Trip to Vama, Romania – September 2009

Ann Etkind travelled to Vama in Romania (twinned with Louveciennes) earlier this month on behalf of RAIFA at the invitation of CJL our French partners. Here is her account of the trip:

I have to confess that until last month I knew very little about Romania. Then I accepted an invitation from Louveciennes – Radlett’s French twin town – suggesting that a representative from Radlett would be welcome to join their group on a visit to celebrate the 600^th anniversary of the founding of the town of Vama in Romania. Louveciennes has had a twinning arrangement with Vama in the beautiful countryside of Bucovina in the north of Romania for some years now, and the visit was planned to coincide with the anniversary festival.

Our group of 22 included 17 members from Louveciennes (including the Mayor), and also 4 from Louveciennes’ German twin town of Meersburg. We took part in the official celebrations, were presented with certificates and generally looked after with lavish Romanian hospitality throughout the visit.

The final days of the trip were spent travelling southwards to Bucharest with stops to visit a number of different towns and villages on the way. Romania is a fascinating country, and I have many wonderful memories of my stay in Bucovina.

The Singing Circle and the Fete de la Musique

Radlett’s Singing Circle increased its radius this weekend when they were invited to perform at the Fete de la Musique in Louveciennes, Radlett’s twinned town in France. 25 singers and their families went to Paris to take part in what was a nationwide festival where buskers and musicians took to street corners, parks and boulevards to perform their music.

And at the invitation of the people of Louveciennes, our local Singing Circle became part of that French experience. Bussed from their hotel in the centre of Paris to the village of Louveciennes early on Saturday evening, the singers were welcomed into the community where they performed their own brand of music, slotted amongst teenage rock bands, gospel singers and dance groups during an evening of entertainment and fun. The Singing Circle performed twice to an enthusiastic audience who were very keen to get involved and sing along to the Circle’s wide range of songs that included everything from rounds and harmonies to African and Maori songs – and even some Abba favourites - a selection of which the Singing Circle had recently performed at the Radlett Festival.

On Sunday, with the rest of Paris still waiting to be entertained, The Singing Circle, still in good voice, wound up the festival weekend by performing a busking selection outside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Photos of Louveciennes Visit May 2009

CJL have posted pictures taken during our visit to Louveciennes last month on this website. You can see them here.

Enjoy! (and thank you CJL)

Louveciennes - 25th Anniversary of Twinning

Louveciennes Mayor André Vanhollebeke and Chairman of Aldenham Parish Council, Ron Worthy display the gifts they exchanged to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of twinning between the two communities.

Visit to Louveciennes - Press release

RADLETT AND ALDENHAM INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION (RAIFA)

18 May 2009

CELEBRATION OF 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF TWINNING

A group of 25 members of the Radlett and Aldenham International Friendship Association (RAIFA) spent four days in Louveciennes, France last week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their twinning agreement signed in 1984. The visitors – including six children from Radlett - all stayed with families in Louveciennes, which is near to Versailles and Paris. The party included the Chairman of Aldenham Parish Council, Ron Worthy who presented the Mayor of Louveciennes, André Vanhollebeke with a special scroll to mark the occasion.

The visitors were treated to a busy programme included a guided tour of the Pavillion de Musique, originally built for the Contesse du Barry, mistress of King Louis XV and the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, including the Grand and Petite Trianon and Mary Antoinette's farm. The formal celebrations included a reception in the gardens of the Marie (Town Hall) in Louveciennes and a dinner and a lively cabaret by local performers and singers in the town's theatre.

RAIFA Chairman Clive Glover said that the visit had been a tremendous success and demonstrated the continuing strength of the links between the two communities. He noted that a group of 35 singers from Radlett would be visiting Louveciennes in June to take part in the Féte de Musique (an annual musical event across France on Mid Summer's Day) and that a Radlett girl will once again be one of the “Maids of Honour” for the annual Féte des Fleurs (Festival of Flowers) in September. During the visit he had also had discussions with the Louveciennes Tennis Club about a proposed exchange of young tennis players between the two communities. RAIFA had also been invited to send representatives to Louveciennes' twin town Vama in Romania later this year.

Pictures of Silver Anniversary Celebrations

Our French partners, CJL have now put some photos on the Web of their recent visit to Radlett & Aldenham to celebrate the Silver Anniversary of twinning.

You can see them here

Radlett celebrates Silver Anniversary for French twinning

Last weekend (23 to 25 October) Radlett welcomed 28 visitors from its French twin town, Louveciennes, including their Mayor, André Vanhollebeke to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their twinning partnership. The Chairman of Radlett's German twinning partners in Lautertal also joined the celebrations. During a busy few days the visitors toured Bhaktivedanta Manor and Aldenham Church, attended a reception hosted by Aldenham Parish Council at the Radlett Centre and held a Silver Anniversary Dinner at Porters Park Golf Club. A highlight of the visit was the re-dedication of a lime tree planted on Aldenham Green in 1983 at the time of the original twinning and which is now one of the largest trees on the Green.

Clive Glover, Chairman of RAIFA, said that the visit was a tremendous success, reflecting the continuing support for twinning in the two communities. “Over the 25 years there have been around 80 official exchanges between Aldenham and Louvciennes, as well as many informal exchanges, particularly between families who have become firm friends over the years. It was especially nice that a number of the people involved in the original twinning arrangements 25 years ago took part in this visit, but it was also clear that a new generation of families are now taking over. We are planning more exchanges involving families with school-age children as these have proved very popular.”

Bhakdavidanta Manor, Letchmore Heath

Departure from Radlett