Twinners Beat Blockade

2:56pm Sunday 3rd August 2008

• Some French fishermen stopped the first planned visit to France by a blockade of Cherbourg back in May.

Undeterred by this however a party of thirteen from the Bradford Peverell Twinning Association, boosted by two new members set sail from Poole recently with great expectations of an enjoyable weekend with our Norman friends.

Bradford Peverell is twinned with the village of St.Sebastien de Raids in Normandy.

With no sign of protesters at Cherbourg the Twinners made their own Normandy landing and were soon greeting our hosts who drove us to St. Sebastien and our homes for the weekend.

Friday evening for most consisted of aperitifs at one house before moving on to another for a supper which all lasted well into the evening.

Fuelled by wonderful Norman cuisine we retired wearily to bed.

The glorious aroma of French coffee and croissants would have greeted many of us on Saturday morning as we learned of our plans for the day.

Spending the day with our individual hosts members enjoyed a varied programme of sightseeing and excursions which included visits to Periers market , Coutance Cathedral, the Island of Tatihou, the Abbey at La Lucerne, Vauville Garden, a farm museum at St Lo, a music museum and a drive along the coast from Utah Beach to Barfleur.

Unhappily the writer remembers little of the drive home across the Cotentin peninsula having slept most of the way, a consequence of one too many glasses of excellent Chardonnay at lunch.

Breaking with long tradition, the Saturday evening meal was held in La Marie in the village and our two new members, Liz Cross and Andrew Barker, found themselves on the top table.

Elizabeth Lerouxel spoke warmly of her joy that we were able to visit the village after the postponement of the May trip.

Our chairman, Peter Davison, responded thanking our hosts and saying that he never ceased to be touched by the generous hospitality he found whenever our group came to St Sebastien.

Sunday morning for some meant the must-do mustard and cheese run to Champion in Periers followed by a leisurely lunch.

A real treat for the youngest member or our party was an opportunity to watch cows being milked on her hosts' farm - not a typical Sunday experience.

The journey back to Cherbourg came all too soon, fond farewells were followed by a breezy crossing back to Poole.

We look forward to seeing our French friends over here on the August Bank Holiday weekend when it will be our turn to host.

This report has been compiled by Nick Gill.

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