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Last Wednesday in
glorious sunshine 54 twinners from Crosne (France),
Bogen and Schotten (Germany) and Rymarov (Czech
Republic) were welcomed by members of Maybole Town
Twinning Association who had organised the annual “Tour
de Jumelage” at Auchincruive, Ayr. As there were
many new people from Crosne a visit was made to Maybole
in the late afternoon and dinner in the evening brought
together all the delegations.
On the next morning
(Thursday) everyone set off for Alloway, walking from
the Burns Experience to Greenan Shore where a picnic was
enjoyed by all. Two members of the French group even
braving a swim.
In the afternoon the
twinners walked through Belleisle Park before returning
to the Burns Experience via Burns Cottage. On the
Thursday evening following dinner entertainment was
provided by the delegations, with the people from Crosne
and Bogen performing traditional dances, the people of
Schotten acting out a play based on all the towns
travelling to the tour, and the Maybole members singing
Scottish songs. Later in the evening under the super
instruction of Sally Anderson the visitors enjoyed
learning some Scottish dances.
On Friday morning the
twinners walked from Auchincruive down the River Ayr
giving everyone time in Ayr for shopping. In the evening
a civic drinks reception was hosted by Provost Sloan of
South Ayrshire Council at Oswald Hall, Auchincruive
where she welcomed the delegations. William Grant,
Chairman of Maybole Town Twinning Association, made the
reply of thanks.
Following the
reception a barbecue was expertly prepared, cooked and
served by Hugh, Sally, Lesley, William, Gillian, John,
Sarah and Catriona. The evening finished with everyone
enjoying an evening of Scottish dancing.
On Saturday the group
travelled by coach via the Galloway tourist route, with
everyone absorbed in the magnificent scenery, to
Creetown where they had an enjoyable visit and lunch at
the Gem Museum.
In the afternoon they
travelled round Wigtown Bay to the Bladnoch Distillery
where samples of the distillery’s whiskies were enjoyed.
At this point their luck ran out and the rain arrived
limiting the views on the return up the coast. A short
stop was made at Maybole before returning to
Auchincruive.
In the evening,
following dinner, it was time for the farewell speeches
and William Grant thanked everyone for coming to
Scotland, especially those who had never been before,
with a special mention of the delegations from Bogen and
Rymarov.
He continued by
thanking the twinning committee for organising the
event, those who had stayed at Auchincruive, Hugh and
Sally Anderson, John Campbell, and Lesley Grant for the
effort put in by them to make such a superb success.
There was a special
thanks to Gillian Anderson and Maybole Resource Centre
and Hugh Anderson the Vice Chairman of Maybole Twinning
who had carried out the majority of organising of the
tour. At this point he made a small presentation to
Hugh.
Finally a twinning
cake was cut by William and Hugh. Replies were then made
and small gifts given to the organisers by Hans Otto
Zimmermann, chairman of twinning in Schotten, Daniel
Robin, chairman of twinning in Crosne, Miroslav Slovacek,
former Mayor of Rymarov and Wulf Weingartner from Bogen.
Sunday morning came
too soon with all the sad farewells, but also the
building of new friendships and the sincere thanks of
everyone following an excellent time enjoyed by all.
William Grant said afterwards, “So we now look forward
to 2007 when the Tour de Jumelage will be organised by
the town of Bogen, which is in the beautiful area of
Bavaria in Germany. Why not join us?” |
