About
the Twinning Association
A
History of Twinning
Though
interest locally in twinning goes back some years, it was Win Douglas who
revived the idea when elected to the parish council in 1995. Win's enthusiasm
led from a small gathering at her house to a well attended public meeting.
People were open-minded about the country but their top priority was that
it should be accessible.
With
the help of the Local Government International Bureau we set about our search.
Our application was sent off and soon we were receiving responses from other
twin-seekers. Early on we thought we might have a link with a village in Belgium,
but this fell through. We came through our disappointment thanks to Win's
tenacity and a well functioning committee, officially constituted in July
1998. [Have a look at our constitution]
We
were now the "Radcliffe and District Twinning Association", the
'district' part referring to our partenership with Holme Pierrepont and Gamston
Parish Council. This alliance has come to be one of our strengths.
The
breakthrough came in the summer of 1998. Going back through our papers we
lit upon the town of Bussy Saint Georges, which looked about the right size,
and was attractively close to Paris. We wrote off, more in hope than expectation,
but promptly received a very positive response from the newly elected mayor.
The
rest is history. An exploratory visit each way led to the formal signing of
twinning charters in Radcliffe in July 1999 and in Bussy in October of the
same year.
Also,
have a look at our official charter
Map
of Radcliffe
Click
here to see a map of Radcliffe.
What
of Bussy?
Bussy-Saint-Georges is situated 15 miles east of Paris, reachable by Metro in 30 minutes, and just 5 minutes drive from EuroDisney. (Click
here to see a map of Bussy). Part of a grand plan for the region, Bussy has grown
from a small and ancient village to a vibrant new town with a young population.
Most of its residents are relative new comers, not unlike the situation in
Gamston, and this is where the link with the Parish Council there has been
so helpful. Our friends in Bussy have found much to compare and contrast with
their own circumstances.
Events
The
Twinning Association regularly meets to arrange local events, such as the
recent French Evening, and exchange trips. Members visit Bussy Saint Georges
once a year, and local schools now have arrangements with their counter-parts
in France enabling students to visit each other to help with their language
skills. Take a look at our forthcoming events.
Who's
involved?
We
currently have about 50 members, and are keen to encourage more people to
join. Both the Junior School and Dayncourt in Radcliffe are involved, as are
the Scouts, Guides, The Radcliffe Male Voice Choir and the Parish Council.
The
Association sees itself as a bridge builder. We aim to champion the spirit
of twinning and, more practically, to help forge links between individuals
and organisations so that they can develop their own interests. Why not join
us in the adventure? If you're interested, look at our membership
page, or contact a member of the association.
Members of the Radcliffe Twinning Association
|
|
|
|
Wyn
Douglas
Honorary President (Wyn sadly died in 2009) |
Steve
Sugden
Co-ordinator |
Pearl Hollis
Secretary |
Brian Hollis
Treasurer |
