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Welcome

Welcome to the first of this year's newsletters. For those people who came to the last event, our film and skittles evening over the Christmas holidays, I hope you had a great time. If you did enjoy it, do let your friends know so that more people will come along and take part next time. We all thought the event went really well and, it was great to see so many of you there, but we still would love to hear your views on what events you'd like us to run and when. Contact details are shown elsewhere on this site, so just let us know what you think.

As I mentioned in the last newsletter, this year is very exciting for Bathford Twinning because there is an official visit from France when we will sign the first of the papers which will make us properly twinned with Artannes. Do have a look at the article on this for an idea of all the events that will be going on over the weekend. It would be great to see lots of young people taking part.

There will also be a change in the newsletters from now on. This is my last newsletter as editor and Jeanette Kremer from the Forum will be taking over for the next one. You'll still see me around at the events though so don't think you've got rid of me yet! Jeanette would be delighted to hear from you with ideas and suggestions for the next newsletter not to mention solutions to the 'competitions' section of this website - prizes to be won of course! Have a good time and enjoy the spring!

Richard Lees,
Newsletter editor

Kings and Castles

If ever you get the chance to visit the area that we're Twinning with in France, you might well be driven around the area by one of our friends from Artannes. Sooner or later, you will end up in one of the Chateau that make the region famous. These days, nobody lives in these old buildings and they're popular with tourists. But let's take a step back in time and look at some of the weird things that happened in the homes of the Kings of France...

A Fairytale Castle: Have you ever read the story of Sleeping Beauty? This fantastic fairytale castle in the woods inspired its creation. It's called Ussé.

People say that Chenonceaux is the most romantic castle in France, but it has a secret in its history. The King of France gave the castle to his girlfriend and she built the famous bridge. The king was married, though, and when he died, his widow forced the girlfriend out of the castle. The widow then added the top part of the bridge herself!

Lots of English people move to France these days - looking for warm whether and a better life- but how about moving away to marry? England might have been very different if Edward VIII, who should have been King, hadn't decided to marry against the law. He couldn't do it in the UK so he went to France and got married in this castle, at Candé.

News from the Twinning Association

A small group from the Association's committee is going to Artannes from 6 - 8 May to take part in a large Conference concerned with European twinning activities. Twinning representatives from towns and villages in the western part of the Loire valley will be getting together with those of their selected European twinning partners or intended partners for an exchange of information, news and ideas. The visit will also provide a good opportunity for our group to discuss with our friends in Artannes the plans for receiving a large delegation here in October, when the first part of the Formal Twinning will take place.

Arriving on Thursday 27 October 2005 we expect a party of some 60 - 70 visitors from Artannes, led by their Mayor, Dr Sylvain Thimel. From then until they leave on Monday 31 October, they will be engaging in a programme of cultural and local interest. The focal point will be the signing of a Charter of Friendship on the Saturday morning in the Parish Rooms by Dr Thimel and Mrs Shirley Beezer, Chair of Bathford Parish Council.

We very much hope that we will be able to include an item in the weekend's programme by young people in the village. If you have any good ideas on this subject, please get in touch - either through Richard or direct to me. We also hope that the Artannais party will include young people and if you and your family would like to entertain a young French visitor (along with his or her parents) in your home for the visit then please contact me as soon as possible. You don't have to speak French to do this but if you are learning the language it will be great opportunity to get some practice!

Best wishes,
Tony Woodcock
Secretary, BTA
Email tonywoodcock@tiscali.co.uk or telephone 01225 859132