News from 1959
News from 1971
News from 2002
FRENCH students from Weymouth’s twin town of Louviers were introduced to the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland at a reception held in their honour.
The media students, who are schooled at Lycee des Fontenelles just north of Paris, are taking part in an exchange visit with their counterparts at Weymouth College.
News from 2007
Ratcatchers saved and twinning cash safe
PLEAS to save Weymouth & Portland’s pest control officer and funding for twinning societies have been heeded by councillors. Concerned resident Barbara Howe told members of the council’s management committee that the pest control officer post was about more than killing rats. And German Marie Wehlack told the committee that scrapping funding for Weymouth and Portland’s twinning societies would be like ‘losing the biggest peace movement on the earth’. Officers had recommended the council stopped providing pest control services in order to save £19,300 a year. They had also recommended cutting the £2,000 a year grant to the Holzwickede and Louviers societies. The societies use the money to help entertain and accommodate visiting dignitaries from the German and French towns. Miss Howe, of Dorchester Road, Weymouth, said tourism might suffer if the post of pest control officer was abolished in the borough. She said: “Local authority pest management is about more than just killing rats. It’s about protecting public health. I didn’t make that up. It’s in a report by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
“Weymouth will not remain a popular tourist resort if we are overrun by dangerous vermin. How about a new advert: ‘Enjoy your picnic in our parks and don’t be frightened of our rats as they join in’.
“They only urinate 80 to 90 times a minute on the grass you are sitting on and their fleas don’t spread more than a couple of life-threatening diseases.”
Message At first, management committee members were tied at four votes each way on whether to save the position – mirroring the split between councillors on whether to scrap it in the first place.
In the end it was down to committee chairman Howard Legg to make the latest casting vote and save the post.
Committee members were also told funding for Weymouth and Portland’s twinning societies helped boost the area’s image abroad and increases tourism.
Frau Wehlack, who came from Germany to address councillors, said: “What kind of message does it send if the town turns its back on its international twins?
“These twinning societies are some of the biggest peace movements on the earth.”
Pauline Crump, chairman of the Holzwickede twinning society, and Cathy Irving, chairman of the Weymouth and Portland-Louviers Society, both urged councillors to save funding for their groups.
Councillor Doug Hollings said there was a moral and historical obligation to maintain the town’s twinning links.
Committee members unanimously voted to reverse the decision to scrap the societies’ funding.
News from 2008
He’s a card
POSTCARD collector Alderman Andy Hutchings showed some of his postcards to members of the Louviers twinning society at their monthly meeting. He spoke of photographer Edwin Seward, who had recorded scenes on the beach and promenade, in the town centre and even road accidents. One of his favourite postcards was the PS Empress steaming through the Town Bridge just after the Duke of York had opened it in 1930.
Twin win
News from 2011
Weymouth and Portland Louviers Society says farewell to long-serving duo
A TWINNING association has said farewell to two of its long-standing members who have a total of more than 40 years of service.
The Weymouth and Portland Louviers Society paid tribute to joint vice chairman David Stone who has been on the committee for 27 years and general secretary Betty Adams who has served for 15 years at the society’s AGM.
The Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Paul Kimber, who is honorary president of the society, presided at the event.
Chairman Ted Nicklin thanked the mayor for his enthusiastic support for the French twinning group throughout the year.
He said the visit from Louviers in June and the trip to France in August had both been a great success which hopefully would be repeated this year.
The twinning dinner at Weymouth College’s Cygnets restaurant, attended by the mayors of Weymouth and Portland, Portland and Louviers, was also a success.
Society spokesman Michel Hooper-Immins added: “During a visit to France in August, a Weymouth Scouts scarf and a specially-made wooden toggle engraved with the twin town names were presented by Mayor Paul Kimber to Franck Martin, Mayor of Louviers.
“The scout scarf and toggle will be passed on to the Louviers scout troop and will hopefully launch an exchange of scouts between the two towns.”
French-speaking Pam Nicklin was elected as the new general secretary with Alan Roberts as the new minutes secretary.
Franck Martin, the Mayor of Louviers, will lead the delegation from the Normandy twin town when they arrive in Weymouth on June 10.
The twinning dinner will be held this year at the Portland Spa Restaurant.
The twinning between Weymouth and Louviers in Normandy began in 1958.
The society meets every third Monday of the month at the United Reform Church Hall in Spa Road, Radipole.
News from 2013
Former mayors become life vice-presidents of French twinning club
TWO former mayors of Weymouth have been made life vice presidents of the town’s French twinning group.
Roy Gainey and Peter Rendall, both aldermen who used to be on Weymouth & Portland Borough Council have served the Weymouth and Portland -Louviers Society for 41 years. The move came at the annual meeting of the society and election of committee members.The group maintains links between the borough and the market town in Normandy.
Founder member Michel Hooper-Immins said: “Alderman and freeman of the borough Roy Gainey and alderman Peter Rendall have served our society for 41 years, a remarkable record in the cause of advancing twinning.
Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Margaret Leicester chaired the meeting as society president and added her congratulations to both men.
Cath Irving was re-elected as chairman and Geoff McDonnell stays as vice chairman.
All officers were re-elected: Pam Nicklin, general secretary; Tom Martindill, treasurer; Alan Roberts, minutes secretary; Ann Rendall, welfare secretary; Janette Martindill, accommodation and social secretary; Michel Hooper-Immins, public relations; and Ted Nicklin, membership.
Three further members were elected to the committee – Lynn Beecroft, Richard Prior and alderman Peter Rendall.
Coun Leicester was reaffirmed as president and deputy mayor Ray Banham became a vice president.
Franck Martin, the Mayor of Louviers, is expected to lead the French delegation, beginning on Friday May 17.
News from 2014
New mayor named in twin town of Louviers
CIVIC leaders in Weymouth have sent a message of congratulations across the Channel to the newly elected mayor in Weymouth and Portland’s twin town of Louviers.
Francois-Xavier Priollaud, 38, was elected by the Municipal Council as the first citizen of the Normandy market town following elections that saw the right wing alliance taking 25 of the 33 council seats.
News from 2015
News from 2016
Get twinning and start winning – Weymouth & Portland Louviers Society set to strengthen community ties
Weymouth & Portland Louviers Society raising awareness
A GROUP which strives to strengthen links with communities on both sides of the Channel has a new person in charge.
And Geoff McDonnell, who has been elected as the new Chairman of the Weymouth & Portland Louviers Society, says he wants to raise awareness of the twinning benefits between communities and get more youngsters involved. Twinning, which was promoted after the Second World War, provides the opportunity to find out more about the daily lives of citizens in other European countries, and exchange experiences. As well as links with the Normandy market town of Louviers, near Rouen, an association which began in 1958, Weymouth and Portland is also twinned with Holzwickede in Germany. Mr McDonnell, who has lived and worked in Weymouth as a civil servant for most of his life, said: “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.”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.”He succeeds Cath Irving, who held the post for three years and now becomes vice chairman. Borough mayor Christine James presided at the society’s annual general meeting in her capacity as president. She 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,” said Cllr 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.
NEWS FROM 2017
NEWS FROM 2018
WEYMOUTH’s TWINNING WITH LOUVIERS APPROACHES THE DIAMOND JUBILEE
Retired schoolteacher Cath Irving has been elected Chairman of the Weymouth & Portland Louviers Society, her third stint in the leading role. The twinning society celebrates their diamond jubilee later this year, 60 years from when the twinning charter- promising friendship in perpetuity- was signed in the Normandy town of Louviers in 1958.
Founder member Michel Hooper-Immins asked the Mayor what civic support there will be for twinning if the proposed unitary authority comes about next year. Councillor Kevin Brookes responded that twinning was one of many aspects that had yet to be decided, but that he would be making sure it was discussed in due course.
Retiring Chairman Geoff McDonnell told the annual meeting, chaired by Coun Kevin Brookes, Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, that it had been a successful year, but marred by the death of three stalwarts- Jack Irving, Priscilla McGowan and Mary Stone. One day of the seafront stall had raised almost a thousand pounds for twinning funds. The visit to Athelhampton House had been the highlight of the visit by the French delegation and the September visit to Louviers had likewise been a great success, stopping over at Granville. He concluded by thanking Society members for their support, the committee for their hard work and the Mayor & Mayoress for their constant support of twinning.
Officers elected were Cath Irving [Chairman,] Ted Nicklin and Mike Beecroft [Vice Chairmen,] Pam Nicklin [General Secretary,] Bob Scott [Treasurer,] Michel Hooper-Immins [Public Relations Officer,] Alderman Peter & Ann Rendall [Welfare Secretaries,] Janette Martindill [Accommodation Secretary,] Tom Martindill [Membership Secretary] and Joyce Scott [Minutes Secretary.] Committeeman Richard Prior stood down due to ill health.
Councillor Kevin Brookes, Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, continues as President, with the Deputy Mayor and the Town Mayor of Portland as Vice Presidents. Long serving Aldermen Roy Gainey and Peter Rendall remain as Life Vice Presidents.
A majority vote agreed to increase the membership subscription from £10 to £15. The French delegation arrives in Weymouth on Thursday 17 May, staying for four days. The Civic Reception is being held at Crustaceans Restaurant on Sunday 20 May. The Mayor of Weymouth & Portland and the English delegation leave for Louviers on Thursday 30 August 2018.
NEWS FROM 2019
NEWS FROM THE 2020 AGM
Retired prison officer and former Mayor of Weymouth & Portland Kevin Brookes has been elected Chairman of the Weymouth Louviers Society,
Retiring Chairman Cath Irving told the annual meeting, chaired by Cllr Graham Winter, Mayor of Weymouth Town Council, that it had been another busy and successful year.
The visit to Statues by the Lake had been the highlight of the visit by the French delegation to Weymouth in May, even allowing for the cold drizzly weather and the September visit to Louviers had likewise been a great success, stopping over for a couple of days in Deauville. Cath concluded by thanking Society members for their support, the committee for their hard work and the Mayor & Mayoress for their constant support of twinning activities.
Officers elected were Kevin Brookes (Chairman), Cath Irving (Vice Chairman), Louise McDonnell (General Secretary), Bob Scott (Treasurer), Louise McDonnell (Public Relations Officer), Peter & Ann Rendall (Welfare Secretaries), Janette Martindill (Accommodation Secretary), Tom Martindill (Membership Secretary) and Joyce Scott (Minutes Secretary.)
Cllr Graham Winter, Mayor of Weymouth Town Council, continues as President, with the Deputy Mayor Cllr Colin Huckle and Peter Rendall as Vice-Presidents.
Weymouth Louviers Society 