We can indeed learn so much from our friends and neighbours – especially ‘in foreign lands’.
This week, the Herald looks forward to the Twinning Circle moving ahead:
Members of Sidmouth Twinning Circle are looking forward to welcoming residents of their twin town in Switzerland next year.
Since 1984 Sidmouth has been twinned with Le Locle, the third smallest city in Switzerland, in the Canton of Neuchâtel. Historically groups from Le Locle have attended Sidmouth Folk Festival and there have been school exchange visits.
On Friday, July 22, members and friends attended a coffee morning hosted by Mrs Sheelagh Michelmore MBE, a founder member of the Twinning Circle, at her home.
Other events are planned throughout the year, starting with a Garden Party on Sunday, August 7.
Anyone who would like further information about the Sidmouth Twinning Circle can pick up a leaflet at the Tourist Information Centre, visit the website at https://twinning.vgsidmouth.co.uk/ or contact the membership secretary by email e.bearryman@btopenworld.com
Coffee morning raises funds for Swiss twinning visit | Sidmouth Herald
Indeed, there is a very handy website, hosted by the VGS:
Sidmouth Twinning Circle – Sidmouth and Le Locle
With a cheery photo from their blog anticipating the garden party next month:
Members Annual Garden Party, August 7th – Sidmouth Twinning Circle
Le Locle has a Sidmouth Square – with a red phone box of course:
Visits – Sidmouth Twinning Circle
The Circle intends to really move ahead – after a two year hiatus.
With some news stories from the archive:
Twinning Circle AGM | News | Sidmouth Nub News
Sidmouth Twinning Circle prepares for visit | Sidmouth Herald
Finally, as the pages from their website says, the Twinning Circle is very much about learning something about each other:
WHO BENEFITS?
Many more Europeans travel abroad nowadays for holidays or business trips but, despite social media and the internet, Twinning remains the best way for Europeans to meet face to face, to share information and views on their daily lives and to benefit from each other’s experience on issues ranging from education to social inclusion, culture or business and it is also great fun and very friendly!
Historically groups from Le Locle have attended our International Folk Festival and there have been several exchanges between our secondary schools; with our pupils visiting Switzerland in the snow, while Swiss students enjoyed their summer visits to the seaside. Financial and educational restraints have sadly seen these visits decline over the past few years, but the committee is working with the schools from both towns in an effort to rekindle routes of communication between our youths. Members of the Sidmouth Twinning Circle still maintain the link, with reciprocal member visits occurring every two years, in-between times we are raising funds and awareness within the community.
Sidmouth Twinning Circle – Sidmouth and Le Locle
That is: ‘education for sustainability, education for hope’.
Bienveue à Sidmouth!