Visits from Louviers

This page covers all the visits made between Weymouth & Louviers. If you have any photographs or stories to tell from past visits which are not shown here, we would love to hear from you. Help us fill in the gaps.

2002

THE Weymouth and Portland Louviers Society greeted visitors from its French twin town at a special reception.

The event, which takes place during the annual visit to Weymouth, was held in the Ocean Room at the Pavilion Theatre and saw the presidents of the societies from both sides of the water, the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Joy Stanley and the Mayor of Louviers, Franck Martin, exchange gifts. A framed painting of Louviers artist, Demarly, was presented to Mrs Stanley and in return Mr Martin was presented with a copy of author Maureen Attwooll’s book, entitled Weymouth – The Golden Years. Mr Martin addressed the twinning society members and spoke of the warm welcome he and his delegation had received in Weymouth.

He said: “The idea of twinning is to bring people together and to be able to discuss together.”

More than 100 people including members of the society, council officials and the hosts, who provided accommodation for the French visitors, enjoyed light refreshments and chatting with new and old acquaintances. In August, members of the society in Weymouth will travel to Louviers as guests of the French. Mrs Stanley praised the strong ties binding the twin-towns and the 52 society members who travelled from Louviers. She said: “The society members from Louviers enjoyed their stay in Weymouth. It was great to see old and new faces at the reception.”

2003

2004

2005

French twinners enjoy a feast

WEYMOUTH and Portland mayor Lynne Herbert has welcomed a party of visitors from the resort’s twin town of Louviers.

A special dinner was held for the visitors at the Portland Heights Hotel which was attended by more than 30 guests from Louviers.

2006

2007

2008

2009

Towns link up to mark 50 years of French ties

‘LONG live France, long live England and long live the twinning association.’ That was the heart-warming salute given at an event to mark more than 50 years of twinning links. Every Whitsun since, a delegation headed by the mayor of Louviers – or their first deputy – has visited the borough to celebrate and mark the treaty of perpetual friendship. In one of her final engagements as Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Anne Kenwood welcomed the mayors and mayoresses from Louviers and Portland.

This year Mayor of Louviers Franck Martin, who has been his town’s first citizen for 15 years, and Mayoress Guislaine Martin visited with 37 others from France. On their first night the mayor and mayoress were entertained by Councillor Kenwood and the mayor’s escort – her son Christopher – who took them to dinner at the Abbey House Hotel, Abbotsbury.

Coun Kenwood said: “I’m very lucky to have hosted two visits from Louviers during my year of office and was fortunate to go to Louviers last August.

“The French people are wonderful. I believe the twinning is very advantageous to us. The French love to come to Weymouth and Portland. They return as tourists and tell more people – who help to fill our hotels and guesthouses.”

It was revealed at the twinning dinner at Weymouth College’s Cygnets Restaurant that one of the party travelling over, a headteacher of a French school, is interested in setting up a link with a Weymouth school. The delegation toured the area during their weekend visit, including the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Coun Kenwood, who made a speech at the twinning dinner in fluent French, said: “The visit is of great value to all of us, increasing the friendship between England and France.

“As our friendship continues, so our twinning association develops. Vive la France, vive l‘Angleterre, vive l’association.”

2010

2011

French twinning town delegates visit Weymouth and Portland

A DELEGATION from Weymouth and Portland’s twin town of Louviers in France are visiting the borough this weekend.

They will meet dignitaries and other guests to celebrate 53 years of twinning at a series of events today and tomorrow.

There will be an official Twinning Dinner at the Portland Spa restaurant tonight when Roland Lienard, the First Deputy Mayor of Louviers, and 30 visiting French townspeople will be welcomed by the new Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Graham Winter and Portland Mayor Ian Munro-Price. Tomorrow both local and French members of the twinning societies will join in a trip to Portland.

Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Louviers Society Ted Nicklin said: “Once again it is our pleasure to welcome the French guests from our twin town of Louviers. “This year, it’s our intention to take them on a trip to the Isle of Portland. “Our French friends always enjoy their visit to us and particularly like to be by the sea.”

2012

2013

Weymouth and Portland welcomes guests from twin town Louviers

THE hand of friendship will be extended as Weymouth and Portland says ‘Bienvenue’ to French guests.

The annual visit by a delegation from the borough’s twin town of Louviers takes place this weekend.

Roland Lienard, First Deputy Mayor of Louviers, will lead a group of more than 40 people, and was expected to arrive last night. He is taking the place of Mayor Franck Martin who is unable to make it this year.

With his wife Martine, Mr Lienard has represented the Normandy twin town on several occasions.

The Mayors’ Twinning Reception will be at the Hotel Prince Regent Hotel tomorrow evening to be attended by three mayors – Weymouth and Portland Mayor Margaret Leicester and her Escort Ken will be joined by newly installed Les and Jean Ames, Mayor and Mayoress of Portland, and Weymouth and Portland Mayor Ray Banham, who will be installed next week.

After dinner, French and English members will be entertained by WOW Youth Musical Theatre.

The Louviers delegation will enjoy a day in Swanage today visiting the town, seafront and Durlston Castle. They return to France on Monday morning.

Weymouth has been twinned with the market town of Louviers, near Rouen, since 1958 and a reciprocal visit is arranged every year.

Weymouth & Portland Louviers Society chairman Cath Irving said: “It is always a pleasure to welcome our friends from Louviers and we hope they will enjoy their weekend with us. We are all hoping for good weather as Durlston Castle surrounds are stunning.”

She added: “This summer a mixed crew of English and French children are sailing on TS Pelican to France and back.

2014

French visitors’ twinning trip to Weymouth has D-Day theme

FRENCH visitors were given a warm Weymouth and Portland welcome during a D-Day-themed twinning visit during which the importance of young people was highlighted.

The borough welcomed a party from Louviers in France led by the town’s First Deputy Mayor Anne Terlez. She came in the place of first citizen Francois-Xavier Priollaud, whose right wing alliance was victorious in recent elections. Twinning history between Weymouth and the Normandy market town of Louviers dates back 56 years.

The visitors enjoyed a three-day visit which included a D-Day-themed twinning dinner and reception at Weymouth Pavillion. “Normandy owes a great debt to all the soldiers who came to liberate France,” declared Mme Terlez at the dinner. She added: “We were delighted to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to France for the 70th anniversary of D-Day and I want to thank your nation for freeing us.

“Louviers itself was liberated on August 25, 1944 – an unforgettable day which we will be celebrating next year.”

Mme Terlez, an occupational therapist, is the most senior of nine deputy and assistant mayors elected in Louviers.

She said: “The new municipal team wants to strengthen the twinning with Weymouth. “We have many children and young people in Louviers who would like to participate in exchanges.” Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Kate Wheller welcomed the 45-strong delegation. Twinning committee chairman Cath Irving echoed the civic welcome and Jacqueline Hamon, chairman of the Louviers Twinning Committee, said there was a need to create new links and contacts between the twin towns, especially for young people. A delegation from Weymouth will visit Louviers in September.

2015

57-year-old town twinning project praised on visit

A 57-YEAR-OLD union was praised as Weymouth and Portland welcomed visitors from its twin town of Louviers.

Mayor of Louviers Francois-Xavier Priollaud was unable to travel with the 45-strong French delegation so Councillor Christian Wuilque, spokesman for international relations, led the visit.

Talking at a civic reception he said: “Our twinning and exchanges with Weymouth have thrived since 1958 – it still has relevance and great value 57 years later in the present day.”

He was responding to the welcome expressed by Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Christine James, who noted that 1958 was the year she was born.

She added: “I know many friendships will be reaffirmed tonight and probably a few more made. I congratulate members of the Louviers Society on their successful and lengthy relationship. I am looking forward to visiting Louviers in September.”

Cath Irving, chairman of the Weymouth twinning committee, spoke of widening exchanges, including the visit of a group of Louviers musicians in the future.

“We welcome the exchange of any group with interests in common,” she said.

Jacqueline Hamon, chairman of the Louviers twinning committee, thanked their English hosts for their warm welcome, saying: “We are pleased to be among this celebration between English and French friends.” We will look forward to welcoming you to Louviers in September.”

The civic reception and twinning dinner was held at St Aldhelm’s Church hall, attended by about 100 French and English twinners. After dinner, WOW Musical Theatre’s cabaret troupe gave a rousing rendition of Beatles songs and got a standing ovation.

The menu included Dorset produce, with a choice between steak and ale pie and pork with cider and apricots as the main course. Dorset cheese and biscuits headed the dessert menu, while together with banoffi pie or lemon & raspberry meringue. dinner began with smoked haddock mousse served with Dorset bread and butter. The next day Lord Digby welcomed the party to Minterne House.

where he explained the history of the Churchill and Digby families, who had lived in the house. Lord Digby diplomatically said little about the massive painting of the Battle of Trafalgar in the hall, depicting his ancestor Captain Sir Henry Digby in HMS Africa, who had helped defeat the French navy in 1805. A superb English high tea was served in the Dining Room- plans to serve tea on the lawn being abandoned due to light rain. Lord Digby circulated among the French and English delegation, shaking many hands.

The twinning link between Weymouth and Louviers began in 1958, 57 years ago. Louviers is in Normandy, 22 miles south of Rouen. The reciprocal visit to Louviers begins on 2 September.

2016

EU twinning scheme needed “more than ever” as neighbours share beliefs in “justice and freedom”

TWINNING links between Weymouth and the French town of Louviers were hailed as a party from across the Channel were welcomed.

Christian Wuilque, representing Mayor Francois-Xavier Priollaud, and guests were invited to a civic reception during their visit.

“This annual meeting between our two towns and our two countries gives us all great pleasure. England and France share a common belief in justice and freedom,” M Priollaud told invited guests and dignitaries.

Weymouth and Portland Mayor Christine James welcomed the French delegation of 41 Frenchmen and women, to the reception, held at the Portland Masonic Centre.

She told them: “I hope you are all enjoying your stay, seeing what Weymouth has to offer.

“I enjoyed my visit to Louviers last year. I was most impressed by how clean Louviers was and by the way modern and traditional architecture is being successfully mixed.”

She added: “One idea I have brought back to Weymouth was your membership market in Louviers for clubs and organisations to recruit members – we will have one here in Weymouth as part of the Best of Dorset Show at the Pavilion on June 5 – so far 25 organisations have signed up. So thank you for that idea.”

She was accompanied by mayor-elect Richard Kosior and mayoress- elect Caroline Churchill.

Weymouth twinning committee Chairman Geoff McDonnell has taken over the leadership of the society this year.

He said: “Twinning is a force for great good, promoting friendship and understanding between our cultures and between our nations. We need twinning more than ever these days.”

Louviers twinning committee chairman Jacqueline Hamon, thanked the mayor for her warm welcome.

She said: “It is always a pleasure to meet you all in Weymouth, now in the 58th year of our twinning. You will be interested to know that in Louviers, we now have classes in English cooking. We would like to discover more sporting, singing, school and other exchanges to further enjoy the twinning.”

On Saturday, the French delegation were taken to Exeter for a tour of the city and the cathedral. They returned to France yesterday [Sunday.]

Louviers is a market town in Normandy, 22 miles south of Rouen.

Cllr Richard Kosior will lead the reciprocal visit to Louviers, beginning on Wednesday, August 24.

2017

Carry on Twinning! Links to Louviers set to continue after Brexit

TWINNING will continue regardless of Brexit.

That was the message as Weymouth and Portland welcomed a group from the borough’s twin town of Louviers.

The 39 members of the French delegation were led by Councillor Christian Wuilque, Briefholder for International Relations for Louviers Town Council, on his third visit to Weymouth, representing Mayor Francois-Xavier Priollaud, who was again unable to travel to Weymouth.

Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Kevin Brookes told the visitors: “Your visit to Weymouth is very important for us at this time.

“It gives us the reassurance that, whatever position we as a United Kingdom eventually take or whatever deal we eventually agree with the institutions of Europe, the spirit of friendship and co-operation that has been developed over the 59 years of this association will, I am sure, continue well into the future.”

He added: “One of the primary aims of the twinning movement at that time was to bring together towns and residents from all different parts of Europe, so that we could all learn from each other in a spirit of friendship and co-operation. Over that time there will have been hundreds of residents of both towns who have all made visits to each other’s towns. I’m sure that friendships have been forged and some different cultures and traditions would have been learned from these visits.”

Geoff McDonnell, Chairman of the Weymouth & Portland-Louviers Society, extended a special welcome to Nathalie Fizet on her first visit as President of the French Twinning Society.

He said: “We are looking forward to working with Nathalie, to ensure that the bonds of friendship between Weymouth, Portland and Louviers remain strong as ever.

“Today we find ourselves in a world where we face unprecedented acts of terrorism against our peoples, our cultures and our freedoms.

“I am proud of how our countries are united in standing up to this threat and I know we will ultimately prevail. I take the opportunity to congratulate you on the election of Emmanuel Macron, your new President of France. We hope he will be a strong leader, who will bring success and prosperity to France.”

Mayor and Mayoress of Portland David and Liz Thurston, attended the civic reception and joined in the welcome of the guests. The day after the Civic Reception, Society members toured Athelhampton House. Cllr Brookes will lead the reciprocal civic visit to Louviers, which begins on August 30.

2018

2019

60th ANNIVERSARY – SIGNING OF THE CHARTER

We all congregated at the Springhead Public house in the pretty Dorset village of Sutton Poyntz just outside Weymouth for the official 60 anniversary signing of the charter. As we gathered in the car park at the rear of the public house we were entertained by a group of Morris dancers.

Once we had listened to the Morris dancers for a short while we were all required to assemble inside a large marquee for the official speeches and the signing f the charter. The official signing was completed by Jane Biscombe, Clerk to Weymouth Town Council and Christian Wuilque, Deputy Mayor for International affairs.

After the speeches and the signing of the charter lunch was provided and we were entertained by the Dorset Wrecks. Then it was over to the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy for the official evening dinner.

More photographs from that day.