Tête-à-Tête
The Newsletter of the
Fareham-Vannes Twinning Association
March 2012
Dear members,
After last year’s successful visit to Vannes by members and a delegation from Fareham Borough Council, we are now preparing to welcome our friends from France for the ‘official visit’ in May. Work is already underway to draw up an interesting programme of events and we hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us during the weekend (May 17-21).
Before then, we have an action-packed Easter weekend with a concert by the Warsash Band and musicians from Vannes. Table tennis players will also be crossing the channel to take on our team and later in the year, we will welcome the medics from Brittany.
We still need some hosts to welcome our visiting musicians next month. Please let Christopher Mahy of the Warsash Band know as soon as possible if you will have a spare room over Easter. This is a great opportunity to join in the fun as they rehearse, perform and enjoy a few social events too.
Our popular French conversation evenings continue over the summer if you would like to brush up your language skills in friendly company.
With best wishes,
Karen Woods
07775 694266
Dates for your diary
Boat jumble
Sunday March 18: 10.00am: Portchester Sailing Club
In theory, the boat jumble starts at 10.00am on the lawn at Portchester Sailing Club, but most people turn up much earlier.
This is in aid of hosting the Vannes sailors next year when about 15 boats will arrive in Warsash. We are very lucky to have such a lovely area to hold this. Portchester sailors will be serving hot drinks to the early birds from the bandstand. This Jumble will once again be fully supported by other sailing clubs in the area.
Annabelle McIver
Talk about GAFIRS
Wednesday March 21: 7.30pm: Grove Room, St John’s Church, Locks Heath
The theme for our cheese and wine evening promises to be very interesting with an illustrated talk on GAFIRS which is Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service.
Our speaker will be John Lee who, last autumn, was made an Honorary Life Member of the Royal Lifesaving Society (UK) after 35 years service with GAFIRS, an independent search and rescue facility covering the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour. All of the crew are volunteers who give freely of their time to help others in distress in or near water. Their patron is the well-known yachtswoman Dee Caffari.
Do come along to support this event which is reasonably priced at £5 per head (pay at the door) which will include wine, fruit juice and a varied selection of cheese and biscuits.
Hope to see you there!
Beverley Thomas
Twinning concert
Easter Sunday April 8: 7.00pm: Sarisbury Green Community Centre
Tickets are available from Everetts Pharmacy, 26 Warsash Road and Leaders, 178 Bridge Road, Sarisbury Green. Adults £7, concessions (under 16 and over 60) £5.50
The Warsash Band is eagerly looking forward to Easter when we welcome 35 musicians of the Vannes Band for the weekend. Rather like the Warsash Band, L’Harmonie de Vannes has a balance of adults and students. Our visitors will arrive on Saturday morning. The bands will be rehearsing over the weekend although we will find time for some social fun too for ten pin bowling, a fish & chip supper and another trip out and about before our friends return to France on the Monday.
But the musical highlight of the weekend will be the Twinning Concert on Sunday April 8 at 7.00 pm at Sarisbury Green Community Centre when both bands will be performing a programme of light and popular music featuring plenty of well-known film music. With all those musicians on hand, we will also be playing some joint items with both bands combined. It is certainly going to be an evening not to be missed. Do come and join us.
Would you be willing to act as a host for one or more of the group? The commitment is not onerous but would ideally include transporting your guests to and from Sarisbury Green to meet the schedule of rehearsals, concerts and trips (to be confirmed). This is a great opportunity to further cement the bonds between our two towns. If you think you can help, please email christopher.mahy@westsussex.gov.uk or telephone 07973 186430 and I will be in touch with you. It is going to be a lot of fun!
Christopher Mahy
Chairman, Warsash Band
French conversation evenings
Why not join us on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Titchfield Community Centre from 7.30 to 9 pm, for an entertaining evening while improving or practising your French.
Here are the suggested topics to start each evening off
March 20 Guess the Advert – bring an advert – cover up the clues and everyone else guesses the product
April 3 Des Régions de la Franc
April 17 Who’s Who? Describe a person or character for everyone to guess…
May 1 Les Randonnées – petites ou grandes – (local walks)
May 15 “Dans le Sac!” Put a subject in the bag – lucky dip – talk for one minute!
(1st Tuesday is June 5 - this is Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday so no meeting)
June 19 Reportage de la visite échange de jumelage entre Fareham et Vannes
Avec Queen’s Jubilee Celebration
July 3 Charades - mime a book/film for others to guess
July 17 Build up the story…. “Je vais au pique-nique et je vais apporter…”
Add an object with each letter of the alphabet
August 7 Qu’est-ce passe en France? Topical events in France
August 21 Les Olympiques – your experiences or opinions
Sept 4 French Word Games - to enrich our vocabulary – please bring crosswords, word searches etc…
I would be really pleased to receive topic suggestions for future French conversation evenings.
For more information, call Val Brown on 01489 573854 or Nigel Sharpe on 01329 230683 - or just turn up.
Thank you
Val Brown
For details of more forthcoming events later in the year, see: http://www.farvantwin.hampshire.org.uk/programme.htm
Event reports
Annual General Meeting: January 14: Holy Trinity Church Hall
As usual, our AGM was a mixture of Association business and entertainment, with an excellent quiz ably hosted by Peter Trott and tasty fish and chips from nearby Whistlers. Fareham Mayor Councillor Trevor Cartwright and Mayoress Mrs Ruth Cartwright joined around 45 FVTA members for the evening.
We said farewell to Angela and Wilf Hick who were moving north. Annabelle McIver also stood down as Chairman after two terms of office. All three were thanked for their hard work over many years.
Members heard Annabelle’s account of activities over the last year including the successful visit to Vannes in May, coinciding with the Semaine de Golfe and the garden party at the Ellertons. There were reports of twinning visits and future plans by those involved in Table Tennis, Sailing, Flying and the Warsash Band.
During 2011, Association funds had been boosted by £1,055 but, as claims for up to £5,000 are expected over the next couple of years, it is fortunate we have around £8,000 in the bank. Peter Davis is taking over as Treasurer but we are still seeking a new Chairman, Vice-Charman and Secretary.
We now have 61 memberships, which represent 102 individuals.
If you would like a copy of the full minutes, please email karen@karenwoods.biz
Fareham-Pulheim twinning
Members have expressed an interest in knowing more about the activities of Fareham’s twinning group with Pulheim in Germany
Jean Luckett has sent this information about 2012 events – all FVTA members would be welcomed. Contact her directly for more details.
May 16: AGM at Holy Trinity Church Hall, 7.30pm
June 10: Strawberry Tea at 6 West Downs Close Fareham.
October 14: Kaffee and Kuchen at Hill Head Sailing Club 3.00pm
Our Advent evening will be held at the beginning of December. But our main activity this summer is the visit to Pulheim.
This is from Thursday August 30 until Monday September 3, travelling by coach from Fareham and staying with host families. The cost will be approx. £140 plus insurance. The weekend will include a visit to a Winefest and to see the Mosel in Flames, the annual firework display along the river. We will be pleased to give details of the weekend visit to members of the Vannes Twinning Association and other residents of the Borough.
For further information for any of these events, contact jean@lucketts.co.uk 01329 235242
Jean Luckett