museum of Impressionist Painters at Auvers sur Oise (where Van Gogh lived and is buried).

On the Saturday evening there was a formal gathering in the Hotel de Ville with speeches from the Chairs of the two Twinning Associations and the Mayor of Pierrefitte and the Burgermeister of Rudersdorf. Gifts were exchanged and new Contracts of Friendship were signed and exchanged. This was followed by a dinner during which everyone was entertained by Pascal Delalee, a professional violinist and former resident of Pierrefitte.

For photos, see Photo Gallery

 BBQ

This was held on a Sunday lunch time in late May in a member’s garden. Another good opportunity for an informal get together.

Visit from Braintree to Pierrefitte in September

Six people travelled by Eurostar and as usual were met at the Gare du Nord and escorted to Pierrefitte. The weekend seemed to consist of several very good meals, starting with an Italian lunch on arrival and in the evening a meal at a Pakistani restaurant.

On the Friday there was a very long sightseeing walk of Paris from the Jardin du Luxembourg via Notre Dame to the Louvre and Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately the weather was drizzling but this was probably a blessing considering the length of the walk! The meal on the Friday night was seafood, mainly mussels.

On the Saturday there was a visit to the aircraft museum at La Bourget. What was to have been a morning visit proved to be so fascinating that the whole day was spent there. The gentlemen who was the guide spoke very good English and was an ex air force general aged 74.

Saturday evening, the visitors were entertained to dinner at the home of the Chair of Pierrefitte Twinning, Evelyne Dupont and were treated to the specialities of Savoy. Her husband Jacque provided the entertainment of slide shows of the photos which had been taken by everyone during the weekend.

The return match of the petanque competition was held on the Sunday morning. Unfortunately this time the French were the victors. This was followed by a buffet lunch in the Conservatoire du Musique and a short opportunity to discuss future plans before leaving for the return Eurostar back to Ashford.

For photos, see Photo Gallery.