Uckfield delegation signs twinning charter at ceremony in France

Uckfield is now formally twinned with the French town of Arques la Bataille.

Earlier this year French visitors came to Uckfield to sign a special charter and now the ritual has been completed with a delegation from Uckfield going to Arques.

More than 30 people from Uckfield, including the mayor Cllr John Carvey, and their hosts were present for a ceremony in a packed town hall at Arques on August 28.

Mr Carvey said: “Our two flags are flying outside the town hall signifying the friendship between our two towns. I am thrilled and delighted that the hard work of both twinning associations has paid off and brought this about.”

There were speeches from the presidents of Arques and Uckfield twinning associations, Madame Laurence Tassus and Mr David Sudbery.

The Uckfield visitors were met at Dieppe by friends old and new from Arques. Many of the friendships began when an Uckfield primary school started an exchange programme with Arques.

Young people of Uckfield and Arques, who enjoyed a week-long youth camp of water sports and gastronomic adventures, made a welcome buffet to launch twinning proceedings.

‘It was awesome! I really enjoyed the whole thing,’ said Timothy Fordham of Isfield, ’I spoke lots of French and made loads of new friends. Can’t wait to go back."

The twinning was celebrated by a performance of Handel’s Messiah in Arque’s fifteenth century Gothic church.

David Sudbery commented on how the performance captured the international spirit of co-operation.

He said: “The Messiah was written in English, by a German composer who often wrote in Italian, first performed in Dublin and performed here in France by a Czech choir.”

On the day the charter was signed delegates were escorted to the signing and then through the town by a brass band, La Fanfare d’Arques, to the Chateau Blanc where a buffet awaited.

A giant game of Cluedo was played in the Musée de l’Horlogerie and later that night guests were treated to a variety of home-made suppers and activities provided by individual hosts.

There was a brisk walk the following morning along cliff tops to the fishing village of Puys.

The Twinning Association offers an opportunity to appreciate another culture and make new friends.

It is open to anyone to join for a modest joining fee.

A range of events and visits are being planned for the forthcoming year and will kick off with a Super Quiz Night at the Cardale Hall, Belmont Centre, next to Holy Cross Church, Uckfield, on October 8.

The pictures below include one of David Sudbery, chairman of Uckfield and District Twinning Association, Guy Senecal, mayor of Arques la Bataille, John Carvey mayor of Uckfield and Laurence Tassus, presidente of Arques la Bataille Twinning Association.

Another photograph shows French and English people who took part in the youth camp.

Then there is one of English and French twinning members at Dieppe ferry port.

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