Thame’s part in Romanian festival

LEADING members of Thame’s Inner Wheel and Rotary Clubs recently rrepresented Thame at the ‘Sinaia Forever’ Festival in Romania. The event was organised by Thame’s twin town, Sinaia, in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania over the weekend of September 4 to 6. The delegates were recommended by Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association, since none of the Thame Town Councillors were available to travel during that weekend.

Thame delegation with Vlad Oprea, Mayor of Sinaia

June Bateman and Lynn Singer, from Thame’s Inner Wheel Club, together with Erroll Bateman and John Singer from Thame Rotary Club, had the chance to meet delegates from other European towns twinned with Sinaia which include Athis Mons of France, Kusadasi of Turkey and Dimona of Israel. They also visited the world renowned Peles Castle, built by King Carol 1st of Romania in the 19th Century, the beautiful 17th Century Sinaia Monastery, as well as George Enescu’s Memorial House with interesting information about the famous 20th Century composer and musician.

Erroll Bateman said: “We were delighted we were able to represent Thame on a three-day twinning visit to Sinaia in our first ever trip to Romania. Thame’s twin town is a surprisingly beautiful mountain resort. Our Romanian hosts were most hospitable and generous.”

Erroll added: “We had an enjoyable and informative meeting with Vlad Oprea, the charismatic Mayor of Sinaia. He and his town council team are very keen to develop further the friendship and exchanges among the people of our twinned towns.”

The series of visits to Sinaia have continued this week, since Graham Baker, traditional blacksmith of Gommes Forge is representing Thame at Sinaia’s “Unity through diversity beyond borders” international crafts workshop among other traditional craftsmen from Romania, Macedonia and Turkey.

Thame-Sinaia Friendship Association will organise a public talk where the recent visitors to Thame’s twinned town will share their travel experiences and twinning opportunities at Thame Town Hall’s Upper Chamber on Monday, November 23, at 8 pm.

Thame and Sinaia have been officially twinned since 2012 when the two town councils approved the Twinning Charter which can now be viewed inside Thame Town Council’s Information Centre.

To suggest people exchange projects or to find out the latest about Thame-Sinaia Friendships Association, please visit www.facebook.com/thamesinaia

SOURCE: Contributed by Marius Ciortan