Twinning

Devon Twinning Circle

Devon Twinning Circle logo
Devon Twinning Circle is a voluntary organisation made up of member associations in Devon.

Twinning Associations are voluntary organisations which maintain and find links through the activities and goodwill of volunteers. Over 100 towns and villages in Devon are currently twinned with communities overseas including France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Russia, Uganda, New Zealand, Japan and Hungary.

The Twinning Circle meets regularly to compare notes, offer ideas on the development of twinning activities, foster contacts in other countries and, through that association, provide a group insurance benefit.

Membership of the Devon Twinning Circle costs just £10 per association per year which can be quickly recouped through the beneficial insurance rates negotiated by the Circle.  It produces its own newsletter which promotes twinning activities and foster contacts. Currently, around 80 twinning associations are members of the Twinning Circle.Read the latest newsletter image - PDF icon (687KB - pdf help)

The Devon Twinning Circle meets four times a year in different locations. Meetings arranged for 2011 are as follows:  

  • Saturday 15 October 2011 - AGM Kingskerswell
  • Saturday 21 January 2012 - Newton Abbot
  • Saturday 21 April 2012 - Exmouth
  • Saturday 21 July 2012 - Chittlehampton
  • Saturday 20 October 2012 - Clovelly

If you would like to know more about the Circle or any of its activities, you may wish to contact one of the Officers of the Circle whose details are set out below:

Chairman Mrs Ann Lloyd Braunton Twinning Association
Immediate Past Chairman Ms Hazel Evely Bow Twinning Association hazelevely@btopenworld.com
Secretary Mrs Pat Sherwood Crediton Twinning Association sherwoodpuk@yahoo.co.uk
Treasurer Mr James Stewart Newton Abbot Twinning Association james@jsacc.co.uk
Insurance Officer Mr Dennis Knowles Tiverton Twinning Association dennis@twyfordphotography.co.uk
Newsletter Editor Mrs Jean Aplin jeanaplin@hopecove.eclipse.co.uk

If you have any general queries please contact twinning@devon.gov.uk.

A copy of the Devon Twinning Circle Handbook can be viewed here

Exeter Twinning Circle was awarded the Monica Saunders Trophy at the AGM, 17 April 2010.

Devon's Currently Twinned Communities

A number of Devon's communities are already twinned with communities in other countries. For more detailed information see the full listing.

New Links Sought:

Gueltas, a small village near to the historic town of Pontivy in Brittany, is looking to twin with a similar size village in Devon.  Gueltas has a population of approx 600. For more information please contact David Maddison, email madds@orange.fr

The Devon born Conseiller Municipal (Parish Councillor) of Criteuil la Magdalene is looking to twin with a similar parish/village in Devon.  The main activity of the two villages Criteuil and La Magdeleine is the production of Cognac and Pineau. More information, or please contact Nicholas Brimblecombe nicholas.brimblecombe@wanadoo.fr

Suevres is situated in the Loire Valley near Blois.  Suevres would like to twin with a town in Devon and sees this as an opportunity for everyone to learn or improve their English.  There is an English couple living in Suevres who give French courses and several families already welcome English visitors to their homes. For more information, please contact Michel Pigny who is Deputy Maire.

Baignes Sainte Radegonde, a village in the Charente region of France is looking to twin with a similar size place in Devon. Baignes Sainte Radegonde is 40 km from both Cognac and Angouleme, 70 km from the Atlantic Ocean and 80 km from Bordeaux.  The village is well placed as the starting point for various excursions and has a population of approximately 1200 people.  The surrounding countryside is characterized by vineyards and farmland (arable and dairy).  There are two schools (infant and primary) as well as a college where pupils learn English.  Baignes Sainte Radegonde also has a number of active associations; sports include tennis, football and gymnastics, there is also a choir.

The Twinning Committee of Javine was created to promote exchange with another village, discover other cultures and life habits.  The Committee would like to find a twinning village situated in the South West which has similarities to Javene.

Les Pieux, a small country town on the Normandy coast 12 miles from Cherbourg, population 3,600 with excellent beaches for surfing, sand yachting and family activities is looking for a town in Devon who would be interested in a twinning arrangement with them. Please email or telephone 00 33 2 33 52 48 82 (after 7pm our time).

Mehmetcik is a village in Northern Cyprus, population 1,200, with its own council, nursery, junior and secondary schools, midway up the karpaz peninsular - around 15 minutes drive from the coast in either direction.  Income comes from agriculture (wheat, barley, potatoes, vegetables, fruit trees and grapes), an embryonic tourist industry and land sales for holiday homes.

Many villagers are either employed by the government or self employed.  Others commute to the nearest large town of Famagusta. The area is rich in ancient history and countryside but is being overtaken by development. Language is Turkish but English is widely spoken. There are also fishing boats, folkdancing, a festival in the first week of August every year, where a traditional sweet made from almonds and grape juice and a very potent form of locally made grappa (grape brandy), called zivania, is sold. Cyprus is now in the EU and Mehmetcik is looking to link with a similar town or village in Devon.  If you are interested please contact Anne Canalp.

The Mayor of San Fulgencio, Spain, is very keen to twin with a small town or village in Devon.  La Marina has a population of approximately 10,000 and would  also like to twin with a town of similar size.  If you are interested, please contact chrislane49@hotmail.com who is the Secretary of La Marina and San Fulgencio Residents Association.

Chantepie, a town in the outer suburb of Rennes with a population of about 8,500, would very much like a twinning link with a town in Devon.  For further information please contact John Sparks, Secretary of Exeter Twinning Circle.

Sadhana Village is a voluntary organisation working in the Kolwen Valley, India. The village has a residential care centre for adults with developmental disabilities.  It believes in integrating the life of these adults with that in the valley. The valley is 160 kms East of Mumbai and 40 kms West of Pune. Pune and Mumbai are huge modern cities. The Valley has around 19 villages and hamlets with populations ranging between 1200 and 4000.  The community is agrarian and still lives in stone and mud houses.  Although having a traditional lifestyle, many villagers understand English.  Villages in Devon who would like to twin with a village in in Kolwan Valley please contact adm@sadhana-village.org

Neufchatel-Hardelot, a community of 3600 inhabitants on the coast of the Pas de Calais, is looking to twin with a town in Devon of similar size and with similar characteristics. Neufchatel-Hardelot boasts numerous sporting facilities including two 18-hole golf courses and an equestrian centre which hosts a number of international events.  There is also a very large, uncrowded, sandy beach where yachting events are staged.  If you are interested please contact M. A V C Billinghame, Mairie de Neufchatel-Hardelot, Rue des Allees, BP37, 62152 Neufchatel-Hardelot, France.

I live in a small town called Plougasnou in Brittany, France which is 40 minutes east of Roscoff. I am on the twinning comittee and for some years now we have been thinking of trying to twin with a town in Devon. We have much to offer: Plougasnou is the principal village in the commune of Plougasnou which has 3346 inhabitants. We have a primary and a secondary school which would love to exchange ideas with an English school (video conferences, visits etc). We are right beside the sea in a beautiful area. Our local businesses include fishing, farming (vegetables, milk and beef), organic vegetable farming, goat cheese production and tourisme. Many of our local associations are also interested in exchanges: English club, cycling, football, bowling, choir etc.  This is a link to the home page of our town hall: www.mairie-plougasnou.fr

I live near the > town of Laveoc in Brittany,which is on the coast of the Rade de Brest. It has about 2300 inhabitants, nearby is a naval college for officers and also a training centre for helicopter pilots.The mayor would like to twin with a similar town in the southwest or S.Wales. Would you kindly email me your telephone number and a suitable time I could ring you and give you more information.clffordbraham@yahoo.co.uk Clifford Anthony Braham, Seveleder, 29160 Lanveoc.Tel: 00 33 298 2768 23

Saint-Luc/Guichainville is a rural town of about 3700 people in Normandy. We are located near Evreux. We (the members) would be willing to travel to meet you if interested.  We were until recently twinned with Yethholm in Scotland but they had to pull out.  If interested please contact Marie-Claude Beaucousin, tel: 33 2 76 38 01 88. or e-mail: marieclaudebeaucousin@hotmail.fr

Le Perrier where we live is situated on the west coast, in the Vendee near St Jean De Monts.  We chose Devon as we lived in Exmouth for 37 years and my husband is Devonian. The village has 1800 inhabitants and we are looking to twin with a village in Devon.  The Mairie of Le Perrier has asked me to get in touch with you as they are very keen.  I am French so I can help with the translating.  Dominique White domwhite@free.fr

Sainte Hermaine, Vendee a region in the county of Pays de la Loire, west of France. 2500 inhabitants.  The new town council is taking a keen interest in the creation of a twinning between us and another European town, preferably English speaking. to allow cultural and tourist exchanges, school exchanges, relationships between sporting clubs, understanding and friendship.  Sainte Hermine is very popular with tourists because of its geographic position (near the coast) and its warm climate. Very easily accessible via motorway A87 and there are two airports close by : Nantes 90 km and La Rochelle 55 km. Visit our web site for more information www.paysdesaintehermine.fr. The citizens have a large choice of sporting activities with its own sports complex, tennis courts, football grounds, dancing, gymnastics, boxing and yoga. The outdoor swimming pool is open through July and August.  The first weekend in August is the historic festival which livens up the town for a period of four days. http://festivaldesaintehermine.fr/ .

Please contact Commission d'etude pour le jumelage, Marie de Sainte Hermine - BP 67 - 22 route de Nantes - 85210 Sainte Hermine - France jumelage.saintehermine@laposte.net.

Item of Interest:

Piaffinitee, the Devon-based performers of Edith Piaf's music have been busy performing in Dorset and Somerset, but look out for them now in Devon as they are on the Villages in Action scheme next season 2004/05.  Enquiries:  01803 862393.

Wren Music is Devon's folk arts development organisation, funded by Devon County Council and Arts Council England. Wren has over twenty years' experience of working with people of all ages to foster knowledge and appreciation of the folk arts. Over 24,000 people participate in Wren projects each year, from the under-fives to the retired, in a variety of educational, social and health settings. Wren is also the guardian of the Baring-Gould Archive, which includes over 650 folk songs and tunes collected from all over Devon, in the Victorian era, by the great social historical researcher, Sabine Baring-Gould.

Wren's professional artists and educators appear at concerts, festivals and events across the UK, and have toured in the last couple of years to Italy, Germany, Canada, and South Africa. Wren also records and releases traditional music from Devon's artists on CD.

Wren can provide a range of activities for twinning events and associations, celebrating Devon's traditions and heritage.

•Formal or informal concerts or supper events, with Wren's professional folk musicians and singers.

•Formal or informal performances by Wren's community folk choir Voices In Common, or by Wren's community folk orchestra Rough Music

•Ceilidhs (folk dances) with Wren's professional folk dance band. The steps to each dance are explained before each tune is played, and then "called" over the music.

•Ceilidh workshops, to learn the basic steps, terms and patterns of English folk dancing, and develop confidence in dancing practice.

If you would like more information about how Wren can bring Devon's rich traditions to twinning events, please contact: Wren Music email

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