Inaugural Local Twinning Conference

- Fri 6th Dec 2002

An event unique within the south-eastern region of Hampshire took place on Thursday, 28th of November, at Seacourt Tennis Club on Hayling Island. 23 delegates from seven twinning associations gathered to discuss matters of common interest and agreed to pool their resources and future efforts for their mutual benefit. The associations, mainly linked with towns or areas in northern France, were: Clanfield Twinning Association (twinned with Val d'Oison); Denmead Twinning Association (St Georges les Baillargeux, Nr Poitiers); Hambledon Twinning Association (Reville); Hayling Island-Gorron Twinning Association (Gorron); Horndean Parish Twinning Association (Aubergenville); St Aubin-Emsworth Twinning Association (St Aubin-sur-Mer) and Waterlooville Area Twinning Association (Maurepas).





The agenda items included: European and UK local government funding; fundraising ideas and experiences; travel, particularly ferry, arrangements; public liability insurance; communications, mutual support and opportunities for joint ventures.





Naturally, many of the experiences and objectives of each association were very similar, even if the origins of the formation of each were quite different, with some coming into being through personal connections, but most through the search for a French partner, via official twinning channels. However, in all cases the association was very well established, with membership ranging from 40 to 90. Sporting and educational ties were particularly favoured.





Future meetings will take place every six months, with each association hosting the meeting in their community, on a rotational basis. The next meeting will therefore be in Clanfield in May. There was great enthusiasm for the opportunity to get together as a group for outings which might prove difficult to organise economically for individual associations, the first being the ‘Vive la France’ exhibition at London Olympia in January. The issue of public liability insurance also appeared to be resolved, with information about specialist group twinning association cover.





We all look forward to future regular contact and to the positive benefits of strength in numbers.





Paul Fisher


Secretary


Hayling Island-Gorron Twinning Association

By forum user, PaulFisher