What is Twinning all about?
| Published: 5th November 2008 09:48 |
A Brief Look at Twinning
Twinning promotes cultural, educational and social links between communities in different countries in order to promote greater understanding between nations. In practical terms it helps people understand what life is like in other countries through exchange trips and other contacts.
Minehead twinned with St Berthevin in France in April 1990 in a ceremony held in St Berthevin which was repeated in Minehead the following year. The twinning link is between the two town councils on behalf of the people living in the towns.
About St. Berthevin
Our twin town, St Berthevin, is very different from Minehead.
It is situated in the rolling countryside of the Mayenne department of France.
The region is mainly agricultural (beef and dairy cattle, pigs and arable crops) with dairy product processing, although manufacturing industry, services and tourism have been developing rapidly, and is one of the more prosperous parts of France.
The town is smaller than Minehead, at around 7,500 inhabitants.
It lies immediately to the west of the large town of Laval and astride the N157 main route between Rennes and Le Mans. Although it has fewer shops and services than Minehead, as it is located close to Laval, it boasts excellent community and sports facilities, including:
- a modern town hall,
- municipal sports stadium,
- camp site
- and community hall where many events take place, including twinning events.
There is a wide range of industries in the industrial zone and in nearby Laval. The town is expanding rapidly and new houses are being constructed as well as factories and warehouses.
The St Berthevin people are very active in community life, much of which is run by an organisation called AFLEC, made up of members of the community. It is highly organised and there are numerous opportunities to take part in educational, cultural leisure and sports activities. Sport is particularly popular and there are excellent facilities. The town has many good sports teams, as Minehead's runners and footballers have discovered, sometimes to their disadvantage, in the past!
Extracts from the Twinning Oath signed in 1990
"to maintain permanent bonds between Minehead and St Berthevin...to promote exchanges ...with the aim of fostering, through greater mutual understanding, the true spirit of European brotherhood...to combine our efforts in order to further....the success of that essential understanding for peace and prosperity."
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