Ron Smith - Jumelage?

Thu, Nov 3rd 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Local member gives a talk

President Jim Walker welcomed members to last week's meeting of the Rotary Club when the speaker was member Ron Smith. He called his talk "jumelage" which turned out to mean town-twinning and he outlined Hawick's jumelaging with Bailleul in North-east France. In the period after the Second World War working-class Britons started to travel more to visit their friends in Europe and towns were linked-up. In 1973 Hawick formed a twinning with Bailleul which had certain similarities. The High School became involved and parties of pupils went abroad to stay with families there and the deal was later recipcrocated. This later extended to the parents of pupils and then the general public and it became an affordable, pleasant way to experience Continental life and many close and enduring friendships ensued and still continue to this day. Through time interest waned as people travelled further afield and the school became involved in other projects and recent efforts have been made to resurrect the link. A new organisation Hawick International Welcome Group has been formed and Bailleul visited to retain the link. An International Day was held in Wilton Lodge Park in August this year and was very popular with Europeans who have made their homes in Hawick and elsewhere in the Borders. Questions arose and created further discussion after which President Jim made the vote of thanks to Ron.

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Ron Smith - Jumelage?

Thu, Nov 3rd 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Local member gives a talk

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