ARTANNES - MAY 2006:
The Final Stage - Or The Beginning?
This edition brings you news of the final reciprocal Twinning Ceremony that took place in Artannes on Saturday 27 May 2006.

Having spent four or five years in developing our relationship with Artannes-sur-Indres and brought it to a successful conclusion, there is a danger that we sit back and think that the job is done.

This is far from the truth and the Association will now look to ways in which this relationship can be increased and improved in the future.

We would like to increase our degree of involvement through groups and societies in both villages and, in particular, to involve young people in making contact and understanding the way of life and culture of both villages.

I will try to give this Newsletter a wider than usual distribution in the Bathford and Kingsdown area and hope that anyone who would like to help us further this aim, will get in touch.

The Association is grateful to both the people in the village who have supported us throughout our path to the formal twinning and to the Parish Council for their help and support. It was a pleasure to have the Chair of our Parish council on the May visit and thank her for the role which she played in the ceremony and events.

Shirley was good enough to record her thoughts on her return to the village and I am pleased to reproduce them here.

Visit To Artannes Sur Indre
What a wonderful and privileged time we all enjoyed in Artannes. Having kept well in the background until now, undoubtedly my initial reaction to the proposed visit was sheer terror and apprehension at the thought of visiting France after 50 years, but I was determined to support the Twinning Committee who have all worked so diligently for so long towards this goal and to carry out my duties on behalf of the Parish Council. Be brave I said to myself!!

My worries were all groundless. From the very first meeting on French soil, firstly with Jacques and his colleagues, our generous hosts and later my gallant counterpart - the Mayor of Artannes - every minute of every day we were treated with the utmost courtesy, genuine friendship and overwhelming hospitality - and it was all such fun.

A firm foundation has been laid on which to build even further towards better understanding between us.

I welcome the Committee's future intentions to explore new avenues towards its expansion and most of all the vital importance of greater participation and input by the youth of Bathford. They hold the key to the future role of the whole concept of "twinning" and with it even broader horizons for all of us.

Et finalement, après ma visite? Je ne regrette rien. J'adore Artannes!

Shirley Beazer
Chair of Bathford Parish Council

The Visit
During the week beginning 24 May and by a variety of means, a 42 strong group of representatives of Bathford and the Twinning Association began to set off in the direction of Artannes. Most of them had pretty horrible weather en route and some stormy channel crossings. Travelling down through northern France was not much better but things improved as we neared the Loire Valley.

Once at our destination, any dampening of spirits was quickly dispelled by the warmth of the typical Artannais welcome.

Proceedings opened with a Reception Meeting on the evening of 26 May in the Salle des Fêtes after which our members joined their hosts for dinner.

As usual, the degree of hosting and care taken of us was of the highest order.

Shirley Beazer received exceptional VIP treatment being the guest of Sir Robert Young (Former British Ambassador to India) and his wife Lady Catherine Young, who live in Artannes.

A full and varied programme awaited us including a visit to the primary school (on Saturday morning!) and a lecture on wines and wine tasting of both local and Italian wines. The Italian wines were provided by representatives from Roccastrada who were invited to the weekend event.

By lunchtime on Saturday 27 May, the sun was out and everyone gathered out of doors in the square. By the time proceedings began it was HOT! All passed off well, culminating in Shirley Beazer and Sylvain Thimel (Mayor of Artannes) signing the final Treaty of Friendship.

At the close of the ceremony, gifts were exchanged - ours being a dozen container grown English Roses which will be planted in the square and marked with a plaque which we provided.

A Celebration Dinner followed on Saturday night with entertainments proved by a Youth Theatre group and dancing by the Gym Club. Over the next two days there was a walk to a mill, a visit to a château, a dinner picnic, the rose garden of a priory, a silk factory and sights of interest in Tours.

A very successful visit ended with a farewell dinner in the Salle des Fêtes on the Monday night. On Tuesday morning we went on our way - either returning home or, taking some time in France to relax!

Commemorative Seat
Following the work done by the Parish Plan Committee, a Bench Project to provide additional seating around the village was instigated and donors invited to contribute.

To express our thanks to all who helped to bring about the Twinning, the Association has decided to pay for the provision of a seat with a suitable plaque to commemorate the twinning of Bathford with Artannes-sur-Indre in October 2005 and May 2006.

Safari Supper
Colin Priston is organising another of his ever popular Safari Suppers. This will be on Friday 14 July 2006 from 7.00pm. Tickets will be about £5 per person. This is not meant to be a fund raising event as our ongoing financial needs have been met by past events and the EU grant. Thus the charge only represents cost recovery by the hosts and the idea is to have a get together. If interested please get in touch with Colin (743499) or me Tony Woodcock (859132) as soon as possible but NOT later than 6 July.