Visit from Civray 2019
An absolutely excellent week for the Twinning Club and its guests from Civray was enjoyed in the first week of August 2019. Our guests arrived on the Monday evening having flown into Stansted from Poitiers airport in France. A welcome meeting was held before members and their guests departed for dinner. Old friendships were re-kindled and new ones made, there were new members from the French Twinning Club.
On Tuesday morning we departed by coach for Cambridge where we split into three groups for a walking tour with very knowledgeable guides. Following the tour, we met up at Christ’s College, where we were lucky enough to be having lunch served in the mediaeval dining hall. There followed a tour of the college grounds by Doctor Robert Hunt, there seemed to be little or nothing he didn’t know about the college. There was a little free time after, before we picked up the coach and returned to Downham Market. The evening was spent with hosts.
On Wednesday,a visit to Wroxham Barns, Norfolk’s award-winning visitor attraction was followed by lunch at Wroxham Waterside Hotel. Following this a two-hour boat trip was enjoyed before returning again to Downham.
On Thursday we enjoyed the hospitality of members Steve and Sharon Reynolds in their garden. Hosts and guests enjoyed fish and chips from a mobile van and socialised during the afternoon. At 5pm entertainment was provided by the Pot of Gold Swaffham Shanty Crew, an excellent day.
Friday was a very busy day, The Downham Market Town Council provided a reception in the Town Hall where speeches were made by Mayor and French Twinning Club President. Members provided their own picnics at lunchtime followed by several games of Petanque. The Main dinner was held in the Town Hall that evening, with catering by local firm Sally’s Classic Catering. Singer, David Vincent played his guitar and sang and the Partytime Roadshow Disco filled in the gaps.
The weekend was free for hosts and guests to make visits as they wished, we went to Welney Wildlife Centre and did some shopping on Sunday.
All too soon Monday came and our guests were returning to France. A superb week had passed and everyone appeared to have enjoyed it.
