The new website of the Weymouth & Portland – Louviers Society is now live. It exhibits a number of photographs from the signing of the Twinning Charter in 1958 in Louviers, by Mayor of Weymouth & Melcombe Regis Iseult Legh and Louviers Mayor Pierre Mendes-France. These black-and-white photographs have recently been rediscovered in the Society’s archives and show the Mayor’sdelegation from Weymouth on their first official visit to the Normandy twin town 59 years ago. Mr. Mendes-France had been Prime Minister of France until three years before. More information at: https://louviers.weebly.com
The following year, on 4 April 1959, the twinning was reaffirmed at a special Borough Council meeting,on this side of the English Channel, at the Alexandra Gardens in Weymouth. In the audience was 11 year old Michel Hooper-Immins, one of the two surviving founder members of the Society, who is today still active on the committee as the Public Relations Officer. He has made many visits to Louviers over the years and is delighted the twinning link is not only still in place, but has strengthened in recent years.
The 39 members of the French delegation will arrive on Friday 2 June and will be received by the new Mayor of Weymouth & Portland Councillor Kevin Brookes. The French party will again be led by Councillor Christian Wuilque, who is the Briefholder for International Relations for Louviers Town Council, on his third visit to Weymouth, representing Mayor Francois-Xavier Priollaud, who is again unable to travel to Weymouth.
The Louviers Twinning Committee have elected a new Chairman- Nathalie Fizet- and she will make her first visit to Weymouth. Following the Civic Reception on the Saturday, the English and French Twinning Society members will tour the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton on the Sunday, after lunch in Sherborne.
“No matter what happens with Brexit and the European Union, it must not be allowed to interfere with the twinning with Louviers,” says Councillor Richard Kosior, Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, who presided at the Society’s Annual General Meeting in January. “It is important we all get to know each others culture. Many people may ask why- in these times of change- should the tradition of town twinning continue. I believe it is an official relationship builder, encouraging people to meet, mix and get along. That’s why town twinning- at its core- is a good and important activity.”
Louviers is a market town in Normandy, 22 miles south of Rouen. Councillor Kevin Brookes will lead the reciprocal visit to Louviers, beginning on Wednesday 30 August. The annual subscription is £10. Enquiries about joining the Louviers Society should be directed to Secretary Pam Nicklin at 01305 771773. More information about membership is on: https://louviers.weebly.com
