Within weeks of taking on the role of Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill will host the 48th Gosport - Royan Twinning celebrations, here in Gosport.
Twinning group members are looking forward to this year’s event and the chance to socialise, visit places of interest and for the sportsmen and women amongst them to challenge their opponents from across the channel to some friendly rivalry!
Held in each others country on alternate years, this year it is the turn of France to cross the water, and where here in Gosport from Thursday 24 May to Monday 28 May a host of celebrations will take place.
It promises to be one of the largest contingencies for many years, with well over a hundred Royannais expected to make the journey, and not just civic dignitaries, but those representing sporting groups such as Rugby, Golf, Table Tennis and Football clubs from the town. Increasing the participants on both sides of the water and new for this year is the Judo contingency. They bring a 41 strong group to the twinning event, 17 from Royan.
“We expect well over 300 people in all to take part over the five days,” said Angela Whitbread, Honorary Secretary of the Royan Twinning Committee. “Some of this year’s visitors are relatively new to twinning, whilst others have been exchanging for twenty, thirty and some even forty years or more. In fact, since the twinning charter was first signed by the then Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Giles, way back in July 1959 we have seen, amongst our twinning families - people get married, have children and then their children grow up and get married, with some hosts even attending the weddings, such are the friendships forged.”
The Gosport/Royan twinning is hailed throughout Europe as one of the most successful partnerships, which in 2009 will celebrate its 50 Anniversary. If you are interested in becoming a member and taking part in future twinning visits then please contact Angela Whitbread
Tel: (023) 9255 3500 or e-mail her at
rwhitbread@waitrose.com Alternatively to read more about the Gosport/Royan Twinning check out the Council website at
www.gosport.gov.uk
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