The twinning association between Southborough and Lambersart in France is very pleased to congratulate Jacqui Jedrzejewski on becoming our new President following her election as Mayor of Southborough on the 19th May. It was particularly pleasing that her first official duties as Mayor took place only a few days later when Southborough played host to a large number of French visitors. They were from the St. Calyxte church choir in Lambersart and they came here to join together with the Southborough choirs to present the Combined Church Choirs concert at St Thomas’s Church. The following day they all attended an ecumenical service at St Peter’s which was followed by an excellent lunch at St Dunstan’s Church hall at which our new President was also present.
Lambersart is next door to Lille in Northern France, less than an hour on the Eurostar, just over an hour’s drive from Calais but a world away. It has been Southborough’s twin town for nearly 19 years and the 20th anniversary will be celebrated here and in France over two weekends in October next year. The twinning itself is a civic function but it is SHDOFA and its ordinary members who take care of the organisation of social events, activities and exchanges at this end. The equivalent group in France is the Lambersart branch of Amitiés Interntionales. Lambersart is also twinned with Viersen in Germany and Kaniv in Ukraine. As a result we also have links and contacts in those two towns and a Friendship Association called SAKA (Southborough and Kaniv Association) has been set up with Kaniv.
SHDOFA is just beginning a programme to raise its profile in Southborough and High Brooms. Before long you should be seeing our flyers in various places around the town. We aim to give people the chance to try their hand at pétanque at our stall at various fêtes and Fun Days during the summer. Pétanque in Kent is a much bigger sport than most people would imagine, with several different leagues in operation. There are currently 8 divisions involving 80 teams from around 40 clubs. We are in the process of putting together a SHDOFA team to play on the ‘piste’ at the Yew Tree Road Copse. In order to beat the French at their own game we will be having training sessions on Monday 27th June and Thursday 11th August, starting at 7.00pm. In September we have our first ‘official’ match against the Tonbridge French Circle and, you never know, perhaps one day we will be good enough to join one of the Kent Pétanque Leagues. Other things we are doing to raise our profile is upgrading our website and venturing onto Facebook where we hope to get lots of friends.
Other activities we have planned for the rest of the year include our annual barbecue on 21st August, a two day visit to Arras to explore the town, with its underground tunnels and its amazing history. We are also planning a series of French film evenings during the winter months.
But it is not just social. The SHDOFA Constitution places a lot of emphasis on community activities and encourages visits in both directions by people of all ages to foster friendship and mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of both towns. We would like to do even more to further this objective so if you think you, either as an individual or as an organisation, like the sound of it and would like to be involved please contact our chairperson, Mrs Colette Marsh, on 01892 525042. Of course you can also visit Facebook and become our Facebook friend.
Other activities we have planned for the rest of the year include our annual barbecue on 21st August, a two day visit to Arras to explore the town, with its underground tunnels and its amazing history. We are also planning a series of French film evenings during the winter months.
But it is not just social. The SHDOFA Constitution places a lot of emphasis on community activities and encourages visits in both directions by people of all ages to foster friendship and mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of both towns. We would like to do even more to further this objective so if you think you, either as an individual or as an organisation, like the sound of it and would like to be involved please contact our chairperson, Mrs Colette Marsh, on 01892 525042. Of course you can also visit Facebook and become our Facebook friend.