Easter Twinning Weekend

- Mon 17th Apr 2006

A very successful Easter Weekend reached a conclusion when the Mayor and Mayoress of Havant, Cyril Hilton and Olwyn Kennedy, announced the inauguration of the newly-completed ‘Gorron Roundabout’ on the Seafront at Beachlands, followed by a special excursion on the seafront railway to Eastoke Corner, a visit to the Coastguard Station, with gifts provided, and a ploughman’s lunch at the Lifeboat Inn, before our visitors from Gorron departed on their return to France. Roselyne Spier represented the Mayor of Gorron at the roundabout ceremony, gifts were exchanged between Havant and Gorron and we were pleased to have Chloe Holden, Attendant to the Carnival Princess, with us, in her lovely outfit. 

One of the special features of the weekend was the home cooking prepared by Janice Wells, ably assisted by Wendy Sherrington and Eira Greenwood and others. The 16 visitors, amongst whom were 10 young people in their teens and twenties, were treated to a ‘big English breakfast’ on their arrival at the Community Centre on Saturday morning; a full English tea at Northney Hall on Saturday afternoon, following taking the new North Hayling Circular Walk, including a section of the Billy Line, the Oyster Beds and a view of the site of the Hayling Island Temple and a four-course dinner, including roast English lamb and mint sauce, rhubarb and ginger crumble, trifle and a selection of English cheeses on Sunday night at St Mary’s Church Hall – they also experienced a fish and chip lunch at Clarence Pier after a visit to Gunwharf, the Spinnaker Tower and the Millennium Walk from Old Portsmouth to Southsea on Sunday morning, ending up with a ride on the Hayling Ferry and a visit to the Ferryboat Inn.  The visitors were well looked after by host families, all members of the Twinning Association, on Hayling, during their stay.

A good time was had by all, the relations between Hayling and Gorron have become strengthened and we look forward to even more friendly interchange in the future.

A delegation form the Hayling Island-Gorron Twinning Association has been invited to attend the inauguration of the ‘European Roundabout’ in Gorron, which links Avenue Hayling Island with Avenue Schweikheim, on 27th May. This is to coincide with the celebration of 20 years of twinning of Gorron with Schweikheim, in Bavaria.

Paul Fisher, Secretary

Hayling Island-Gorron Twinning Association

20th April 2006

By forum user, PaulFisher