The town of Eye is twinned with Pouzauges, a small town in the Vendee region of France. This active twinning link has been in existence since 1988 – over 30 years of joint community activities.Broadening the mutual understanding of their cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities. In practice, this has led to many wonderful opportunities to get to know some extremely hospitable people; to enjoy spending time in another country, getting to know it first-hand from its residents; and to the enjoyable task of showing Eye to our Pouzauges friends.
Every two years, a visit is arranged, when Pouzauges residents are hosted in Eye or a large group travels to Pouzauges, for a long weekend of social activities and hospitality, with accommodation hosted by local people. The Association Committee is currently working to extend the scope of the twinning activities taking place, and to encourage new links to be forged in between these special visits. We are seeking to work with other local organisations to help us with this.
We have an active organising committee who meet once a month to plan future events. Our programme of social events help to raise awareness of the Association and its aims, and to raise funds, which are used to subsidise travel to Pouzauges and to help us provide entertainment when our French counterparts visit Eye.
If you would like to know more, please get in touch – we look forward to hearing from you -
Secretary:
Anne Smethurst
01379 783476
msanneradford@yahoo.co.uk
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Coming Up – TRIP TO POUZAUGES – OCTOBER 2022
The Eye & District Twinning Association are planning a visit to Pouzauges, our twinning town in France, in October 2022. The Association welcomes and encourages members, both new and old, to join the trip.
Pouzauges is in the Vendee region of France approximately 60 miles south east of Nantes. We will be departing Thursday 27 October 2022 with a view to arriving in Pouzauges on that day at around 17.00. Our return journey will be on Sunday 30 October 2022, keeping the trip within the school half term break.
Whilst in Pouzauges we stay with local families and all entertainment and food is provided by either the family or the Pouzauges Twinning Association. The generous hospitality provided by our hosts in Pouzauges during our visit makes it a very affordable, enjoyable and memorable short holiday.
Some of our members will be making their own way, either by car or plane – and a small group may be forming a cycling party with support vehicle. For those wishing to make use of group transport, then the Association is hoping to hire a minibus and we have secured two volunteer drivers. However, spaces on the minibus are limited so we recommend you move fast if you wish to come with us and make use of this option.
We have been visiting Pouzauges on a regular basis for over 30 years now and many of our members have built strong and lasting relationships with their French host families. Fluency in French is not essential and hosts and guests seem to manage quite well with only a rudimentary knowledge of each other’s language. However, if you or your children are currently studying French then this is a perfect opportunity to practice your language skills and learn more about French life.
If you would like to join us on our trip in October then please contact Anne Smethurst, Secretary – Eye & District Twinning Association, by Tuesday 7 June 2022 latest:
Tel: 01379 783476 / 07792595541
Email: msanneradford@yahoo.co.uk
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30th Anniversary visit to Eye October 2019 – please click here for our report.
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Here is our resolution written in light of the June 2016 referendum result:-
A RESOLUTION PASSED AT A MEETING OF THE EYE & DISTRICT TWINNING ASSOCIATION, HELD ON 5TH JULY 2016 Whatever will change in Europe over the next months and years following the outcome of the recent Referendum, the Committee of the Eye & District Twinning Association is able to provide reassurance for our members, friends and supporters, both here in north Suffolk and in Pouzauges, that it remains committed to the principles of Town Twinning as laid down in its constitution. Namely, “To promote and foster friendships and understanding between the people of Eye and district, and those of Pouzauges and district in France, and those of other towns with which the association may later form links. To encourage visits by individuals and groups to and from linked towns, particularly by children and young people, and the development of personal contacts, and by doing so to broaden the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of the linked towns.” Town Twinning is not about politics but rather relationships between towns/areas and individuals within those towns/areas. Accordingly, the Twinning Association will continue to work towards extending opportunities to promote friendship and understanding between our two towns whenever and in whatever fashion we can. To this end, we are confident that the people of Eye and district will join together with members of this Association to ensure that our friends from Pouzauges receive a very warm welcome when they next visit us in the Spring of 2017.
Merlin Carr, Chairman.