13/04/10…Visit sparks friendship links between Thame and Romania

A FRIENDSHIP Association between Thame and the Romanian mountain resort town of Sinaia came a step closer this week after a visit from Sinaia’s Mayor and other leading citizens.

Mr Vlad Oprea, the Mayor of Sinaia, was accompanied by Mr Radu Savopol, local councillor for Arts and Culture, Mrs Simona Tudor, the Head teacher of the George Enescu primary school, Mr Marian Panait, Mayor?s Councillor, Mr Alin Filip, Managing Director of a local travel agency and Mrs Irina Teodorescu, town hall officer in charge of international relations.

SINAIA – THE TOWN

Located in a beautiful mountainous region in the foothills of the Bucegi Mountains, about 80 miles from Bucharest, in the Prahova Valley, Sinaia is one of the oldest and most famous Romanian mountain resorts. It is often referred to as: “The Pearl of the Carpathians” and is located at an altitude of 767m and 860m. Sinaia boasts ski slopes at an altitude of 2,000m, on the plateau of the Bucegi mountains and is a favourite mountain holiday destination all year round.

VISIT TO BARLEY HILL SCHOOL – Friday, April 09

Mr John Hulett, Barley Hill School?s Head teacher, welcomed Mrs Simona Tudor, Sinaia?s primary school head teacher, and the other Sinaia delegates. Thame’s Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, who is also a school governor, said: “Following their visit at the Barley Hill School, we hope to forge links soon between the two schools.” Barley Hill School already has successful links with schools from Germany and Austria where some of its teachers have paid visits and exchanged experiences with their overseas colleagues.

A BUSY ITINERARY

As well as a tour of places of interest in Thame itself on Saturday, April 10, the group visited Oxford to see some of the colleges, and on Sunday, were able to sample some local tastes at the Farmers’ market in the village of Great Hazeley near Thame.

MEETING OF COUNCILS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS

Following their busy weekend, the Romanian delegation met representatives of various local organisations including the Scouts, the Rotary Club of Thame, the Classic Motor Club and Thame town councillors. It was also a good opportunity for Thame Rotarians to meet the two members of the Rotary Club of Sinaia, Alin Filip and Radu Savopol.

The meeting started with a talk about the previous November trip to Sinaia by the Mayor or Thame, accompanied by her husband James, Cllr David Bretherton and his wife Margaret and also Zoe and Marius Ciortan, residents of Thame, who initiated the trip.

Town and District Cllr Michael Welply, said: “My first impression about Sinaia is? Wow! What a wonderful town, a gem in the Carpathians… After seeing the pictures, I like the style and the balanced architecture. I would love to visit the place. I am also interested to visit George Enescu memorial house in Sinaia, as I love his music.”

After the meeting, Cllr Jeannette Matelot Green, Mayor of Thame, said: “We have spent a delightful weekend with our Romanian friends from Sinaia. We have mixed business with pleasure by touring Thame, Oxford and local villages and meeting in the Thame Town Hall to discuss our towns? future relationships.?

Mr Vlad Oprea, Mayor of Sinaia, in his second, four year term said: “I was very impressed by the town of Thame and its people and their hospitality. I am confident we can find many projects where we can cooperate, as we have got many things in common. For example, both Thame and Sinaia are towns with a rich history. I am looking forward to forging links with Thame, similar to the ones with the other eight towns in the world with whom we are already twinned in friendship.”

Marius Ciortan, who together with his wife Zoe, were among the initiators of this visit, said: “I am very excited about the prospect that the two towns, Sinaia and Thame, will soon, hopefully be twinned.

“Many people have asked us: “What happens next?” The answer is that we will try to invite everyone interested in the twinning project together in a friendship association. Anyone interested to help or who needs more information can ring us on 01844 214 992 and we can take it from there.”