Yearbook 2015 by peter davies

Yearbook 2015 http://llandrindodtwinning.wordpress.com/

Llandrindod Wells & Area Twinning Association

Llandrindod Wells

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Llandrindod Wells & Area Twinning Association A Message from our Chairman Welcome to our 2015 Yearbook where we showcase the activities undertaken by Llandrindod Wells and Area Twinning Association during the past year. As usual we started the year planning and fundraising in order to finance the year’s activities. We held a sale in May at the Community Shop and we are particularly grateful to everyone who generously donated goods and manned the shop each day. The funds raised helped us to support visits by thirty-five delegates from Bad Rappenau and Contrexéville for the Three Way Twinning Conference in May and the visit by the Grombach Band who had a very successful concert tour of Wales in August including a wonderful concert in Holy Trinity Church. Funds also supported visits to Bad Rappenau by Llandrindod Wells Youth Football team and a youth group reinforcing our youth exchange links. In July our French friends welcomed representatives from Llandrindod and Bad Rappenau to join them for the French National Holiday Celebrations and in December a group, including the Deputy Mayor and his family, visited Bad Rappenau. Looking forward to 2016 we have a number of projects planned. In May we will be welcoming visitors from Bad Rappenau and Contrexéville. We are keen to hear from people who would like to take part in twinning and can offer our visitors accommodation. We will be seeking Erasmus+ European Grant to support an August visit to Llandrindod by young people from Contrexéville and Bad Rappenau. The Bad Rappenau Committee has invited groups from Llandrindod Wells and Contrexéville to attend a weekend of activities, including Wine tasting and a visit to Lake Constance, at the end of September and we would like to hear from groups or individuals who wish to take part. We also hope that links will be forged between the Primary Schools in all three communities. We are indebted to Llandrindod Town Council for supporting the activities of the Twinning Association and everyone who has hosted guests from our twin towns during the year. We would be pleased to welcome new members and families from Llandrindod and surrounding area who would like to take part in twinning activities. The annual general meeting is scheduled on 18 May 2016 when we will welcome you if you want to become involved.

With Best wishes for 2016

Rob Shelton

Jan Feb Mar Another Year, Another Challenge

Following the first twinning committee meeting of the year on 14 January it was clear, that if everything planned was to come to fruition, then 2015 would be another full and challenging year. The fact that most of the events planned at that initial meeting took place is a sign of the dedication and hard work of the chairman, his committee, and those members of the community who volunteered to be hosts.

Annual Lunch

On 22 February twenty-seven members of the Twinning Association braved rain and sleet showers to make their way to the Hotel Metropole for Sunday lunch. The annual get-together, usually held in the evening, was the first event of the year giving committee members and twinning supporters a chance to meet and discuss forthcoming events in convivial surroundings. Sunday Lunch at the Metropole

Barbara Shelton & Nicole Mackintosh at the sale

Tabletop Sale The Association relies on the fundraising efforts of the committee and twinning supporters to generate income to help meet the costs of hosting groups visiting Llandrindod Wells from our French and German twin towns. On the last Saturday in February the Twinning Association joined other local voluntary organisations at a sale of goods held in Holy Trinity Church. Over ÂŁ300 was raised from the sale of a wide range of home-produced items including preserves, shabby-chic wreaths, Saint David's Day knitted daffodils, woolen socks knitted by Barbara Shelton, and pots of snowdrops.

The Twinning Association is grateful to all the local businesses who have placed adverts in the 2015 Yearbook. Without their generous support this publication would not be possible

Apr May Jun Charity Shop Sale

During the first week in May a fundraising sale was held at the community charity shop in Middleton Street. A wide variety of donated items were sold, from silk saris to Scalextric sets.

Barbara Shelton, Joyce Hope & Peter Davies at the shop

Manned by twinning volunteers, the sale raised over £1,500. The Association is grateful to everyone who gave items and visited the shop. Two sales will be held in 2016 in May and November.

Three-Way Meeting

In mid May a group of thirty-five guests from Contrexéville, France and Bad Rappenau, Germany visited Llandrindod Wells. The party was welcomed by Llandrindod’s Mayor, Councillor Elaine Worgan, at a reception at Llandrindod Wells Golf Club. The guests were accommodated in the homes of supporters of Llandrindod Twinning during their stay. The main event of the visit was a three-way conference for the twinning committees from the three towns when each committee gave a presentation on how they organise and promote twinning activities in their communities. All were pleased at the recent successful youth exchange visits that had enabled young people from all three towns to meet and take part in a week of activities together. Plans to further these links were discussed together with other proposed events. Delegates for the Three-Way Meeting gather in the Rock Park

A number of excursions were also organised. On the first day energetic members of the party made a circular walk from Llandrindod Lake to Shaky Bridge via the bluebell carpeted Happy Valley and in the afternoon visited Elan Valley before enjoying an evening meal and Ceilidh with their hosts at the Rock Park Centre.

Walkers at Shaky Bridge

All aboard for a wet and wild boat trip in Tenby

The second day included a day out at the Royal Welsh Spring Festival returning to Llandrindod for an evening of skittles and buffet supper, prepared by committee members, at the Royal British Legion Club. On their last day the visitors were taken on a day out in Tenby where they had an exciting “wet and wild” boat trip to view seals and nesting seabirds around Caldey Island. On their return journey to Llandrindod the twinners stopped at the Plough, Rhosmaen, for a delicious evening meal. The following day everyone met for a farewell “brunch” at Llandrindod Golf Club. Twinning presidents Babette Simonin, from Contrexéville, and Sibylle Hummel, from Bad Rappenau, thanked the host families for their generous hospitality during the visit which both felt had been a resounding success. Before their departure the mayor, Cllr Elaine Worgan, thanked the groups for visiting Wales and wished them a safe homeward journey.

Skittles at the Royal British Legion Club

Annual General Meeting The 2015 Annual General Meeting was held at the Hotel Commodore on Wednesday 20th May. After those present agreed the minutes of the previous year's meeting the chairman, Rob Shelton, congratulated Chris Rouse on her election as mayor and paid tribute to committee member Audrey Houghton whose death had robbed the Association of a hardworking and dedicated member. In his report Rob outlined the events that had taken place in a very busy year, his second as chairman, and thanked all those members of the Association, the committee, helpers and hosts, who had contributed to the success. He concluded by looking forward to the year ahead expressing the hope that it would be as successful as that just gone. The treasurer, Forbes Lopez, presented his report. All those present were gratified to note the surplus in the accounts. The chairman thanked everyone for their fundraising efforts and the Town Council for their continued financial support. The following officers and committee members were elected at the meeting: Officers: Chairman: Rob Shelton (1), Vice Chairman: Edmund Coady (2), Treasurer: Forbes Lopez (3), Secretary: Peter Davies (4), Fund Raising Secretary: Barb Shelton (5), Publicity Officer: Shanaz Dorkenoo (6), Hosting Secretary: Joyce Hope assisted by Nicole Mackintosh (7 & 8) Members: Elsbeth Vipond (German liason) (9), Jackie Hankey (French liason) (10), Martine Saunders (11), Deryn Gambles (12), Jeff Thomas (13). The mayor Chris Rouse (14) and Jonathon Williams (15) represent Llandrindod Town Council, with Cllr Tom Turner (16) representing Powys CC.

The Committee's link to Llandrindod High School is Jane Asplin and the link to Llandrindod Football Club is Phill Davies. Ray Trend was confirmed as auditor.

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Town twinning is an agreement of goodwill made between two or more towns, of similar size and character, in different countries. They sign a charter to foster friendship and goodwill. Reciprocal visits foster personal friendships and mutual understanding. By visiting a twin town, staying with a family and discussing things of mutual interest, we discover what we have in common and learn to understand and enjoy our cultural differences.

About Twinning The aims of the Twinning Association The Association wants to make twinning accessible to all sectors of our community and would like to hear from any local group wishing to make an exchange visit. These are some of the areas in which we would like to see exchange visits being arranged : • education, training and work experience • culture, music and the arts • sport and recreation • business and tourism development • social visits We particularly wish to support exchanges involving young people.

How is the Association run?

How can I get involved? There are no limits to the extent to which the twinning programme can be developed for the benefit of our community. We look to local residents and groups to put forward ideas, so that the programme can reflect the needs and wishes of the community. If you can offer

The Twinning Association is an independent organisation and relies on the energy and enthusiasm of local residents to make the programme work. A small committee of volunteers runs the twinning programme and keeps in regular contact with our counterparts in Contrexéville and Bad Rappenau. The committee is supported by a number of working groups dealing with matters such as fundraising, publicity and hospitality.

How is twinning funded?

Our Twin Towns We signed a twinning charter with the small spa town of Contrexéville in 1992. It is located in a region of low mountains called the Vosges, a rural area sharing many features with Radnorshire. Contrexéville was itself twinned with the German spa town of Bad Rappenau situated near Heidelberg. In 2001 Llandrindod Wells and Bad Rappenau signed a formal twinning charter .

The Association’s activities are funded almost exclusively from local voluntary contributions. The Association also receives grant support from Llandrindod Wells Town Council and seeks grant aid from the European Commission for specific projects. However, we rely almost exclusively on the efforts of our fundraising working group in order to meet the cost of receiving visiting groups relying on local families to provide hospitality. Additional funds are needed for the receptions and social gatherings which we arrange whilst visitors are here. These events provide excellent opportunities for visitors and local people to meet.

Groups and people travelling abroad are responsible for your help on a regular or seasonal basis, funding their own transport costs. for example by helping with fundraising or The Association assists groups to find accommodation through our by putting up visitors in your home, this counterparts in Contrexéville and will help to enlarge and expand our twinning links. This provides opportunities Bad Rappenau. to get involved with your local community and with the French and German visitors. Opportunities will then arise for visiting Contrexéville and Bad Rappenau at the cost of a bus or air ticket and some presents for your host family.

If you are interested in getting involved in twinning then please contact the Twinning Association's Chairman Rob Shelton (tel +44 (0) 1597 851427) or any other committee member. Our email address is: llandodtwinning@yahoo.com

Jul Aug Sep Visit to Contrexéville In July four committee members Rob and Barb Shelton, Joyce Hope, and Forbes Lopez travelled with Derek Hope and Don Hughes-Jones to Contrexéville for the French National Festival on 14 July. The group were hosted by members of the French Twinning Committee and friends. On arrival they were met by the mayor, the committee, and hosts at a reception at the town hall where they were joined by thirteen guests from Bad Rappenau over aperitifs. The mayor, Monsieur Gerecke, spoke of his hopes for friendship between the three towns Forbes Lopez in highland dress through exchanges and youth visits. The following day everyone visited an old factory museum in a model village before taking a trip on the Marne-Rhine canal.

Oct Nov DecThe

The fourteenth of July was celebrated in style. In the morning there was a parade with a band and procession of the fire brigade and vintage vehicles. A sumptuous lunch, that lasted most of the remainder of the day, was taken in the leisure centre. The closing firework display over the lake was a wonderful spectacle themed on freedom with amazing fireworks co-ordinated to music with the whole of the town present. The final day was spent with hosts on visits in the area. The temperature had risen to 35° C and all were glad to relax in the cool of the evening. The Twinning Association is grateful to the French Committee for hosting such an enjoyable, relaxing, and well-organized visit.

The firemen leading the parade

Vintage Second World War vehicles

Youth Trip to Bad Rappenau

At the beginning of August a group of 11 young people from Llandrindod Wells completed a very successful visit to Bad Rappenau as part of a 3-way exchange, organised by the Bad Rappenau Twinning Committee, with young people from Llandrindod’s twin towns of Bad Rappenau and Contrexéville. The group travelled to Germany by air from Gatwick Airport. In Bad Rappenau the visitors were hosted in family homes including those of some of the young people they met in August 2014 when groups of young people from Wales, Germany and France met in Contrexéville. On their first day in Bad Rappenau the Llandrindod group met their new friends from France and Germany and took part in group games together. In hot sunny weather they enjoyed a cross country hike to the mediaeval castle at Burg Guttenberg where they were entertained with a spectacular birds of prey display returning to Bad Rappenau to watch and support the young footballers from Llandrindod, who were visiting at the same time, playing a team from Heinsheim. The Mayor of Bad Rappenau, Herr Blättgen, met the groups on the following day and spoke of the importance of young people across Europe meeting and learning about each other’s cultures. The groups then explored the town learning about the history of the spa resort and also took part in dance workshops prior to visiting and enjoying Bad Rappenau’s extensive indoor and outdoor spa pool facilities.

The next day, after a morning swim, the youngsters took part in a three-way ten pin bowling competition. They ended the day at an evening disco organised by the Twinning Association. On other days the groups were taken to an activity park and the historic university city of Heidelberg where they explored the castle before their return to Bad Rappenau for a barbecue in the Kurpark. At the end of their five day stay the youngsters presented gifts of appreciation to the German youth leaders who had worked hard to make the visit such a huge success.

Climbing the sculpture in the Kurpark

The groups at Heidelberg Castle

Football Team Visit Germany

A squad of eighteen junior players from Llandrindod Wells Football Club, accompanied by four adults, visited Bad Rappenau during the same week as the Llandrindod youth group. Staying at the local sports centre the team played three games against local youth sides winning each game convincingly. The highlight of the visit was a trip to Hoffenheim to watch the Bundesliga side play a pre-season friendly match with newly promoted AFC Bournemouth. The footballers accompanied the youth group to visit Burg Guttenberg and also enjoyed a trip to Tripsdrill adventure theme park.

The team lining up before their first match

Henry McArthy-Allen with the cup presented after beating Heinsheim

Grombach Band Plays in Wales On a sunny Saturday afternoon in early August the Grombach band arrived in Wales. After a tour around the Elan Valley the band met their hosts at a reception at Llandrindod Wells Golf Club. Early the following morning the 52 band members and supporters travelled to Tenby to entertain visitors at a concert, arranged by the Twinning Association in collaboration with Tenby Town Council, in the church grounds adjacent to the town centre. After the concert the band gathered at the harbour for a trip around Caldey Island on the newly commissioned “Island Cruise”. A busy day was rounded off by an evening meal at the Plough Inn, Rhosmaen, on the return journey to Llandrindod Wells for a well-earned rest. On their second full day in Wales the band visited Cardiff Bay where they performed outside the Milennium Centre before a brief sight-seeing tour of the capital. That evening the band, supported by local choral group Ffrindiau, played in Holy Trinity Church before a large and appreciative audience, after which they joined their hosts for a sumptuous buffet prepared by twinning supporters. After enjoying brunch with their hosts at the Hotel Metropole the band through their leader Dominik Scholl bid a fond farewell to everyone whose hospitality had made their short visit so enjoyable. Mayor Chris Rouse wished the group a safe journey home and expressed the hope that it would not be too long before they revisited Llandrindod Wells “the happiest town in Wales”.

The Holy Trinity concert

Guests & hosts gather at the Hotel Metropole

Hygeia Badges In Greek and Roman mythology Hygeia was the daughter of the god of medicine. She was the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation, and was associated with the prevention of sickness. Her image, used previously on Llandrindod Wells souvenir wares, has been adopted by the Association as our logo and features on 20mm x 15mm enamelled metal badges that we have for sale at only £1.50 each.

Oct Nov Dec Autumn Oct NQuizzes ov Dec

During the autumn two fundraising quizzes were held devised by members of the committee. The theme of Deryn Gambles' quiz sheet, was towns and cities of the UK. Copies were sold at £1 each. On 20th November an eight-round quiz was held at Dolau Village Hall. Although only four teams entered competition was fierce. With teams answering questions, set by Rob and Barb Shelton with the help of Peter Davies, on a wide variety of topics, the closely fought contest was won by the team comprising Ed Coady, Peter Davies, Elsbeth Vipond and Duncan Gibbs, “The Vagabonds”, who took the lead after playing their joker in the final round in spite of the fact that Peter had to sit out this and the two other rounds that he helped set. The event raised £58 thanks to the generosity of those committee members who provided raffle prizes and the winning team donating their prize money to the Association.

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Sept

Remembrance Sunday On Sunday 8th November chairman Rob Shelton and vice-chairman Edmund Coady represented the Twinning Association at the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Llandrindod Wells. Due to unforseen transport problems secretary Peter Davies missed the start of the parade and had to hand over the twinning wreath as the parade approached the cenotaph. The event was inadvertantly captured by Don Hughes-Jones' video and posted on YouTube

Forthcoming Events in 2016 Jan: Annual Dinner Apr: Builth Male Voice Choir concert in Holy Trinity May: Fundraising sale of goods Germans visit Llandrindod Aug: Youth visit to Llandrindod Sep: Invitation to visit to Bad Rappenau Oct: Quiz Nov: Sale of Goods in Middleton Street Dec: Christmas fundraising sale Other events being planned include golf tournaments in Llandrindod Wells and Bad Rappenau and a walking week. Keep an eye on our website for further news and updates.

The Remembrance Sunday parade

Craft Sale During the autumn several members of the twinning committee spent time making Christmas decorations and hedgerow preserves that were offered for sale, in the lead up to Christmas, at the Phillips Hall in Abbey Cwmhir. A substantial sum was raised. The Association is grateful to Sarah Watkins who organised the sale.

Log reindeers waiting to be adopted

Amongst the items sold were knitted robins, Chistmas tree decorations, jams and preserves, and hand-crafted log reindeers.

Advent Visit At the beginning of December the Deputy Mayor of Llandrindod Wells, Councillor Jon Williams, visited Bad Rappenau with a group of fourteen delegates including his young family. The Welsh visitors together with a group from Contrexéville were attending Bad Rappenau's Adventskaffee event which marks the start of the Christmas celebrations. The visitors were hosted by families in Bad Rappenau and on the first morning were taken to the Christmas Market in the adjoining and enchanting mediaeval town of Bad Wimpen. That afternoon everyone gathered in Bad Rappenau Castle for “Advent Coffee” where members of the Grombach Band, who visited Llandrindod earlier in the year, entertained them playing The Deputy Mayor enjoys his Advent coffee a selection of Christmas Carols. The following day the visitors were able to enjoy Bad Rappenau’s extensive and modern spa facilities followed by a visit to Heilbronn Christmas Market. Other trips included a visit to the ancient university city of Heidelberg where visitors explored the castle and a trip to Stuttgart and its extensive Christmas Market. The trip reinforced the links between Llandrindod and its twin towns. During the visit the deputy mayor Councillor Jon Williams had constructive meetings with the head teachers at the high school and primary school when they were able to discuss how links between the schools in each town might be developed.

The group at Heidelberg