This year STAPLEFORD TWINNING ASSOCIATION (STA) is celebrating 40 years of Twinning with the beautiful village of Villedômer in the Loire Valley. The STA is probably the oldest entity in the village after St Andrew’s Church, the school and the Women’s Institute. It is certainly amongst the most enduring village twinnings in the UK, and many friendships established in those early days continue to thrive.
In May, 30 Staplefordians spent a weekend in Villedômer where they met up with old acquaintances and made new ones and where as always, they were wined and dined most generously. The weekend included a formal welcome by the mayor, the planting of a tree in memory of twinners no longer with us and a visit to Chenonceau. For some there was a day in Amboise where Leonardo da Vinci spent his latter days. On the final evening there was a dinner at the Château de Jallanges preceded by a stroll around its rose gardens. The evening culminated in a magnificent firework display.
Here’s to many more years of Twinning! Vive le jumelage!
Jackie Bow,
Chairman, Stapleford Twinning Association
Here’s a list of the participants and the programme, including photos, of the 2019 visit to Villedômer by a group from Stapleford.