Here you’ll find snippets of information about a selection of our members. If you’d like your profile to be included here, simply send it with a photo to: staplefordtwinningassociation@gmail.com
Tony Hore – our chair
Tony joined Twinning in 1980 shortly after he and his wife Jean moved to the Village, experiencing their first exchange visit in 1982. Tony has been a Committee Member for the majority of the years since then and participated in most of the exchange visits, both Family and Youth, and has hosted many times.
Some Stapleford residents may remember Tony from the Twinning Casino nights run by the Association as their Casino Manager.
He has been Treasurer on numerous occasions and currently holds that office as well.
He retired from the Construction Industry in 2015 and now spends time as a Volunteer for a local Hospice with which both he and Jean have a close connection. Jean also works there as a Volunteer.
He says, I was honoured to be asked to be the Chairman of the Association and look forward to leading the resumption of activities between Stapleford and Villedômer after the difficult few years of the pandemic.
Jill Gardner – our new vice chair
Jill started twinning in 2012 when she escorted the youth group to a French Outdoor Adventure Centre. Highlights there included horse riding, and caving to discover 17,000-year-old paintings. Jill has also enjoyed the impromptu Anglo-French folk band, playing violin under the guidance of expert Jean-Pierre Benoit.
Jill speaks good French, having lived and worked in France & Switzerland. The rest of the family have different levels of ability, but all have enjoyed both hosting and visiting – with the 40th Anniversary meal in a château being a particular favourite.
Jill works as a child and adolescent psychotherapist for Cambridge charity Blue Smile.
As well as being vice chair of the committee, Jill acts as the focus for communications with our counterparts in Villedômer.
Jackie Bow – our former chair
Jackie and her family joined Stapleford Twinning Association when they arrived in the village in 1988. As a francophone and Francophile, Jackie has been an active member of the Association and has missed only one family visit to Villedômer. Her four children took part in the erstwhile youth visits, and Jackie led several of these. Firm friendships have been forged with French Twinners and Jackie has made innumerable, independent trips to Tours and Villedômer to visit friends.
Both Jackie and her husband Chris have been Committee members. Jackie served as Chairman of the Association for some 15 years and stepped down in November 2021. She is very much looking forward to Twinning Weekends resuming! Vive le Jumelage!