The Twinning Association

June 1980 report in Hallmark from the Twinning Steering Committee.

We can't begin to express the frustration after two years of effort. Its unbelievable that no village in Europe is interested in twinning with us. Finding the right partner of course is important. The latest investigation is taking place with Hambe a small agricultural town of 1,318 inhabitants, 317 kms from Paris.

June 1981. Charter of Twinning Lacey Green – Hambye

In the town hall of Hambye in the department of La Manche, France, on Sunday the twenty-sixth day of July, one thousand nine hundred a and eighty-one:

We,

Mr. Capelle, Mayor of Hambye

Mr. Janes, Chairman of the Parish Council of Lacey Green in the County of Buckingham, Great Britain.

Duly elected by the people of our respective town and parish in order to further the cultural, touristic and social exchanges between our peoples.

Do hereby reaffirm this compact of twinning, happy in the friendships already established between our people, and confidence in the growth of mutual understanding and amity between them.

In token whereof we have hereunto appended our signature.

-

2002 Report in Hallmark

In 1981 two very similar villages – Lacey Green in England and Hambe in Normandy, France, arranged a cooperative venture known as Twinning.

1981   LACEY GREEN PARISH TWINNING ASSOCIATION.   By Ted Janes

WE’RE TWINNED

News of the marvellous reception our 15 strong party received in Hambe, both for the twinning ceremony and the celebrations of the weekend of July 25/26^th,will have reached you, by the sheer enthusiasm and elation of our party.   Now is the time for the preparation of the return twinning ceremony, and to offer hospitality and friendship as did the hundreds of people in Hambe to us.

Comment by Joan West

Whilst touring in France with the children, we noticed a signpost to 'Hambe', the village with which Lacey Green was to be twinned , so we thought we would have a look at it.   We drove into the square only to see Ted on the balcony of the Mayor`s parlour expressing greetings from the people of Lacey Green to the people of Hambe.   He looked resplendent, wearing his parish chairman`s chain of office.

In Hallmark December 1982. Report by Chairman Peter Trotter

"When one stops to think of the progress the Twinning Association has made it is unbelievable that it was only December two years ago that Francis, Phillipe and Joel travelled from Hambe to 'vet' us as a suitable twin partner, and only 20 months since my wife and I first travelled to Hambe for the same purpose. Since then several large official groups and many more small private parties have crossed the channel in both directions - getting to understand one another, making lasting friendships , simple acts by ordinary people, that seem to defy the politicians.

On behalf of myself and a hard working committee, I wish you all a Happy Christmas, and my sincere thanks to members and non-members who have helped to make twinning such a rapid success."

Ray Hewinson was Chairman of The Twinning Association. He and Sylvia accompanied children to Hambe for school exchange visits

2002. Twinning Report in Hallmark.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Call for volunteers for twinning committee.   2003.  No volunteers so Twinning “put on ice”.

Since then, although several approaches have been made to Hambe, there appears to be very little enthusiasm from their side and no volunteers from our side.   Now that travel has become commonplace between the UK and France the need for twinning has become less imperative.

Twinning Association, in common with many others, is not the only one which has had, sadly, to close down for lack of support.

Hallmark May 2010. Lacey Green Parish Twinning Association signed by Liz Southon, Tony Molesworth, Mel Webster.

At the Annual General Meeting in 2002 the then Chairman of the Twinning Association, Mrs Pat Williams, indicated that unless there were volunteers to take over from the long-serving Committee, the Association would have to be discontinued. At the AGM in 2003, there being no volunteers, the Association was ‘put on ice’.

Since then, although several approaches have been made to Hambye, there appears to be very little enthusiasm to resurrect the Association from their side and there have been no volunteers to resuscitate Twinning from our side. Now that travel has become commonplace between the UK and France the need for Twinning has become less imperative. Consequently, Lacey Green Parish Twinning Association, in common with many others, has had, sadly, to close down for lack of support.

Under Item 14 of the Lacey Green Parish Twinning Association Constitution any surplus funds that are still held must be transferred equally to the village hall funds of Speen and Lacey Green for specified use. The remaining members of the old Committee will undertake to wind up the Lacey Green Parish Twinning Association in accordance with the Constitution.