“I am amazed and delighted,” said Councillor Nigel Clarke after chairing a meeting in the town to discuss re-establishment of the town’s twinning link with Pont Audemer in France.
“We had difficulty with publicity about the meeting and had to revert to hand bills in shop windows in the town. But we still had an enthusiastic gathering of people who want to see the re-birth of twinning links with Pont Audemer.”
The meeting was addressed by Sheila Ward, the New Forest Twinning Co-ordinator, who explained historical arrangements for the establishment of twinning and the arrangements made across the New Forest district by various twinning committees.
Cheryl Blamey, Chairman of the Lymington Association, explained how that Association operated and the events and visits it organised each year.
The original twinning links with Pont Audemer go back many years, but the twinning committee membership dwindled and had become moribund.
The Town Council called the public meeting to determine whether there was enough interest in the town to re-establish the twinning links.
It is now clear that Ringwood Rotary had indeed continued its links with visits to its counterpart in France, Ringwood School has recently established links with the secondary school in the town and also members of the former twinning committee were keen to be involved once again.
A further meeting is being arranged for Monday 10th August at 7.00 pm at the District Council offices at 65 Christchurch Road, Ringwood.
Those who attended the original meeting and anyone else who is interested is invited to attend that meeting.
At that time, it is intended to establish a Twinning Committee to approve a new Constitution and take the links forward with our friends and colleagues in France.
Anyone interested to know more about twinning should contact the Town Council at 01425 473883
or e-mail: Town.Council@ringwood.gov.uk |
