The last year bas been another good year for the Twinning Group which as you all know is a section of the BTLRC organisation from which we get admirable support.
We have again made two Twinning interchanges with our partners in the Lille PTT. The pattern seems to have been set, that we go to France in May and they come to Leeds for the return visit in October.
The visit we have just had from our French guests was another great success.
We met them at Oulton Hall for coffee and biscuits and to sort out which guests were staying with which British hosts. A family lunch at home was next, to show that the myth that only the French can cook is not true. The evening was spent in "The Albion", a real ale pub, for an evening of darts, ordinary dominoes and five's and three's and much to our shame, a French lady won the five's and three's, but we managed to win at Darts and Dom's.
This was free time for us to show our guests parts of England which varied from, the Beatle's Museum in Liverpool, to the beaches of Scarborough and all parts between. The evening was taken up by a "Yorkshire" dinner dance at the Thomas Danby catering college, good disco, Morris dancers - the lot.
The morning was spent at the 10 pin bowling venue at Kirkstall Road where on every visit we have an international competition for T'cup, sorry to say the visitors came second on this occasion. Lunch at Cookridge Hall was much appreciated. The evening was spent by about 18 members and guests at various homes on a "bring" and eat/drink basis.
Quiet morning of recovery, before lunch at The Mansion, Roundhay Park. Our guests left at about 3.30pm en route for Hull and a hopefully relaxing journey home.
Our visits to France follow the same general pattern.
Most members agree that the best way to cross the North Sea is by car on the overnight ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge. It seems to get the long weekend off to a good start, and the road distances are kept to a minimum.
We have had six club meetings at the homes of various members and the club is indebted to: Chez Pauline, Smith, Jones, Barrand, Hall and McBride, for the provision of the refreshments after the meetings.
Thanks to our treasurer Dave Smith, our finances are on a sound footing and we are set to continue in our twinning work, which, whilst we all enjoy the exchanges, is based on the virtue of a better understanding of another culture and an opportunity to visit France as a member of the family of the BT International Twinning Federation, rather than that as a tourist.
Thank you, to all members of the group who have helped in so many ways to make the last year enjoyable and productive, by taking on jobs of organisation during the visits, selling raffle tickets, allowing their homes to be used as meeting venues and to Gayle, last year's secretary, who has helped in supplying background information from past records where she finds them after the house move, I don't know. Duncan, we were only kidding about the meetings, super job.
Looking forward to next year, we have a reservation on the North Sea ferry for 30 berths - leaving Hull, Thursday 20th May leaving Zeebrugge, Monday 24th May arriving back in Leeds about 10am on the Tuesday morning.
If you read this and you are not a member of the Twinning Group and are a member of the BTLRC organisation why don't you give me a ring and join in the fun.
Ian Benton Secretary - Twinning Group Tel: 0113 2574851