Tête-à-Tête Fareham-Vannes Twinning Association To encourage exchanges between cultural, educational, professional and sporting organisations, and individual members of the communities of Fareham and Vannes. Newsletter - Spring 2016 News from the AGM Twinning success stories Hosts needed for September s 50th Anniversary Visit Twinning success stories At the cheese and wine evening on 7th April members had the chance to find out about the twinning exchanges enjoyed by our various affiliated groups. Speakers from the Warsash Band, Sailing Clubs of Fareham, Generation II table tennis club, Fareham Medical Society and the Conversation Group each gave a fascinating presentation to a full house at Holy Trinity Hall. An entertaining evening with talks by (from second left) Anne Saxton of the Warsash Band, Jill Pickburn - Conversation Group, Charlie Childs - Generation II Table Tennis Club, Dr Fiona McCrae - Fareham Medical Society, George Pickburn - Sailing Clubs of Fareham and music by the Warsash Band
2016 AGM The Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Mike Ford, the Mayoress, Mrs Ann Ford, and more than 40 FVTA Members attended the 2016 AGM and coq au vin dinner in January. Chairman Katrina Trott reported that 2015 had been another successful Twinning year with more than 130 people from the Fareham area visiting Vannes as part of various groups in 2015. The Chairman also paid tribute to Don Lucas, I am sure you will all remember the sterling work done by Don Lucas, as a member for many years and also as our Chairman, who has sadly passed away since we last met here. Many of us attended his funeral and it is a mark of the strong friendships made as a result of twinning that the celebration of his remarkable life was attended by Marcel, my opposite number in Vannes, together with Helène. Sailors reunion - and how to join the 100 Club There was a reunion of the sailors who visited Vannes in the summer of 2015 at Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club. George Pickburn gave a presentation and led a discussion of possible activities for the French visit in 2017. George also presented to Portchester Sailing Club in January as part of the initiative to raise interest amongst the Fareham sailing clubs. A 100 Club lottery has been set up by Jon Spencer of Warsash Sailing Club to raise funds for the French visit in 2017. You can join by submitting the form at the end of this newsletter. Flying the flag for the FVTA George and Jill Pickburn (Chair of the Conversation Group) have been busy, also giving a presentation about Vannes, the sailors voyage to the town, and the Conversation Group to children at Redlands School in March. Medical Society visit to Vannes The visit by Fareham doctors and their families to Vannes at the end of 2015 was a great success, reports Dr Fiona McCrae. We were taken to the submarine museum in Lorient and saw the huge concrete submarine housing and had a tour of the French submarine. The evening was in an amazing building that had been created to look like a chapel with stones and artefacts from derelict churches. A friend of Natalie Deschartres made fresh galettes with various savoury fillings, then crepes with sweet fillings. It was great for adults and children alike. Our travel home on Sunday was preceded by a tour of the emergency services of Vannes, with a look into the call room and the ambulances as well as the A and E department. We are all enthusiastic about having the French over next year.
Future events - all welcome, don t miss out 50th Anniversary Celebrations in September The highlight of this year will be the 50th anniversary of the Fareham-Vannes Twinning Association in September. Visitors from Vannes are coming to Fareham for a long weekend from Saturday 10th to Tuesday 13th September, departing on Wednesday 14th. A full programme for the visit is being organised including a civic ceremony on Monday 12th. Hosts needed for September visit We will need accommodation for our French visitors, so if you, or anyone you know, would be willing to host during their stay it would be very much appreciated. Hosting a French visitor is a great way to get involved in the social side of twinning and often leads to lasting friendships. If you can offer bed and breakfast and transport to events to one or more twinner from Vannes it would be much appreciated. Knowledge of French is not a requirement as many of our Vannes twinners speak some English. You will be most welcome to attend any or all of the events, whether or not you are hosting visitors. If you are willing to host, but are unable to attend an event, we can arrange for other members to transport your guests. If you would like to host French visitors in September, or have any questions about hosting, please contact the secretary, Nigel Sharpe, at newwicor@yahoo.co.uk or on 01329 230683. Conversation Group Come and chat in French with the FVTA Conversation Group Meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 7.30 pm in Titchfield Community Centre. Diary Dates May 14th - 16th Table tennis players from Vannes visiting Fareham s Generation II club July 17th Hog Roast at the Ellertons garden. Details to follow, keep an eye on your email September 10th-14th 50th Anniversary celebrations with visitors from Vannes. Details to follow. November 12th Annual dinner, Lysses House Hotel 2017 - January 14th AGM, Holy Trinity Hall, Fareham
Two members sadly missed Dr Leslie Ellis The Association lost one of its founding members with the passing of Leslie Ellis at the age of 101. A former Councillor for Titchfield and Council Leader, Leslie played an active role in the FVTA for many years. Carol Robertson Carol passed away in February. Chris Gorham writes, Carol had been a great supporter of the Vannes Twinning right from the start of the Association towards the end of the last century and attending most events. Together with her husband John many visits to Vannes were made contributing significantly to the success of those visits. In recent years her guitar accompanied her and gave great pleasure to others. Some years ago the then committee were unable to arrange receiving visitors to Fareham from Vannes so undeterred Carol organised the Conversation Group to host the visitors with a splendid programme which Carol had put together, including visiting the upper reaches of Winchester Cathedral. A regular attender at the French Conversation evenings in Titchfield Carol was always interesting and often amusing. Her wide interests in music and theatre gave her possibilities to share her enthusiasm with other participants. A really lovely lady Carol enhanced the lives of all she met and will be greatly missed. FAREHAM - VANNES SAILING TWINNING 2017 100 CLUB MEMBER S APPLICATION Thank you for passing me the information on the Fareham Vannes 100 Club and I confirm that I would wish to participate and will abide by the Club s Rules, and will especially ensure that all stake monies are paid prior to the monthly draw. Failure to do so will eliminate my number(s) from the respective draw(s). My preferred numbers are: (between 1 100) Surname: First Name:
E-mail contact details: Address. House Number or Name: Road: Town: Post Code: Number of Entries: I enclose a cheque, payable to Warsash Sailing Club for ( ) which represents ( ) weeks of participation at 1 per week. Note: Alternatively if you wish to pay electronically the details are: Sort Code 40 36 33, Account Number 71119508, Warsash Sailing Club Number 3 Account. The payment should be annotated Vannes 2017. All applications should be sent to jon.fairwinds@btinternet.com or Jon Spencer, 51B Newtown Road, Warsash, Hampshire, SO31 9FY. Please email any articles, photos, suggestions or questions to Tete a Tete editor, sarahnorbury@yahoo.co.uk For up to date news, and contact info for the FVTA committee, please see the website http://www.farvantwin.hampshire.org.uk