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 £5 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.
The Devon Twinning Circle meets four times a year in different locations. Meetings arranged for 2008 are as follows:
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 | Ms Hazel Evely | Bow Twinning Association | hazelevely@btopenworld.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary | Mrs Pat Sherwood | Crediton Twinning Association | sherwoodpuk@yahoo.co.uk |
| Treasurer | Mr John Ford | Chittlehampton Twinning Association | john@umberleigh.freeserve.co.uk |
| Insurance Officer | Mr Dennis Knowles | Tiverton Twinning Association | dennis@twyfordphotography.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
A number of Devon's communities are already twinned with communities in other countries. For more detailed information see the full listing.
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
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.
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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