Sailly sur-la-Lys Visit to Carnforth - 2010
The biennial visit of members of the Sailly sur-la-Lys Town Twinning Association to their counterparts within the Carnforth and District Town Twinning Association took place recently.
Carnforth & District Twinning Association is twinned with Sailly-sur-la-Lys in NE France, a town of around 4000 people in a mainly rural setting within the former WW1 battlefields of Northern France about 1 hours travel South East of Dunkerque, near the Belgian border and close to Lille.
The visit to Carnforth commenced with a short reception with tea and home made cakes following their arrival during the early evening of Wednesday 12th May which was held at The Station Hotel Carnforth and attended by Mayor Paul Gardner. The following day guests and hosts travelled to the historic house and gardens of Hutton in the Forest for a guided tour and picnic before travelling to Glenridding to take in a cruise on the lake to Pooley Bridge. After disembarking at Pooley Bridge and extremely competitive Duck Race on the river Eamont was enjoyed by all. Suprisingly the Fench contingent had never come across such entertainment and so another cultural aspect of life is exported from these shores.
On Friday afternoon another large contingent took up the kind offer by Mr & Mrs Reynolds of Leighton Hall who had most kindly offered a guided tour of the Hall which was followed by a birds of prey demonstration with up close opportunities for photos which was widely enjoyed.
No organised activities were planned for the Saturday and hosts were free to entertain their guests as they pleased. A group of French and English teenagers took to the trails of Grisedale Forest whilst their parants enjoyed the more sedate pleasures of Hill Top Farm, Sawrey and Hawkshead. Another group took in a guided tour of Heysham Church and the surrounding area.
The finale to the visit was a medieval themed Hog Roast where it was pleasing to see that the majority of the French visitors and most hosts had taken the trouble to don fancy dress. Entertainment was provided by traditional music and "Astral Circus".
It was generally accepted by both hosts and visitors alike that this had been perhaps the most entertaining and successful visit to date since the commencement of the Twinning in 2003, and we look forward to visiting Sailly sur la Lys in 2011 to renew friendships.
Carnforth and District Twinning Association welcomes new members. You do not have to be a fluent French speaker to participate, indeed the Association hosts informal French language lessons on a regular basis. For more information on joining the Association phone: Frank Barton 01524 733799, Bernard Simon on 01524 736740.