COOKHAM
TWINNING
Cookham
is fortunate to be twinned with Saint Benoit a village with woods and a river near to the historic town of
Poitiers in central west France.
The village has the highest possible ranking possible of 4 fleurs (flowers) for French 'Villes Fleuris' and is the only commune in Vienne with this status. It has developed its natural environment over several years, including their 'Les Jardins des Cookham'.
Saint
Benoit is in a fascinating and beautiful area of France, with many historical
towns and villages around, some going back to medieval times. The commune is
divided into three parts with a 12th century church and with a river running
through, just like Cookham!
Poitiers
is an ancient, interesting University town and is close to the theme park 'Futoroscope'.
Cookham
has been Twinned with Saint Benoit since 1994 and has annual reciprocal visits
when we link with French friends and stay in each other's houses. In 2024 we
look forward to welcoming Saint Benoit to Cookham,
when we will host a variety of social and cultural activities. In 2023 we will
be visiting Saint Benoit and look forward, as always, to a great experience and
welcome. Saint Benoit can be reached easily by car (via Portsmouth), plane or
train.
We
also have some regular activities in Cookham. Each week there is an informal
French lunch, 'Flunch' where we have an hour or so speaking French to each
other, and members are welcome to join a monthly French film evening.
You
don't need to be a French speaker to participate in Twinning, although this is
a chance to improve your French language skills. Best of all are the
opportunities to get to know some very friendly French people and to appreciate
and enjoy the culture of France.
EVENTS
FILM NIGHTS
Twinning members are very welcome to join our monthly French film nights, 8pm at Elizabeth House.
NEWS 2024
COOKHAM SAINT-BENOIT TWINNING 2024
September 2024 - Although some of Cookham Twinning's regular activities are taking a break in July and August, we are now well into the preparations for the visit of Saint-Benoit in Autumn half-term, 26 - 29 October. We look forward to welcoming 21 visitors from Saint-Benoit from Saturday 26th to Tuesday 29th October.
The programme for the visit is as follow, and we would be delighted if you could join any of these events. Note that spaces may be limited e.g. on the coach to Blenheim, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are coming.
Saturday 26th October Arrival - Elizabeth House 6.30pm: Reception at the Parish Room with the Chair of the Parish Council and the Deputy Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead. Dinner with host families.
Sunday 27th October: 9.15am Church option, or with families 12.30pm Lunch at the Odney Club pm: 'Discover Cookham' . An opportunity to find the locations in the 'Discover Cookham' book. 6.30pm for 7.00pm: Skittles at Flackwell Heath Bowling Club.
Monday 28th October: 8.45am Coach from Bourne End to Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill) 12.30pm Lunch at Blenheim 2.00pm Depart 2.45pm Arrive Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. 4.30pm Depart Ashmolean, to arrive Bourne End/Cookham at 5.30pm 7.00pm for 7.30pm Social evening at Pinder Hall
Tuesday 29th October: am: departure The cost of the events are: Sunday lunch £30 Sunday skittles £20 Monday day £75 Monday evening £10
---------------June 2024 - Although some of Cookham Twinning's regular activities are taking a break in July and August, we are now well into the preparations for the visit of Saint-Benoit in Autumn half-term, 26 - 29 October.
An interesting programme of events has been lined up ranging from a formal reception to a skittles evening. The main visit of the weekend will be to Blenheim, 'Britain's greatest Palace' and a world heritage site, followed by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
We are seeking hosts for the visitors who stay with local families over the weekend, and if you'd like to offer this, please contact keith_le_page@hotmail.com. No knowledge of French is required as we will match you with English speaking visitors. Or perhaps you\u2019'd like visitors who don't speak English so that you can practice your French! Even if not hosting, you are welcome to join the various activities in the visit, and Keith can provide you with full information about what is happening.
-----------------
May 2024 - Having had a great visit to Saint-Benoit last October, we have started planning for the visit of Saint-Benoit to Cookham on 26th-29th October this year. As usual, our visitors will be accommodated with local families, and there will be a mixture of cultural and social events, open to all.
Meanwhile France and Saint-Benoit are gearing up for the 2024 Olympics. The Olympic flame will be passing through Saint-Benoit on 25th May, on its way to a location in Poitiers to light a cauldron.
In the latest Saint-Benoit magazine, the Mayor encourages the people of Saint-Benoit to vote in the June European elections, and to increase the previous voter turn-out. The main article in the magazine is about the work in Saint-Benoit to restore the 'Arches of Parigny', the only remaining part of a Roman aqueduct dating from the first century which supplied Poitiers with drinking water.
We are grateful to our Cookham naturalist, Brian Clews, for writing a summary of the work done by WildCookham this year. We translated this into French, taking particular care with the names of the fauna covered, and have sent this over to Saint-Benoit, who we know are also keenly interested in their local environment. We look forward to receiving a similar response. Our local activities continue, including French films and lunches.
Saint-Benoit : Une ville-jardin extraordinaire !
OUR ARCHIVES
Letter to Saint Benoit - Brian Clews - WildCookham 2023
Cookham Twinning Visit to Saint-Benoit 2023
St Benoit Celebrates the Coronation of King Charles 2023
Cookham Twinning Visit to Cookham 2022
Cookham Twinning Visit to Cookham 2018
Cookham Twinning Visit More Photos 2016
Visit to Cookham's Twin Town - 2005
A Happy Twinning Christmas - 2003
Cookham Society and Cookham Twinning Come Together for a Joint Christmas Party - 2002
French visitors in Cookham for 'Allo'een - 2002
Cookham Twinning celebrate Christmas - 2001
Cookham Twinning Visit St Benoit - 2001
Twinning show film Plein Soleil - 2000
MEMBERSHIP
Single (£ 12 for two year/£ 25 for 5 years)
Family (£ 20 for two year/£ 40 for 5 years)
Click here for Application Form
For more information phone: 01628 532279
E-Mail: keith_le_page@hotmail.com
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