1.5 C
Dorset
Sunday, February 9, 2025
HomeDorset SouthCulture, the Arts & the History - Dorset SouthGUERNSEYMAN GEOFF McDONNELL BECOMES CHAIRMAN OF THE LOUVIERS TWINNING SOCIETY

GUERNSEYMAN GEOFF McDONNELL BECOMES CHAIRMAN OF THE LOUVIERS TWINNING SOCIETY

Guernseyman Geoff McDonnell has been elected as the new Chairman of the Weymouth & Portland – Louviers Society. An Employment Adviser, he has lived and worked in Weymouth as a civil servant for most of his life, joining the twinning society in 2000. Geoff succeeds Cath Irving, who was Chairman for three years and now becomes Vice Chairman.

“My aim is to make more people aware of the benefits of twinning and how it has contributed to building a stronger and more united Europe,” says Geoff McDonnell. “I want to encourage younger people to participate in twinning and to strengthen the already firm bonds of friendship that exist between the towns of Weymouth, Portland and Louviers.”

Coun Christine James, Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, presided at the Society’s Annual General Meeting in her capacity as President. The Mayor had made her first visit to the twin town of Louviers in September and will welcome Francois-Xavier Priollaud, Mayor of Louviers, to Weymouth when he visits in May.

“I thought Louviers was such a pretty town and was impressed with how clean it was,” comments Coun. James. “The church, a mini Notre Dame was beautiful and I thought the addition of a piece of modern architecture to the monastery, to make the new music school was a fantastic idea.”

Retiring Chairman Cath Irving told members the visit by the Louviers delegation last May had been a great success. She thought the highlight was the visit to Minterne House and Gardens, being welcomed by Lord Digby.

Other Officers elected were Pam Nicklin [General Secretary,] Ted Nicklin [Treasurer,] Alan Roberts [Minutes Secretary,] Michel Hooper-Immins [Public Relations Officer,] Ann Rendall [Welfare Secretary,] Janette Martindill [Accommodation Secretary] and Tom Martindill [Membership Secretary.] Mike Beecroft was re-elected to the committee.

Coun. Christine James, Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, remains as President, with the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor of Portland as Vice Presidents. Aldermen Roy Gainey and Peter Rendall continue as Life Vice Presidents.

The annual subscription is £10. Enquiries about joining the Louviers Society should be directed to Secretary Pam Nicklin at 01305 771773.

The twinning between Weymouth and Louviers began in 1958 at a special meeting of Weymouth & Melcombe Regis Borough Council at the Alexandra Gardens, during the mayoralty of Alderman Iseult Legh. Portland has been included since 1974 when the amalgamated council was inaugurated. An English delegation travels to Louviers every September and the French delegation visits Weymouth every May. Louviers is a historic market town near Rouen in Upper Normandy, 62 miles north west of Paris, with a population of 17,697.

Michel Hooper-Immins

To report this post you need to login first.
Dorset Eye
Dorset Eye
Dorset Eye is an independent not for profit news website built to empower all people to have a voice. To be sustainable Dorset Eye needs your support. Please help us to deliver independent citizen news... by clicking the link below and contributing. Your support means everything for the future of Dorset Eye. Thank you.

DONATE

Dorset Eye Logo

DONATE

- Advertisment -

Most Popular