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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT to the AGM – FEBRUARY 2008
I am pleased to present my report to the AGM.
We were pleased to welcome two groups of visitors from Chambourcy during 2007.
In May we welcomed a party of 19, mostly adults for a long weekend. The party arrived on the Friday night and stayed with their Lutterworth hosts for the weekend.
We all went to Burghley House near Stamford on the Saturday and enjoyed a guided tour of the House, a good lunch all organised by Anne Willey. In the afternoon, guests and hosts spent time together in the grounds of the House and in Stamford. On the Saturday evening we came together for an enjoyable Dinner at the Greyhound when we were joined by Deputy Mayor Ken Seymour.
The planned Tennis and Golf for Sunday was washed out but some Badminton was played before the group met again for an informal buffet lunch at Walcote Village Hall when we joined by the Mayor John Turner.
The weekend proved an opportunity to renew old friendships and make some new, and to discuss ways in which twinning could develop.
In July we welcomed 26 youngsters and 8 adults for a week of sport and other activity. Following the pattern of the similar visit in 2005, the 12 to 14 year-olds were hosted by local families and I am particularly grateful to the families of Lutterworth Rugby Club youth players whose hosting made the week possible. As in 2005, we were well supported by the sports clubs of the town and thanks are due to the Rugby Club, Cricket Club and Golf Club for their contribution to the week. A new departure was a day trip to London which went well, visiting the Tower, taking a trip on a River Bus followed by a walk down Whitehall guided by Lord Willy Bach before walking down to rejoin the coach at Buckingham Palace. With the experience of 2005 to guide us, the visit went very well and was much appreciated by the visitors.
With the two visits, we were less active on the social side but got together recently for a successful Bangers and Mash evening and thanks are due to those who arranged that.
For 2008, our friends in France have invited a party of adults to travel over for the late May Bank Holiday weekend of 23rd to 26th May and the group numbers will soon be sorted for that.
The more difficult project is arranging a visit of 12 to 14 year-olds from Lutterworth to Chambourcy in October. Several meetings have been held with Carl Hunt, the Acting Head of the High School. A number of issues remain to be resolved including the possible involvement of the school in the staffing of the trip, risk issues and funding. The Committee regard this trip as a most important part of the development of twinning and will be working hard to overcome any difficulties although it is not yet clear that this will be possible.
Through existing and new contacts, we have been able to enable both Lutterworth College and Gilmorton Chandler Church of England Primary School to make direct school to school contact which we hope will lead to twinning activities for children of those age groups. If these contacts bear fruit, and the October trip involving High School pupils takes place as planned, we will have been able to involve some young local people in twinning at all three school age groups.
During the year the Association played its part in Town affairs with a successful stall on the Saturday of Feast Week and by providing a team of marshals for the switching-on of the Christmas Lights.
During recent months the Committee has been in discussion with the Town Council, explaining the funding that the Association needs to be able to maintain the twinning links. The Town Council has re-affirmed it’s commitment to Twinning and this is mirrored by a message of good wishes recently received from Chambourcy. In the discussions with the Town Council it was agreed that it was important to involve as many local people as possible in twinning and making this AGM an open meeting is part of that process.
In closing, I would like to than all those, whether on the Committee or otherwise, who have contributed to our efforts in the last year and who are working towards the further development of twinning with Chambourcy.