Twinning anniversary

ONE OF THE GREAT success stories of community involvement in recent times has been the twinning of Bourne with Doudeville in France which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary.

Over the past two decades, the inhabitants of these two small towns on either side of the English Channel have fraternised and become close friends, learned about each others lives and families, hopes and fears, and in doing so have discovered that people are more or less the same the world over, separated only by differences in language.

Twinning has burgeoned since the end of the Second World War of 1939-45 and has been the catalyst for the peoples of many nations to befriend others around the world and to become familiar with their way of life, their customs and their heritage.

The object of this international arrangement has been to enable two towns in different countries, usually similar in some way, such as size or industrial make-up, to become formally associated by engaging in reciprocal cultural visits to ensure that their ties become closer as the years progress. Bourne came late to this arrangement and it was only twenty years ago that links were established with Doudeville, more of a large village than a town, and situated about thirty miles inland from Dieppe in Normandy.

The link began with an exchange visit between the Robert Manning School (now the Robert Manning College) and the senior school in Doudeville and was developed under the chairmanship of the school's head teacher Mr Michael Kee. Then in October 1989, a coach took visitors from Bourne to the French town where the twinning agreement was signed on parchment by the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Mrs Mary Parker (1926-2004), and the Mayor of Doudeville, M Raymond Laroche, and the two civic leaders became firm friends for many years to come.

Copies of the twinning document are retained in the archives of both towns as a reminder of the standards they have set and the values they intend to observe, to meet the true aspirations and real needs of our populations, to consider that the work of history will be achieved in a free and widened world and to solemnly engage in maintaining permanent links between the two towns at all levels in order that a real feeling of fraternity can grow through mutual understanding and that this solemn engagement and combined effort will contribute to the peace, harmony and prosperity of a united Europe.

Bourne Twinning Association marked its tenth anniversary at the end of May 1999 with a trip across the English Channel for a long weekend with members bearing gifts for their hosts to celebrate the occasion, a glass paperweight for each of the 28 hosting families and a magnificent rose bowl for the civic collection in Doudeville Town Hall, all engraved by the Hanthorpe artist Terry Barnatt.

The rose bowl was exceptionally beautiful and the engraved scenes included the Red Hall, the Abbey Church, Baldock's Mill and local wildlife including a deer and a pheasant. Thirty-eight members of the association who made the trip arrived in Doudeville to find a red carpet rolled out in their honour and the town festooned with flags and coloured balloons. They were royally entertained by the welcoming party who kept the champagne flowing throughout their stay and during the celebrations when the town band played and the Mayor of Doudeville, M Louison Tartarin, signed friendship documents with Councillor Mrs Marjorie Clark (1919-2007), who was then the Mayor of Bourne.

Further exchanges marked the millennium year 2000 when French families came to Bourne and were presented with a tapestry to hang in the town hall at Doudeville. It was designed by Bill Normington, a good friend of the association, and worked by others with nimble fingers, consisting of twelve squares showing important buildings in Bourne and the town's coat of arms.

The association now has 70 members and is preparing for its 20th anniversary long weekend visit by coach to Doudeville next month from Friday 1st to Monday 4th May, once again bearing gifts for their hosts, this time a large framed mirror to hang in the newly refurbished town hall and bearing the coat of arms of both towns together with the dates 1989-2009 and there will also be a visit to Paris to see the sights.

These activities are all the more commendable when you realise that the association is entirely independent and receives no public money and is responsible for its own fund raising with events throughout the year that not only come up with the required cash but also keep the members keen and enthusiastic about their Gallic friends. The English are reputed to have a reluctance to learn foreign languages but this does not present a social obstacle during the many exchange visits.

The association is always on the lookout for new recruits, whether they be singles, couples or families, but many are not sure whether they would enjoy it and are reluctant to take that first step towards membership. Former secretary and stalwart Betty James is always ready to dispel any doubts. “We are seeking people who enjoy France and the French way of life”, she said, “families with children who are learning French at school and those who fancy taking it up as a hobby, people who love their food, retired people who now have time to pursue their dreams and those folk who just like a bit of fun in their lives. To summarise, anyone and everyone is welcome, newcomers to the town particularly because twinning is a wonderful way of getting to know people and they will not feel newcomers for very much longer.”

Betty is quick to dispel any misgivings people may have about a possible language barrier. "These problems just do not exist“, she said. “Somehow, we all manage to understand each other, often resulting in hilarious situations with lots of laughter. Our association is just like one big happy family and although fund raising is an ongoing necessity, these enjoyable get-togethers ensure that members on both sides of the Channel keep in regular contact to ensure that the twinning flame continues to burn brightly in Bourne.”