2016 Twinning Visit WeekendofJune24th - 26th. TheSociety`sVisittoSaint-Omer . Friday24thJune, By various means, twenty twinners and their hosts arrived for an official reception at "La Motte Castrale" where the mayor of Saint-Omer, M. Francois Decoster, welcomed us. This was followed by a Champagne aperitif in the grounds of the old prison, while being entertained by groups of young musicians. The formal dinner was arranged for 8.30 at "Le Chic`O Rail" restaurant adjacent to the rail station. The menu included a local delicacy of stuffed pancake, chicken escalopes, fruit salad and wine.
Saturday 25th June We travelled with our hosts, by coach, to Lille, an hours drive east of Saint-Omer where we spent the morning exploring the picturesque "Old Town" and comparing it with the very modern Commercial Centre adjacent to the Eurostar terminal. Lunch followed in "La Petite Cour" restaurant in Roubaix which was , apparently, visited by the Queen in 1959 when the restaurant was a carpet factory. After lunch we spent an enjoyable afternoon appreciating an art and sculpture exhibition in the "Musee de la Piscine". This museum was an interesting and imaginative conversion of a 1930`s Art Nouveau swimming pool.
Sunday 26th June Saw most of us off with our hosts to visit "Les Faiseurs de bateaux" where we saw how the traditional Marais boats were constructed. (The Marais is an area of rivers and lakes very similar to the Norfolk Broads). Afterwards, we experienced the beauty, uniqueness and dampness of the Marais in two of these craft.lesfaiseursdebateaux.fr/ Lunch was with our hosts, after which most of us returned to England by an early evening shuttle. You will note that much of our time was spent eating and drinking.
2017 Twinning Visit Weekend of 23rd to 25th June. The Saint - Omer Society`s Visit to Deal. Friday 23rd June Our French guests arrived during the afternoon by ferry and Shuttle. After freshening up we all attended a reception in Deal Town Hall where we were received by the Mayor and Mayoress. This was followed at 7.00 pm by a formal carvery dinner at Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club
Saturday 24th June After an early start we all caught the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway to Dungerness for lunch.(The narrow gauge did give rise to some difficulties on entry and exit to the coaches but gallantry proved to be alive and kicking on both sides of the Channel) The lunch of choice was mainly a very well presented fish and chips Unfortunately during the meal the weather deteriorated drastically from warm and sunny to half gale and rain and therefore the rest of the day was left as free.
Sunday 25th Jun The day started for many of us by attending the Armed Forces Day parade outside Deal pier. During the parade members of the Society erected a tent for a buffet lunch on Walmer Green. Unfortunately, wind speed increased in direct proportion to tent erection and catastrophe was only avoided by weighting the tent down with wine bottles. Unfortunately, with many French in attendance this only had a limited effect. However everything survived long enough for all to thoroughly enjoy a fantastic buffet prepared by the ladies of the Society After the lunch, while the remains of the tent were dismantled many of us listened to recitals at the Royal Marines Memorial Grandstand by the Railway Swing Band - some actually danced on the Green! Most of our guests left in the evening. 2018 Twinning Visit Friday June 8th to Sunday June 10th. The Society`s visit to Saint-Omer This exchange had been re-arranged to coincide with commemorations that Saint-Omer were putting on to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the R.A.F. with whom the town had close relations during the First World War.
Friday 8th June Our members travelled at various times and means to arrive at the formal reception with our hosts at 6.30, where we were welcomed by the president of the Saint-Omer Society It was at this meeting that we were told of last minute changes to the itinerary - much to the surprise of our hosts. After the reception we spent the rest of the evening with our hosts. Saturday 9th June. An early start was required to experience the inaugural trip of the "Douglas Bader" town tour. This tour took in many of the local sites associated with his enforced stay in Saint-Omer after being shot down in 1941. As the R.A.F. (Formally the Royal Flying Corp) was closely associated with Saint-Omer during the First World War, and it being their hundredth anniversary, we attended the opening of an R.A.F. commemoration exhibition at "la Coupole d`Helfaut".
The exhibition was opened by many Dignitaries and their speeches and by far the most well appreciated was one by a veteran bomb aimer who had actually flown over Saint-Omer during the Second World War. A buffet lunch was served here, after which we visited a smaller commemoration ceremony in the "Chappelle des Jesuites" opened by the Mayor of Saint-Omer. When we were all speeched out a number of us had a two hour ride on a steam train which, unfortunately, was "hors de combat" and we were forced to use an old diesel suburban shuttle. There were, however, refreshments (after all, this was France) and we arrived back with our hosts ready for the evening dinner. Dinner was at 7.30pm at the restaurant "La Ducasse" on the canal side in Saint-Omer. The three course meal included a starter of smoked salmon and ham, a main course of chicken, potatoes and vegetables and a dessert of chocolate and fresh fruit. The list of aperitif choices seemed to increase as each diner chose something different until the last person seemed to have an infinite choice! After the starter, service seemed to take an unusual turn.
Sunday 10th June The day was spent with our hosts with most of us leaving on an early evening ferry. The weekend was a great success and very enjoyable despite late changes giving some of our hosts a lot more work looking after us.
2019 Twinning Visit Fourteen of our French friends spent the weekend of 28th to 30th June as guests of our members in Deal. They arrived individually or in groups by ferry and Shuttle, some, first visiting Canterbury. On arrival at their hosts there was just time to freshen up and partake of a welcoming refreshment before it was time to visit The Court Yard restaurant for a formal dinner. During an excellently presented and served meal our guests were welcomed formally by Deal`s deputy mayor, Councillor David Cronk and his partner. The following day, Saturday, our guests, hosts and members visited Faversham where some toured the Shepherd Neame brewery while others toured the town, market and quayside. We all ended up at the brewery for lunch provided by Shepherd Neame. Temperatures were in the 30`s during the day and the cellar cool drinks, supplied by the brewer with lunch, were welcomed by everyone. Saturday evening was free, allowing hosts and guests to follow their personal choices. Sunday saw thirty seven hosts, guests and members visit the Kent Museum of the Moving Image in Deal. This is a relatively new museum and contained a well displayed history of modern movie making, covering both the technical and acting sides of the business. Everyone was greatly impressed.
After the museum lunch was taken at Dunkerley`s Restaurant where the management provided a fine choice of food and drinks. After lunch, before our guests left for France, there were various visits to the Deal Open Gardens displays and the performance in the Memorial Bandstand by the Railway Swing Band.
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