‘Friends who dance together, stay together’ as the man may have said !

WHILST debate over Brexit rages on over much of the country, here in Thame French and English people were enjoying a weekend of culture-sharing, fun and friendship.

Linda Emery (L) dances with Ann Gillet (Image courtesy of Michel Cojean)

After 17 years, the twinning between Thame and the Parisean suburb of Montesson, in France, reached a milestone on Sunday, May 13, when a delegation from the two towns, including a teacher from John Hampden primary school, met to launch a twinning partnership between JHS, and a primary school in Montesson.

Plans were set in motion to welcome some of the pupils and families of the Thame school to visit the Montesson stall at the lights switch-on event in Thame at the end of November, and in the future to hopefully organise exchanges of emails, drawings, photographs and music CDs between the two towns’ schools, and even for skyping sessions.

Members of the meeting between Montesson and Thame, to begin arrangements for a ‘twinning’ between the two towns’ primary school pupils who study each others’ languages

The inaugural meeting, which took place in Costa Coffee, included Laura McRonald, who teaches French at John Hampden School, the Mayor of Montesson, Jean Francois Bel and his wife Andrée, Huguette Fouché, a Deputy Mayor of Montesson, the Deputy Mayor of Thame and Chair of the Thame and District twinning Association, Linda Emery, the President of the Montesson Twinning Committee, Anne Gillet, Phillipa Town of the group, Thame for Europe, Elisabeth Charriere who works with students of English at the Montesson primary school, her partner Michael Gitlin and Sonja Francis.

The group from Montesson arrived by coach on Friday evening (May 11), to be greeted by their Thame host families before going home with them to share an evening meal, and to bed to rest for a busy weekend of activities. These included a guided tour of the Oxford Colleges in the morning on Saturday, before eating a packed lunch in the old Court Room, courtesy of the staff of Oxford Town Hall.

Montesson residents, Jacques and Huguette Fouché, admire the water plants at the famous Botanic Garden in Oxford

During the tour of the winding, narrow lanes that the visitor to Oxford rarely sees, the visitors were shown the Radcliffe Camera, the Sheldonian Theatre and library, Brasenose College where David Cameron was educated, the house of Halley – of Comet fame, and most of the famous colleges that make up Oxford University.

Later that evening, a meal together and a Barn dance was organised in the stunning medieval barn attached to Towersey Manor, courtesy of Marie Jean Barnett. English traditional barn-dancing proved to be quite challenging for the French – and many of the English too! But everyone had great fun trying!! The band, TRACTION provided the music and the ‘caller’ showed great patience and tact towards his pupils!

And, did you know? The expression ‘Do-si-do’ in barn dancing, actually originates from the French ‘dos à dos’ meaning ‘back-to-back’ ?

A cake, celebrating three significant birthdays among the two twinning groups, was made by Norma Laver of A Piece of Cake in Thame, who with her husband, David, a staunch supporter of Thame Twinning, mingled with the guests, mysteriously closely resembling the royal couple, due to marry next Saturday!

Anne Gillet, speaking on behalf of the Montesson contingent, said: “Everybody – unanimously- spent an amazing weekend; rich with joy, friendship, discoveries and much fun!

“Every moment was just perfectly organised and the dance evening was a real highlight! In the coach we all shared our recollections of barn dancing. That was just fantastic !!! The dinner was excellent and the atmosphere so great. We’re looking very much forward to coming next year again ! On the shuttle back home, we shared pieces of Norma’s wonderful and delicious EU cake!”

In September, members and friends of Thame and District Twinning Association will make the return visit to Montesson for a weekend that will include festivities for the annual fête du pâté à la Carmen.

Linda Emery, for Thame Twinning, was delighted with the way the weekend went, and said: “There have been many links between the residents of Thame and Montesson over the last 17 years; this is the first time we have had a Barn dance! We danced away to a wonderful ceilidh band for most of the evening and apparently, our guests are already talking about coming back next year!”

For more information about Thame and District Twinning Association, go to here LINK HERE