Verwood
and Three Legged Cross Twinning Association - UK
Please select the Verwood and Heathland Heritage Centre web sites or links below.
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Please select the Verwood and Heathland Heritage Centre web sites or links below.
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ËËË
elcome
to the June 2010 newsletter. This
is the first newsletter we have tried with a circulation by email. If you have
received your copy by the old-fashioned paper method but you have an email
address, please let me know your address and you will receive the next
newsletter electronically - and earlier! This
is a very busy edition, so there’s not much room for my ramblings this time.
Just read on for an update on all that has been and will be happening in your
Twinning Association. ËËË
ur
25th anniversary celebrations with our friends from
Champtoceaux were memorable. Proof of the popularity of our twinning was that 70
guests arrived from France on Thursday afternoon, including a large number of
“new” visitors. They were received by the Mayor in full regalia and me. After old
friends were reunited and new friends were introduced there was a short ceremony
to unveil a plaque on the magnolia tree presented to us on their last visit,
which is planted in the garden at the Hub, followed by a group photo shoot and a
traditional Dorset cream tea. On Friday morning, two
coaches left The Hub for a day visit to Lacock village, Abbey and the Fox-Talbot
museum. Lunch was provided in local hostelries and on the return trip we
diverted in order to drive past Stonehenge and through Salisbury. Saturday was spent with
host families and climaxed with our soiree in The Hub. An excellent buffet
dinner, with wine provided by our twins, was accompanied by live piano music.
During the usual short speeches we were presented with a beautiful statuette
which can be seen on display in the Town Council office Help Centre. We were
also invited to a return visit to Champtoceaux next year - the precise date is
to agreed. Afterwards we were entertained
by superb renditions of 1960s and 70s songs by the group Smack. Everyone present received a commemorative gift - a pen or a
bag for life. On Sunday, we waved au
revoir to our friends after a successful weekend which was thoroughly
enjoyed by all. I
hope to be able to include some pictures from the visit in the next edition. ËËË
n
1st May we held our Companion Dog Show in
and around the Memorial Hall. This is proving to be a very popular and valuable
annual event, which is organised entirely by a couple of our members who put in
a lot of hard work on our behalf. The weather was not as kind to us as it has
been in previous years but we still had a good and varied number of entrants.
Especial thanks go to Audrey and Dave for taking on this mammoth task for our
benefit. ËËË
embers’
meetings have of course finished for the Summer and I
have started trying to put together a programme for next autumn/winter. Before I
could start on this we had to find a new “home”. Increasing numbers have
made the Methodist halls a little too snug for us and it is becoming
increasingly difficult to find a hall that is reliably available on Wednesday
evenings. Luckily, a few words in appropriate ears has secured us a regular
booking in the function room of the Verwood 31 Club. For those who do not
recognise this, it is the re-incarnation of the New Legion Club in Moorlands
Road. The cost to us will be slightly higher than previously, but we will be
able to reduce our door price to you as we will not have to provide tea or
coffee. These will be available over the bar, as will stronger refreshments if
required, at regular club prices. It is good to be able to support this brave
new initiative which will provide a valuable resource for Verwood. ËËË
oules
practices have now started, every fine Thursday evening at
the boules piste on the Recreation Ground from 6pm. Matches in the Dorset
Twinning League usually take place at weekends, so if you’re any good at the
game, prepare to be selected for the team! After
the practice we adjourn to the Verwood 31 Club for refreshments. So do come
along and make a mid-week social event of it. ËËË
e
are also going to try out a new social event for
members during the summer. Starting on 14 July with an informal gathering, we
will be meeting for coffee and chats on the second Wednesday of the summer
months. For the initial meeting we will be gathering in the Bistro at The Hub at
10.30, so come along and have a say on how we develop this new initiative. ËËË
he
Summer Outing this
year will be a full day’s excursion to Portsmouth on Saturday 17th
July. We will be taking in all the attractions at the Historic Dockyard, a boat
tour of the harbour and a visit up the Spinnaker Tower. Cost
for the trip is £31.50 per person and our coach will leave at 10am, returning
at 5.30pm. For full details or to reserve your place please call Brian or
Barbara on 822299. ËËË
his year’s long weekend away is once again something special - the opportunity to visit the extensive Christmas markets in the European capital of Brussels. To make the trip even more special, we will be staying in the 4* Sheraton Hotel & Towers, just 10 minutes walk from the Grand’ Place. The hotel boasts a pool, sauna, gym, bars and restaurant, so take the opportunity to pamper yourself. Included in the £165 cost of the trip is all coach and ferry travel, bed and American (hot buffet) breakfast. There is a £50 supplement for single room occupancy. We recommend that you arrange your own travel insurance. On Friday the coach will leave Morrison’s Car Park in Verwood at 7.30 am to catch the Calais ferry, arriving at our hotel in the afternoon. Saturday is free to explore the city, especially the Christmas markets in the Bourse (stock exchange), Marché aux Poissons (fish market) and Place Sainte Catherine. They offer over 200 stalls from all over Europe. There is also an open air skating rink. When you tire of shopping, you can explore the rest of the city, perhaps seek out the famous Mannequin Pis statuette, or relax in one or more of the bars, cafés and restaurants. On Sunday morning we will leave for the return journey, pausing for a quick look around Bruges en route before catching an evening ferry back to Dover. Return to Verwood is envisaged at about 10.00 pm. Places are already half filled, so if you are interested call Terry as soon as possible for a provisional reservation and a booking form. ËËË
our Officers are:
The next newsletter will be the October 2010 edition
In this issue:
elcome
to the first newsletter of 2010. It seems ages ago now
but the Christmas celebration went extremely well with the Memorial Hall
providing the right atmosphere for our evening. Phil Collins played piano for us
while refreshments were taken and Jubilate performing their wonderful
traditional Christmas songs and carols for us. The evening was rounded off by my
Quizgo quiz which everyone seems to enjoy - probably because knowing the answers
does not guarantee you will win!
elebrations
with Champtoceaux
in 2010.
A reminder that the dates for the celebration visit from our friends in
Champtoceaux are Thursday 13th May to Sunday 16th. They
plan to bring over 60 people this year, so it’s all hands to the pump for
hosting - if you haven’t yet told Joyce of your ability and willingness to
host please do so urgently. In return for hosting, you’ll not only get a
reciprocal stay next time we visit Champtoceaux but you’ll qualify for free
inclusion in our programme for the visit. This will include a visit to a local
National Trust property with lunch included, attractive “freebies” we are
having specially produced, and of course you will be our guest at the Saturday
soiree, with dinner and entertainment. I promise that speeches will be kept to a
minimum!
ubscriptions
are now overdue
for 2009-2010, as mentioned in the
Chairman’s musings.
Rates
have been held at £5 per household for the 4th year running. If you
are one of the 8 members who have not received their new pretty pink membership
card please contact Sandra or John urgently. ËËË
he
final members’ meeting of the season will
be held on 10th March, when we will be hearing from Anne King all
about “Cliffs, Caves and Contraband”. Make a note in your diary for 7.30 at
the Methodist Church Hall. ËËË
he
next big event in our calendar will
be the Companion Dog Show on 1st May. This is a big local attraction
that Audrey and Dave organise for us in the Memorial Hall - or more accurately
if we are blessed with decent weather on the recreation ground behind the
Memorial Hall. We can pretty well guarantee there will be some laughs and a few
“aaah” moments. Judging starts at 2pm - do try to look in. Admission is free
to members. ËËË
nother
date to note is 6th May, when our boules
season starts. Every fine Thursday evening we will be at the boules piste on the
Recreation Ground from 6pm, getting some practice in. New players with any level
of experience will be warmly welcomed. The only unknown is whether we will still
be able to adjourn to the Legion (or any reincarnation of it) after we have
worked up sufficient thirst.
n
addition to the planning work going
into the May celebrations with Champtoceaux, your committee is also involved in
planning for a number of other events and activities:
Remember, if you want to be among the
first to hear about developments in these projects or any other breaking news in
the Twinning, you should make sure that I have your email address. I promise not to spam you with all
sorts of irrelevant rubbish! ËËË
our Officers are:
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