Meeting – 17th March
19/04/2009
RECENT EVENTS
- Our mayor, Brian Beale, has received a kind letter from Vaujours’ Mayor, Dominique Bailey, celebrating the twinning partnership between the two towns and thanking us for our hospitality during his visit to Tamworth. Other members have received e-mails from members of the French group saying they thoroughly enjoyed their stay. And our GCSE student Emily was delighted with the experience she gained helping out with our french visitors. We feel their visit has helped seal our partnership with Vaujours.
- Council staff were complimented on their speed and willingness in arranging a work experience opportunity in Tamworth for a French exchange girl, despite the opportunity being eventually turned down.
COMING UP
- We will have friends visiting from 12th to 14th June. No fewer than 40 of them, including 6 youngsters. Hotel and host accommodation has been arranged.
- Also in June we will be welcoming 5 visitors from Vaujours, who will need accommodation.
FORTHCOMING TWINNING MEETS
- Next meeting: 21st April 2009 (Tuesday), 7:30pm.
Continental Market comes to town
10/04/2009
On Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April, George Street and Market Street will be transformed into a bustling marketplace, offering fine food and gifts from across the European continent. A great chance to come and savor the tastes of a truly authentic European Market – right in the heart of Tamworth. (10am-5pm)
Take your tastebuds on a whistlestop tour of some of Europe’s finest flavours at our first ever Continental Market.
The annual high school exchange between Wilnecote High School and Bad Laasphe’s Städtisches Gymnasium is under way. Visitors from our German twin town are in Tamworth at the moment, and a return party of students will visit Bad Laasphe in October.
And a “very successful and rewarding” one at that.
Staying with hosts in the town, our guests enjoyed a busy three days of wining and dining, and toured some of the local landmarks. Events included a Mayor’s Ball hosted at Drayton Manor Park, a guided tour of St. Editha’s Church and Tamworth Castle, and social meals with Twinning Association members at several fine restaurants in the local area.
- Next twinning meeting: 17th March 2009 (Tuesday).
Meeting – 20th January
22/01/2009
At Bolehall Swifts Club. Main topics covered:
RECENT EVENTS
- Five of our group, including the Mayor and Mayoress, visited Vaujours. The group enjoyed a varied stay that included visits to the Lido and a brasserie on the Champs-Élysées, a cheese restaurant and a château, all topped off in fine style with a civic lunch with the mayor of Vaujours and the mayor of Vaujours’ Belgian twin town. The young new mayor of Vaujours, Dominique Bailly, showed a very positive attitude to our twinning links and by all accounts Vaujours’ twinning association is thriving.
TO DO
- Organise a memorable stay for the upcoming visit from our French counterparts: Friday 19th to Sunday 21st 2009.
- 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of Bad Laasphe/Tamworth twinning so we would like to do something special, finances permitting.
- Vaujours’ mayor Dominique has a mayoral blog, which lists lots of organisations in Vaujours. He hopes the likes of our brass bands, Boys’ Brigade, etc. could be cajoled into developing closer contact with their French counterparts.
COMING UP
- Visit to Vaujours carnival. 17th May 2009. This year’s theme is ‘pirates’ – yes, dressing up, hurrah!
- Visit to Bad Laasphe. End of August 2009, during the Altstadtfest.
French Market comes to Tamworth
26/09/2008
A small slice of northern France has arrived in Tamworth. Yes, it’s time for the ever-popular French Market again! (Friday 26th Sept – Sunday 28th Sept)
From aromatic olives to chocolate-covered gaufres (waffles). From tasty tartiflette to hearty French sausages. And sweeties for kids of all ages…
See it, smell it, taste it – and buy some to take home!
Languages of Europe Day
26/09/2008
Happy European Day of Languages!
Working in the Tourist Information Centre, in just the last 7 days I have spoken to people visiting Tamworth from the Czech Republic, France, German, Spain, Poland and Russia. And it’s amazing how far just knowing a couple of words of their language goes to give our visitors a more pleasant and welcoming impression of the town!
Meeting – 23rd September
24/09/2008
At Bolehall Swifts Club. Main topics covered:
RECENT EVENTS
- The recent successful visit to Bad Laasphe during their Altstadtfest, the Old Town Festival. Comments were made about the town’s vibrancy during the festival and the lack of litter. A wreath has also been laid at Bad Laasphe’s war memorial.
- Two of our contingent have been over to Paris and met with some of our French counterparts, who are relieved that there is enthusiasm for the Vaujours connection.
- A friendly welcome to 3 new members.
TO DO
- Bad Laasphe would love some contact with our fire and rescue service. Their Bosch brewery would like to contact some of our local breweries who could have a stand at the Altstadtfest.
- Improving our ties with Vaujours on a number of levels, especially now they have a new mayor.
- Attract more younger members to keep the Tamworth twinning association vibrant and bring in fresh ideas.
- Link this site to national twinning association website(s).
- Try to get more tourism/heritage information around the town (signage? informational leaflets?) available in French and German.
COMING UP
- A rock band from Bad Laasphe will be visiting the next Tamworth Rock Festival.
FORTHCOMING TWINNING MEETS
- Race Night. 25th October 2008 (Saturday). With buffet, raffle and 10 races. At Bolehall Swifts Club.
- AGM. 18th November 2008 (Tuesday), 7:30pm.
- Next meeting: 20th January 2009 (Tuesday), 7:30pm.
Heritage Open Day – 14th September
15/09/2008
We’re proud to have been involved in Tamworth’s super successful Heritage Open Day this year.
As part of the events, our colourful displays in the Assembly Rooms highlighted the links Tamworth has forged with our lovely twin towns in France and Germany.
