Twinning with St Pol: 40 years!
Monday, 30 May 2022
Hebden Royd Town Council entertained guests from St Pol, France celebrating the delayed 40th Anniversary of Twinning between St Pol and Hebden Royd.
Visitors and their hosts were welcomed at the Hebden Bridge Picture House on Friday morning for a formal Civic Reception where the Town's Mayor, Cllr Jane Hoyle and St Pol's Deputy Mayor, Karine Deschamps thanked all for the upcoming weekends events and re-enforced the friendships between the two towns. Gifts were exchanged with Hebden Royd sending a gift of books to a primary school in St Pol.
St Pol Deputy Mayor, Karine Deschamps, Hebden Royd Mayor, Cllr Jane Houle, ASPAI President, Gerard Bocquillion, Hebden Bridge Twinning Society President, Val Stevens and Didier Hochart
Calder Valley Radio were able to record some of the event, along with interviews and this can be accessed via their website.
Our visitors were given time to enjoy the local area along with a trip to Dean Clough and the Piece Hall in Halifax organised by the Hebden Bridge Twinning Society. Our French friends are always very interested in the industrial history of the 19th Century. Karine Deschamps also attended a meeting with the Hebden Bridge Rotary Club, sharing her experiences as a Rotarian herself in St Pol.
The official welcome from Hebden Royd Town Council took place at the Picture House. This was very appropriate as after the recent floods St Pol raised money to help restore the Picture House. The two new chandeliers in foyer are thanks to them.
Hebden Royd Mayor, Cllr Jane Hoyle & St Pol Deputy Mayor, Karine Deschamps.
In the evening we boogied the night away at the HBTS social in Mytholmroyd Community Centre fortified by a magnificent buffet organised by a team of our members and their friends.
On Saturday afternoon we took our French friends for their first visit to Dean Clough Mills. They found the architecture and industrial history of the mills extremely interesting and were also intrigued by the Art Trail. As our friends love the Piece Hall, we then went there to reassure them that it had recovered from Covid.
The Civic Function in the evening featuring bingo fortified by delicious home-made pie and peas followed by cake. Everyone really enjoyed themselves.
BINGO!
Finally on the Sunday morning we said goodbye to our friends but looked forward to visiting them in 2023.
Anybody wishing to join the Hebden Bridge Twinning Society would be very welcome! Do contact Jane Jackson (see below) for details.
Contacts: Jane Jackson: Secretary/Communications Officer, HBTS
01422 846 081; 07770 657 496)
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