Fête de la Musique -Blois, 20th - 24th June 2024
This year Lewes Twinning Association is planning a coach pary for the Fête de la Musique in Blois on the 21st June.
("The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment.")
Here is the proposed itinerary for the weekend. (subject to change)
On Thursday 20th
The Coach Leaves The Dorset Arms, Malling Street by 07.30 (please don’t turn up at 7.28) the
Ferry departs at 0930 (we must be there a good hour before). We get to Blois about 1900h local time, depending on all sorts of things. Check into Hotels or be collected by host families.
Friday 15th
Day of the Festival which begins late afternoon.
Lots of things to see round Blois.
Saturday 16th
Market in La Place Louis XII, another chance to look round or visit the Chateau.
Trips to be arranged.
Sunday 17th
Trips to be arranged.
Monday 18th
9.30 departure for Dieppe.
Lunch or shopping, or both. Need to be at the ferry for 1630 for 1800 departure.
For further information or to book your place please contact Dave Johnson email - [email protected]
("The Fête de la Musique, also known in English as Music Day, Make Music Day, or World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. On Music Day, citizens and residents are urged to play music outside in their neighborhoods or in public spaces and parks. Free concerts are also organized, where musicians play for fun and not for payment.")
Here is the proposed itinerary for the weekend. (subject to change)
On Thursday 20th
The Coach Leaves The Dorset Arms, Malling Street by 07.30 (please don’t turn up at 7.28) the
Ferry departs at 0930 (we must be there a good hour before). We get to Blois about 1900h local time, depending on all sorts of things. Check into Hotels or be collected by host families.
Friday 15th
Day of the Festival which begins late afternoon.
Lots of things to see round Blois.
Saturday 16th
Market in La Place Louis XII, another chance to look round or visit the Chateau.
Trips to be arranged.
Sunday 17th
Trips to be arranged.
Monday 18th
9.30 departure for Dieppe.
Lunch or shopping, or both. Need to be at the ferry for 1630 for 1800 departure.
For further information or to book your place please contact Dave Johnson email - [email protected]
Lewes Twinning Association AGM.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
On Friday 23rd March we held our Annual General Meeting in The Council Chamber Lewes Town Hall. We welcomed the Mayor Cllr Matt Bird and our Friend Elvira Hansmann from Waldshut-Tiengen .
The AGM was well attended by both Twinning Members and affiliated Members. And we Thank you for your support.
The committee is as follows:
Officers
Chairman: Carol Watts-Arnold
Vice-Chairman: Fiona Garth
Secretary: Jackie Price
Treasurer: Carol Watts-Arnold/ Sarah Beauchamp
Membership: Dave Johnson
Committee Members
Gretal Scott
Sharon Reid
Liz Long
Tony Murrell
A Presentation was made to Cate Stocken, who stood down as Secretary after 25 years. Cate was presented with A Gardening Voucher and A Rose Bush. Thank you Cate for all your hard work and dedication to Lewes Twinning Association.
On Friday 23rd March we held our Annual General Meeting in The Council Chamber Lewes Town Hall. We welcomed the Mayor Cllr Matt Bird and our Friend Elvira Hansmann from Waldshut-Tiengen .
The AGM was well attended by both Twinning Members and affiliated Members. And we Thank you for your support.
The committee is as follows:
Officers
Chairman: Carol Watts-Arnold
Vice-Chairman: Fiona Garth
Secretary: Jackie Price
Treasurer: Carol Watts-Arnold/ Sarah Beauchamp
Membership: Dave Johnson
Committee Members
Gretal Scott
Sharon Reid
Liz Long
Tony Murrell
A Presentation was made to Cate Stocken, who stood down as Secretary after 25 years. Cate was presented with A Gardening Voucher and A Rose Bush. Thank you Cate for all your hard work and dedication to Lewes Twinning Association.
Report of Blois Carnival 16th - 18th March 2024
Carnaval de Blois 17th March 2024
Once again, accompanied by members of Lewes Twinning Association, the intrepid Lewes Bonfire Boyes and Girls of Cliffe, Commercial Square, South Street and Waterloo have shown the locals of Blois what being in a Procession means to us here in Lewes.
Our coach arrived in Blois Thursday evening where we were met by Thierry Fontaine and other members of the Blois Twinning Committee who took three of our Twinning members to stay with host families. The rest of us played ‘the dance off the chaotic check in’ at the hotel and then went off to acquaint ourselves with the various the restaurants and hostelries of which there are many.
Friday, there were Torches and Fiery Pieces to dip and prepare ready for the Carnival on Sunday and with that done we loaded ourselves back on the coach to head down river towards Amboise.
First stop was at Plou & fils. A vineyard founded in 1508 (just one year before Henry VIII came to our throne) and is now run by the 23rd and 24th generation of the Plou family. The caves where hundreds of thousands of bottles are stored lay directly under there vineyard. The tasting was very good and the suspension on the coach certainly noticed how much we had reduced their stock on leaving.
Next stop, Le Pied dans le Plat, a delightful, quirky restaurant that can only be described as “A cave with a door on it”. A wonderful lunch.
Back on the coach and Amboise was our next port of call. An amazing Chateau and City centre make it a wonderful place to visit. Le Clos Luce which was owned by King Francois I in the 1500s became home to Leonardo Da Vinci and was where he remained for the rest of his life. It is now home to his museum and is a fascinating place to visit.
Back to Blois and an official reception at La Mairie hosted by the Deputy Mayor Cedric Marmuse was opened with speeches by him and Twinning President Thierry Fontaine, with thanks from Debby Matthews for Lewes in reply. Gifts and flowers were exchanged and a massive buffet with wines and accompanying music by Jean-Louis and Simone Doreau on Hurdy-gurdy and Accordion, made for a very convivial evening. A visit to the M Bar and it’s ornate brass bar ornaments was a must.
Saturday. A visit to the market in the Place Louis XII, a walk round the Chateau and general sightseeing saw out the morning. Our planned boat trip on La Loire was unfortunately cancelled due to the high and fast flowing river making it too dangerous. We instead headed straight to L’Observatoire de Loire to see an exhibition of life on the river in days gone by, the conservation of and future plans for what is France’s longest river. A splendid lunch of local breads, pates, cheeses and Cheverny wines followed.
One half of the trip went on to the Chateau Chambord, but we left it too late, while the rest went to find a TV to watch the final matches of the 6 Nations, La Duchess Ann fitted the bill perfectly.
We watched France v England or “Le Crunch” as it’s known, with our friends of the Blois Twinning, sharing a meal, banter, advice and cheering on our teams. A great game in a great atmosphere to round off the evening. The M Bar beckoned many again and the revelry continued, really quite late.
Sunday. A bit of a lie in and those that weren’t ‘Hors de Combat’ loaded up the torches and paraphernalia onto the cart and headed off to the Chateau for lunch supplied by the Blois Council. We formed up at the head of the Carnival Procession, igniting lots of Crackers, we were off.
Banners, Fiery Pieces and Torches ablaze, we made our way along the streets of Blois making lots of noise and smoke cheered on by the local populus, including Mayor Marc Gricourt who lit his customary cracker for us. Stopping occasionally to demonstrate the game of Cricket to the bewildered masses, we delighted the youngsters with plastic balls lofted into the crowd and on one occasion straight up the camera lens of a photographer who strayed too close. Nice shot Mr Leeburn. We didn’t win the talent competition but had a blast all the same.
An evening finding your own entertainment about the town saw our weekend out.
Monday. Up early, return journey to Dieppe, lunch on the Quai Henry IV, a bit of shopping and the ferry home.
We all had a splendid weekend, had lots of fun, saw lots of lovely places, made lots of new friends.
We owe a big thank you to Blois Twinning Members for our meal on the Saturday night, Thierry who organised all the trips out and Claude Duclos for organising the host families. Herve Bourit and Rachid Ennajib who organise all the Council side of the weekend, they give us so much, they help fund our trip, they give us a fantastic reception buffet.
Dave Johnson
Once again, accompanied by members of Lewes Twinning Association, the intrepid Lewes Bonfire Boyes and Girls of Cliffe, Commercial Square, South Street and Waterloo have shown the locals of Blois what being in a Procession means to us here in Lewes.
Our coach arrived in Blois Thursday evening where we were met by Thierry Fontaine and other members of the Blois Twinning Committee who took three of our Twinning members to stay with host families. The rest of us played ‘the dance off the chaotic check in’ at the hotel and then went off to acquaint ourselves with the various the restaurants and hostelries of which there are many.
Friday, there were Torches and Fiery Pieces to dip and prepare ready for the Carnival on Sunday and with that done we loaded ourselves back on the coach to head down river towards Amboise.
First stop was at Plou & fils. A vineyard founded in 1508 (just one year before Henry VIII came to our throne) and is now run by the 23rd and 24th generation of the Plou family. The caves where hundreds of thousands of bottles are stored lay directly under there vineyard. The tasting was very good and the suspension on the coach certainly noticed how much we had reduced their stock on leaving.
Next stop, Le Pied dans le Plat, a delightful, quirky restaurant that can only be described as “A cave with a door on it”. A wonderful lunch.
Back on the coach and Amboise was our next port of call. An amazing Chateau and City centre make it a wonderful place to visit. Le Clos Luce which was owned by King Francois I in the 1500s became home to Leonardo Da Vinci and was where he remained for the rest of his life. It is now home to his museum and is a fascinating place to visit.
Back to Blois and an official reception at La Mairie hosted by the Deputy Mayor Cedric Marmuse was opened with speeches by him and Twinning President Thierry Fontaine, with thanks from Debby Matthews for Lewes in reply. Gifts and flowers were exchanged and a massive buffet with wines and accompanying music by Jean-Louis and Simone Doreau on Hurdy-gurdy and Accordion, made for a very convivial evening. A visit to the M Bar and it’s ornate brass bar ornaments was a must.
Saturday. A visit to the market in the Place Louis XII, a walk round the Chateau and general sightseeing saw out the morning. Our planned boat trip on La Loire was unfortunately cancelled due to the high and fast flowing river making it too dangerous. We instead headed straight to L’Observatoire de Loire to see an exhibition of life on the river in days gone by, the conservation of and future plans for what is France’s longest river. A splendid lunch of local breads, pates, cheeses and Cheverny wines followed.
One half of the trip went on to the Chateau Chambord, but we left it too late, while the rest went to find a TV to watch the final matches of the 6 Nations, La Duchess Ann fitted the bill perfectly.
We watched France v England or “Le Crunch” as it’s known, with our friends of the Blois Twinning, sharing a meal, banter, advice and cheering on our teams. A great game in a great atmosphere to round off the evening. The M Bar beckoned many again and the revelry continued, really quite late.
Sunday. A bit of a lie in and those that weren’t ‘Hors de Combat’ loaded up the torches and paraphernalia onto the cart and headed off to the Chateau for lunch supplied by the Blois Council. We formed up at the head of the Carnival Procession, igniting lots of Crackers, we were off.
Banners, Fiery Pieces and Torches ablaze, we made our way along the streets of Blois making lots of noise and smoke cheered on by the local populus, including Mayor Marc Gricourt who lit his customary cracker for us. Stopping occasionally to demonstrate the game of Cricket to the bewildered masses, we delighted the youngsters with plastic balls lofted into the crowd and on one occasion straight up the camera lens of a photographer who strayed too close. Nice shot Mr Leeburn. We didn’t win the talent competition but had a blast all the same.
An evening finding your own entertainment about the town saw our weekend out.
Monday. Up early, return journey to Dieppe, lunch on the Quai Henry IV, a bit of shopping and the ferry home.
We all had a splendid weekend, had lots of fun, saw lots of lovely places, made lots of new friends.
We owe a big thank you to Blois Twinning Members for our meal on the Saturday night, Thierry who organised all the trips out and Claude Duclos for organising the host families. Herve Bourit and Rachid Ennajib who organise all the Council side of the weekend, they give us so much, they help fund our trip, they give us a fantastic reception buffet.
Dave Johnson
Proposed visit by L.ewes Operatic Society to Visit Waldshut Tiengen May 2024
On the 3oth May to the 2nd June the Lewes Operatic Society will be taking a delegation to Waldshut Tiengen to perform favourites from their past shows. Although the Lewes Society has made many visits in the past this will be the first visit to Waldshut-Tiengen for many years.