30/09/11…And the ladies wore hats – 10 years of Twinning

SO impressed were they by the hats they saw on television being worn by the guests at the royal wedding last May, that Thame’s twin town requested that their Thame visitors last weekend wore hats and dresses at the celebration dinner for their 10th anniversary.

Over 30 members of Thame and District Twinning Association made an early start last Friday to celebrate 10 years of its ‘jumelage’ with Montesson, near Paris, and John Francis, TDTA’s Treasurer, became Thamenews.net’s European correspondent for the weekend (because of your editor’s involvement with the Thame Food Festival) and contributed his memories of the weekend:

“Leaving Thame at 7am, Matt the coach driver (Mason’s) made light work of the journey through the ‘tunnel’ and on to Montesson to arrive an hour before schedule. Time to relax with a beer before the official reception. After the welcoming speeches we left with to spend the evening with our hosts.

The following morning it was back on the coach for the short journey to Paris. In the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, in glorious weather, we boarded our Bateaux Mouche for a trip along the Seine, one of the most relaxing ways to take in the major sites of Paris, Le Grand Palais, Assemblee Nationale, Musee du Louvre and the fantastical Cathedrale Notre-Dame.

After a picnic lunch we crossed the Seine for a visit to the Musee d?Orsay. The Museum is housed in a part of the former Orsay railway station, built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. This wonderful building is the perfect setting for the exhibition of mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915. It includes paintings, sculptures and an extensive display of art nouveau furniture (my personal highlight). The original station also provided a baroque ballroom and large hotel.

We started the afternoon with a guided tour followed by a couple of hours to spend either in the Museum or surrounding area.

That evening, hosts and guests were treated to a reception and meal at the Maison du Parc in Montesson. After speeches in celebration of ten years of twinning and exchange of gifts to commemorate the event, the younger members of the group released a mass of blue and yellow balloons.

On Sunday morning time was spent with our hosts, some travelling to nearby Versailles, some attending church or visiting Montesson market. After lunch farewells were exchanged before boarding the bus for the journey home. Once more we made good progress arriving home at around 9.30pm having gained an hour because of the time difference, tired but happy.”

Jeannette Matelot Green, TDTA’s Chair, added: “It was a fantastic weekend! The Montesson Twinning committee have given us a wonderful milestone bollard with the words: “495 kilometers to Montesson” written on it, which we shall find a special place for in the town. Watch this space!

“We gave them a tapestry of the two twin towns’ logos and the dates 2001 – 2011 stitched onto it, made by your’s truly which will hang in Montesson’s town hall.

“This year we were especially pleased to have with us on the trip Sophie and Sarah Jane from the Safari group in Thame, and their carer, Helen Gray. I hope this is the beginning of a very successful relationship between Safari and Thame Twinning.”

PHOTO: Jeannette Matelot Green in her ‘fascinator’ style hat, Don Butler and the Mayor of Montesson, Jean Francois Bel