Past Events

We came, we saw, we were conquered.... by the wonderful hospitality during the visit to our French friends in Le Pré-D'Auge et Les Monceaux on 4th May 2017. 

Thirty three of us travelled by various routes to visit our friends.

The article that we have featured appeared in the West France paper during the midst of a media storm over the general election, so to have had a full half page in such a major paper was pretty amazing. The article translates roughly as follows;

TWINNING CELEBRATES 25 YEARS BY TASTING WINES

Le Pré-D'Auge et Les Monceaux- Twinning between Le Pré-D'Auge et Les Monceau and Abbotskerswell is 25 years old. During the weekend visit they discovered French Wines

REPORTING;

In the Les Monceaux village hall, the wine shop owner, Valery Touzé, presented in English and chose "a selection of eight wines, four white and four red, for tasting. Each one has its own identity," explained the sommelier, "all from the great grape varieties, and each one produces its own unique targeted flavour."

His explanation crumbled to the rhythm of glasses being filled to a third full. Each wine was presented with the full explanation about the grape variety. At the back of the room one could hear in English, the sommelier talking about the "freshness of a final note" or again "the acidity" about a white wine from Vaucluse which should be drunk very chilled.

Each of the tasters leaned over their glass, the best were swilling and lifting their glass and turning it to see the way the wine clings to the glass (indication of levels of sugar). "The idea is to show them, and to help them understand the diversity of wines and the local grape varieties." detailed Valery between two tastings. This expert who mainly sells to restaurants and runs courses in the Mos@ic Hall, admits to having a lot of fun. "These two wines" he confessed, laughing, this time in French "are the same grape - Cabernet Sauvignon - but come from different areas or regions of France. they are completely different demonstrating how important the area is." [terroir literally means the earth, but doesn't translate too well into English]

"The English had requested cultural exchanges, suggesting walking and cookery classes," explained Regis Roger, the Twinning Committee President. "We couldn't provide that for them this year, so we thought that a wine tasting would be a good thing." As it is, they've been given an entirely - almost - cultural activity. 

OUR COMMENT IN FRANGLAIS

Despite the good intent which was evident and the interest shown, all the tasters, English and French, didn't want to face tasting eight glasses, and so discrete basins were passed around the tables - almost a spittoon - to help them keep a clear head and clean taste buds for each wine. The languages melded; John, a journalist of 40 years with the Herald Express in Devon, passionate about photography but now retired, followed his old reflexes and took many photos of the tasting. He said in English "Five editions per day" about his paper, which over the years became a daily.

For the evening, the French hosts were planning a celebration in the Village Hall of Le Pré-D'Auge. There was to be an anniversary cake for the 25 years and a commemoration charter to be signed by several people, before the English return on the Sunday via Cherbourg.

IT HAS BEEN 25 YEARS OF CROSS CHANNEL FRIENDSHIP

The History

Murielle Hauvel, a member of the committee, remembers. In 1991 "The general council pointed us towards this community and put us in touch with those who we didn't know."

Serge Lemée, the mayor of Le Monceaux at the time and Claude Fournis who spoke excellent English, were sent that year to Abbotskerswell to make contact. "they signed the charter in 1992 in France. The exchanges began and the charter was countersigned in 1993 in England." Since then, the exchanges have taken place annually, one year in France and one year in England.

Regis Roger, the Twinning Committee President summarised the details; "We are between 30 and 45 participants each time. This year 35 people came over." Regis has been on the Committee for 22 years but this was the first year that he has been the President. "It's hard work." he hastened to point out.

During the rest of the year, the Committee organises activities to keep the association alive and to raise funds. "The English are in couples or are singles. Each is received by a family. After these cultural activities during the day, they often get together in groups of families."

Despite all the exchanges over the years, the English don't really speak the language of Molière very well, and some not at all. "They are always waiting for us to speak to them in their language." confessed Christian Doyère, blinking his eyes. He was the previous mayor of Le Monceaux. But when pressed on the subject, he admitted fairly easily that they spoke very little English.