RAYNE   Twinning   Association

Twinned with VERBERIE,   France

TWINNING  VISITS  2008

French Visit to Rayne ~ May 2008

Wow!  What a wonderful weekend we all enjoyed when our forty friends from Verberie came to visit us in May.

Our friends had requested to see some of village life in Rayne, so Stewart Caplen, deputy head of Rayne School asked some of the older children currently learning French to come into school on the Saturday afternoon and talk about life in Rayne School.  The children had worked very hard preparing their presentations and after answering questions showed our visitors round the school.  Our French visitors were extremely impressed with the children themselves and the facilities available to them at the school which they felt to be vastly superior to those in the primary school in Verberie.

It was a beautiful sunny day, so we walked from the school to the Old School Room where traditional English tea was served to our guests and their hosts; this was followed by the ringing of the church bells to welcome our visitors to Rayne.  We then walked down to the church where, after the peal had finished, our French visitors were thrilled to have the opportunity of climbing the bell tower to see the bells.

Our grateful thanks go to Stewart Caplen and the children of Rayne School and the bellringers for making this visit so memorable for our visitors.

In the evening a lively barn dance of over 80 guests and friends was held in the Village Hall which was enjoyed by everyone.

On Sunday, 2 coaches took us to the American Cemetery in Cambridge where there was time to look around before being taken on an open-topped double decker bus tour of Cambridge with commentaries in English and French which was hugely enjoyed by all, particularly those on the top deck of the bus.  Free time was available in Cambridge before returning to Rayne late afternoon.  Hosts provided an meal for our French guests on the Sunday evening.

On Monday morning, sad farewells were said as our friends departed for France - via Hampton Court.  Once again, a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all!  As they say - it just gets better and better!

If you want to join in with future events, contact Betty on 01376 345810

Joint Committee ~ October 2008

Rayne Twinning Association will have a few spare seats on the coach for their annual Joint Committee Meeting to be held on Sunday, 5th October in the charming medieval town of Veurne, just across the Belgian border.

Free time will be available to explore the town before lunch with our friends from Verberie (those wishing to make their own arrangements for lunch will be welcome to do so).  After lunch a visit to a local place of interest will be organised.

Departure from Rayne will be 05.30 hours with travel on the Shuttle, returning to Rayne approximately 21.15 hours.  Cost £35 per person for the seat in the coach plus lunch (details to be advised).
If you require further details, please contact Betty on 345810 or Sheila on 326742.