According to the website of the EU, town twinning developed after the Second World War in parallel with progress made towards European integration. Basically, town twinning is seen as a tool to "enhance mutual understanding between citizens, fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union and developing a sense of European identity".
That may strike you as all very worthy - but in practice, Twinning is simply a lot fun.
Twinning in Practice: Llanidloes - Derval
For the past 13 years, Llanidloes has been twinned with the town of Derval. Derval is in the Loire Atlantique region of France, on the eastern fringes of Brittany and roughly half way between the cities of Rennes and Nantes. Twinning has involved regular visits by people from Derval to Llanidloes, and of people from the Llanidloes area visiting Derval in return. Accommodation during these visits has been provided in the homes of the host community.
Each Twinning visit has a theme and a programme of events and activities. The last visit to Derval was on the 10th anniversary of the Twinning relationship, and to mark the special occasion, the Dervalais created the mosaic seen on the front of this leaflet. In addition, a special commemorative medallion was cast in honour of the occasion.
The people of Derval are very friendly and are very enthusiastic about visiting our town. A visit has been arranged for July 4th-9th July 2008.
The Llanidloes Twinning Association is currently seeking families who are willing to offer hospitality to our friends from Derval during their visit.
What does hosting involve?
Providing bed and breakfast for 5 nights.
The visit will involve a programme of events each day. As hosts you will be expected to transport your guests to the pick up point for the coach each morning and collect them at the end of the day's events. While host families are very welcome to join in some or all of the events with the French party, it is recognised that many people will be unable to do so because of work or other commitments.
Only one or two evening meals need to be provided as the programme for the visit includes entertainment and meals out. Sometimes, host families are asked to provide a plate of food for a communal buffet.
As a host, you will naturally be included in these events if you are able to attend.
What if you cannot speak French?
Don't let not being able to speak French stand in the way of hosting visitors. Some of the Dervalais speak English, while those who don't manage to communicate sufficiently with gestures, etc.
Most of the people involved in previous twinning events cannot speak French either, but have enjoyed having visitors from Derval staying with them.
Sometimes, host families join together for an evening meal. This helps to minimise language problems as the visitors have other members of their party present and Llanidloes people have the support of each other.
When people from our area have visited Derval the townspeople have always been very hospitable and generous in the welcome they have given us.
Could you help to give the people of Derval a warm Welsh welcome in July? If so, then please contact the Llanidloes Twinning Association by calling Nick Venti on 01686 412388, or e-mail Twinning@llanidloes.com
The 2008 Visit
Following the highly enjoyable 10th anniversary visit to Derval in 2005, this year sees Llanidloes host a party from Derval. A full programme of activity will keep our guests entertained with excursions to the Hall and ruins at Abbey Cwm Hir; to Broughton, where the wings for Anglo - French Airbus airliners are made; to Chirk Castle; to the Hydro Electric power plant at Cwm Rheidol; and to the Red Kite feeding at Nant Yr Arian.
The Dervalais will take part in locally available activities, such as sailing and angling on the Llyn Clywedog, nature rambles, visits to local National Garden Scheme properties, arts and crafts, and much more besides. We are keen to find a range of activities for our guests to enjoy, so if you have an interesting hobby that you would like to share with our visitors from France, please get in touch.
Of an evening, there will be opportunities to enjoy good locally made food, fun and frolics. Local musicians will entertain our guests at the Twinning ceilidh, while the final evening of the visit will play host to a light hearted quiz night, as we seek to find out which community knows the most about the other. If past experience is anything to go by, a good time will be had by all.
The Value of Twinning
The exchange visits between Llanidloes and Derval undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the local economy. A party of 55 French people will be staying in and around Llanidloes for five days during this summer. They will eat and drink locally and buy souvenirs of their visit. Figures from Visit Wales suggest that day visitors to Mid Wales spend on average £25 per day. 55 x £25 x 5 days = £6,875; and this calculation takes no account of the money the Twinning Association will spend on organising the visit.
Who Pays?
Twinning visits are eligible for funding support from the European Union. Strict criteria govern the nature of visits, while grants are subject to a complicated formula. For the 2008 visit, the Llanidloes Twinning Association will be able to claim up to £4,500 to cover its cost; money that will be spent principally in the local community.
But the main benefit to be derived from Twinning is not financial. It is in the enjoyment of the visits; it is in the characters encountered and the different perspectives; it is in the friendships forged over dog eared dictionaries. For thirteen years Llanidloes and Derval have enjoyed a special relationship. If you would like to sample what that means in reality, please get involved in the 2008 visit. You will not be disappointed.
L.L.A.N.I. Ltd
According to the website of the EU, town twinning developed after the Second World War in parallel with progress made towards European integration. Basically, town twinning is seen as a tool to "enhance mutual understanding between citizens, fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union and developing a sense of European identity".
The visit will involve a programme of events each day. As hosts you will be expected to transport your guests to the pick up point for the coach each morning and collect them at the end of the day's events. While host families are very welcome to join in some or all of the events with the French party, it is recognised that many people will be unable to do so because of work or other commitments.
Following the highly enjoyable 10th anniversary visit to Derval in 2005, this year sees Llanidloes host a party from Derval. A full programme of activity will keep our guests entertained with excursions to the Hall and ruins at Abbey Cwm Hir; to Broughton, where the wings for Anglo - French Airbus airliners are made; to Chirk Castle; to the Hydro Electric power plant at Cwm Rheidol; and to the Red Kite feeding at Nant Yr Arian.