Climate and Energy Charter Signing Between Deal and Saint - Omer Convention des Maires pour le Climat et Energie Saint-Omer, Saturday 22nd February 2020
Deal Mayor, Councillor Mrs. Eileen Rowbotham, Councillors Adrian Friend and Chris Turner, together with the Deputy Town Sergeant traveled by ferry to Saint-Omer to attend the signing of a Climate and Energy Charter between Deal and Saint-Omer on Saturday 22nd February. They were preceded, the day before, by five members of Deal`s Twinning Society, including it`s chair Sue Couchman. Due to weather delayed ferry crossings for the Mayors party, formalities were re–scheduled for midday and as a result, the visit to the newly renovated town theatre was brought forward for those who were interested
Preceding the signing of the Charter, speeches of welcome and explanation were given by Councillor Rowbotham, on behalf of Deal and M. Francois Decoster, the Mayor of Saint-Omer in front of an attentive audience
The signing of the Charter then followed with the Saint Omer Mayor, M. Decoster, explaining, some- what forcibly to Mayor Rowbotham the required procedure. However an amicable co-signature was eventually achieved!!
Following the signing, gifts were exchanged – pens made from wood from the original Deal pier and a container of mixed wild meadow seeds from Deal and a basket of local produce together with a book reflecting the local area from Saint Omer.
The Mayors, Councillors and officials (including our chairman Sue Couchman and her husband, Ernie) then repaired to the estaminet “les Trois Caves” for a magnificent lunch sponsored by the Saint Omer Council.
Meanwhile the rest of us enjoyed an equally magnificent buffet lunch in the “Maison du Marais” restaurant. An entree of cauliflower and leek soup was provided by “la Confrerie du Chou Fleur”. Again, the meal was sponsored by Saint Omer Council but prepared and presented by the town Twinning Society. The meal was accompanied throughout by a hidden pianist.
Continuing the non-stop activities; after lunch, a visit had been arranged to the “Palais de la Cathedral” (Bishops Palace) for a guided tour by M. Jean Luc Montois, the honorary Swedish consul in Saint-Omer. He had spent much time locating the original furniture and fittings from all over Europe and had even used Farrow and Ball paints for authenticity.
Following this we visited the town station (la Gare). This had led to much speculation earlier as to what this would entail – as, for example, a guided tour of Deal station would not seem that interesting. However........
.............. on arrival, it was explained by the tour guide, Simon Guegaden, that the station had been converted into a centre for encouraging small businesses and entrepreneurs, skills developments and artistic expression. The uniqueness of the project was made more-so by the fact that the whole facility was constructed inside the old station (a listed building) without affecting the existing fabric of the structure and could be easily removed if required.
At this stage the Deal Mayor’s party left for the ferry and we later heard that due to weather cancellations, they were stuck on Calais docks until 3am.Sunday morning. It had been a long day for them! In the evening, seventeen of us were generously invited to dinner by M. and Mme. Baron.
After breakfast, Sunday morning, those of us that were left visited the Musee Sandelin which houses many interesting exhibits both of national and local importance from clay pipes to international artworks. This visit was inevitably followed by a lunch, this time at “le Bureau” an English themed pub/restaurant. Then, after a very full, interesting and satisfying weekend we left (by Shuttle!) for Deal.