Dear SHTA Friends,
If you go to the SHTA website, sandwichhonfleurtwinning.org.uk , you’ll find plenty of pictorial evidence in the Gallery section of the recent visit to our beautiful twin town of Honfleur.
Forty-three members met on the morning of Friday 23rd June and set off with their coach driver towards the Channel Tunnel at the start of their 4-day visit. A stop en route at Abbeville hinted to the group that it was going to be a warm stay. On arrival in Honfleur, they met their hosts for a relaxed and convivial evening together. For many of the Sandwichites Saturday morning meant a leisurely stroll around the market and/or the local retail centre. After the obligatory 3-course lunch, it was off to Cambremer Gardens following which hosts and guests all got together at the Salle des Fêtes for a joint function. Undoubtedly, the stars of the show were the entire Sandwich group who performed three songs, “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor”, “Hopping Down In Kent” and “Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside”.
SHTA has possibly found a promising musical trio in Mary Kemp, Ian Turner and Danny Lang who gave an impromptu selection of tunes to the delight of the guests. An exchange of gift hampers with local products completed the evening. Sunday delivered high temperatures but those on the coach were in good form for their trip to Rouen. A variety of visits to museums, restaurants and the cathedral were popular topics of discussion on the return journey. After the heat of the day, an evening eating and drinking on the sand at Villerville and watching the sunset were very welcome for this author, his wife and hosts.
Guests and hosts said their farewells on Monday morning determined to repeat the experience in twelve months’ time in Sandwich. A visit to Auchan in Calais completed the group’s time on French soil, and the committees of both SHTA and their Honfleur equivalents are now discussing dates for 2024. Many have already signed up for next year’s exchange, but please don’t wait to be asked if you are interested.
A month ago saw Sandwich doing its annual impersonation of a French town for ‘Le Week-end’. Many thanks go to those of our members who did a stint on our stall promoting the Association and to Christine Ratcliffe for organising both the rota and stall. There were many visitors asking about who we are and what we do, some of whom signed up as new SHTA members.
A few days later we were at the Empire Cinema for our final film of the 2023-2024 season. Another good-sized audience enjoyed ‘L’École Buissonnière’, our last film until September. We have a sub-committee who will be selecting our next batch of nine titles which we will announce to you as soon as possible.
Our final social event before the start of another SHTA season is our Bangers & Boules evening at The Anchor Pub in Wingham on Thursday 27th July.
The format is for 24 players in teams of three. Having originally secured this number we’ve now had four people who have had to withdraw, so if you’d like to be included then just send me an email to sign up. If you’d prefer to spectate, that’s absolutely fine too. We’ll be meeting at 6.00 pm to start playing at 6.30 pm. Following the boules, a two-course meal in the upstairs function room will be available at a cost of £20. The options for this are as follows:
Bangers & Mash, Vegetables & Onion Gravy
OR
Beetroot & Butternut Squash Wellington & Onion Gravy
Followed by: Crumble & Custard OR Gluten-free option: Sorbet
If you’re coming along, either as a player or spectator, and would like to order your meal, please let me know as soon as you can manage. Thanks to those of you who have already done so.
Finally I’d like to remind you about the SHTA Annual General Meeting which will be on Thursday 20th July in the Jury Room at the Guildhall, starting at 7.00 pm, after which those attending will be invited to enjoy cheese and wine. Obviously this is coming up soon and you will have seen, hopefully, notification of the event from Christine Ratcliffe, along with an invitation to nominate and/or second individuals for next year’s Committee.
As you will have read, all of the current Committee are standing for re-election. There is, however, one amendment to this: Simon Mallett has decided to step down from the Committee at the AGM. We thank Simon for all his hard work, especially with the website and on the bar at the cinema. I’d also like to thank, on your behalf, all of the other Committee members for their time and commitment given to SHTA this year. We look forward to seeing you, hopefully at the AGM.
Best wishes, Stuart & the Committee
