| With tales of out of date passports
and such, our friends from Millau arrived safely in Bridlington, although
not all had managed to board the plane as originally intended. Host families
began to receive our seventy guests and realise the true size of many of
the musical instruments that were accompanying the group. Echo des Avens
had brought a group from Perpignan to swell their numbers and drums, trumpets,
cornets, saxophones, tubas, guitars and suzophones began to be dispatched
for a well earned rest. |
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Sunday gave everyone a chance to meet together
in glorious sunshine at the Olde Star Inn in Bridlington to enjoy the real
atmosphere of the English pub and "Sunday Lunch". We were treated
to a fine meal and Jean Pierre and Brigitte from Millau putting on a splendid
performance acting with "the same procedure as last year". There
followed an impromptu concert in the car park of Ye Olde Star with Echo
des Avens and friends treating all of the pub and residents of Old Town
with some first class music. Would the weather remain fine for the rest
of the week? |
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| The Committee in Bridlington was
keen for our Millau friends to see plenty of the area and visit some new
sites. These included day trips to Eden Camp and the newly opened submarium,
"The Deep". Both of these visits were really well received and
the staff were extremely helpful to our visitors. Once again for all of
these visits, we were blessed with fine weather. |
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Naturally, we were also keen
to give the band as many opportunities to play their splendid music as possible.
Apart from the opening Sunday, Echo des Avens and friends made the most
of the fine weather during the week and entertained the crowds in Hull,
York, Bridlingtion Bay and at the Ship Inn in Sewerby. Reunited with Michel,
who had been left at the airport with an invalid passport, the band really
gave many superb performances throughout the week and made many new friends
not just with their host families, but wherever they played. Out of respect
for the Queen Mother's funeral, they boarded the Pirate Ship in Brid bay
and played out at sea and then as they approached the harbour, started up
with " God Save the Queen". The band really made the difference
to these Tenth anniversary celebrations with their sense of fun, lively
personalities and keeness to be fully involved with the whole twinning ethos.
You will be most welcome to return to Bridlington at any time!! |
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| Apart from all this, were two unforgettable
evening activities, when host families and our French friends came together
to enjoy each other's company. The Barn Dance in Emmanuel Church Hall proved
to be a memorable experience for all those involved. The dance band commented
that they had never experienced such a joyful atmosphere and from the very
first call, the floor was crowded with a mixture of Engish and French, young
and old all out to have a good time. The caller also found some of her schoolgirl
French to give instructions for the dance. You can imagine the chaos of
140 people "stripping the willow"!!! |
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The final night saw 150 French and English people enjoying
the hospitality of the Bell Hotel in Driffield. With a fine meal, served
so brilliantly by the young waiters and waitresses, everyone was treated
to some fine tunes from Echo des Avens and friends, followed by a superb
disco which kept everyone dancing until after midnight. Such an atmosphere,
again with young and old, French and English all togther so obviously
having a good time.
The visit broke many of the myths held by both the French
and the English about each other, as there were many first time visitors.
These Tenth Anniversary celebrations proved that we have so much in common
and can learn to appreciate and enjoy the many ways which we differ.
More pictures of the visit can be enjoyed in CURRENT
PICTURES.
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