10 YEARS OF TWINNING BETWEEN DUNBAR AND LIGNIERES.

 

 

A talk given by Mrs Hilda Laurenson at the Annual General Meeting of the Dunbar and District Twinning Association on 17 th . February, 2004.

When the formal invitations to the inauguration ceremony of the twinning association dropped through the letter boxes of every church, club, organisation and notable in and around Dunbar and district, they represented an enormous amount of work, money and enthusiasm by many people to fulfil a dream and a vision for the benefit of two small communities, one in Scotland and one in France.

In the beginning, in 1974, a young French couple came to Dunbar to continue their studies of the English language. Andre Monrocher was a post-graduate student at Edinburgh University , while Danielle, his wife, became a French assistante in the secondary schools of Dunbar and Haddington. It was an intense and important period of their lives. Their first baby was born here. They lived in one of the little, wooden chalets at Belhaven and enjoyed the hospitality and kindness of many local people. It was natural that when Andre became Head Teacher at Lignieres College and Danielle, the Head of English there, they looked to Dunbar to arrange pupil exchanges.

The concept of twinning developed after World War Two when there was a vision throughout Europe that after the devastating division of the peoples of Europe , that bridges should be built and nations draw closer to one another again. One of the ways that this should happen was through the introduction of communities to each other and the building of personal and civic relationships through cultural, historical, sporting, commercial and industrial links. Every country set aside funds to help achieve this ideal. And thus twinning was born.

Many communities have been linked since the 1950's and have quietly flourished or floundered. Enthusiasm did wane for a while, until, with the advent of the Common Market, official support took up the torch again. So seriously was this taken that they even sent Franz Beck, Hon. Member of the Assembly of the Council of Europe. Haddington and Aubingy Twinning Association was founded in the early 1960's, faltered and was revived again in the 1990's.

East Lothian District Council cannot be commended enough for their assistance as are their counterparts in Cher . Both towns were fortunate to be represented by local councillors who were able to nudge, push and influence beyond the call of duty, although in fairness, there were enthusiasts within the Councils who would have carried this forward.

The Council supported us with grants, allowed us to use their staff and facilities for secretarial functions, they paid for postage, paper, faxes and photocopying. They finances and used their skilled employees to design for and organise events, especially our magnificent inauguration ceremony. They assigned an officer especially to International and Twinning duties. Receptions were and are still, given at each exchange visit, and free passes are issued for access to all local facilities for exchange visitors.

They encourage and host meetings with other East Lothian Twinning Associations where problems can be discussed (currently the Child Protection Act as it affects school exchanges) or latest information disseminated. At first, COSLA hosted Twining seminars all over the country. A Dunbar representative attended seminars in Hawick, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Kilmarnock, and Edinburgh . All this was to acquire a flavour of what twinning meant and what was involved.

There has been much help in kind from local industry, businesses, some traders, as well as individuals who have donated their skill, experience and time. It would be invidious to single them out for fear of omitting some, but our sponsors and supporters have been many.

The first school exchange took place in 1992. This was a success and it was suggested that the towns form a twinning link. After enjoyable, preliminary reconnaissance visits between the steering committees of both towns, during which autumnal Scotland did us proud, and the French overwhelmed the Scots with their hospitality, it was decided to proceed with the Jumelage.

Lignieres and Dunbar are 1340km (840 miles) apart. Lignieres is at the geographical centre of France and is surrounded by cantons – Venesmes, Montlours, St. Baudel, Touchay, Chezal Benoit, St.Symphorien, La Celle Conay, Ineuil, Mareuil-sur-Arnon, St. Roches, and St. Hilaires. The population of over 2000 enjoy a continental climate. Bourges is the provincial city of the Department of Cher. Pupils at satellite village schools move on to middle school at Lignieres College . Cher is basically a rural agricultural area. The people enjoy football, tennis, horse racing, agricultural shows and fairs, clay pigeon and pigeon shooting, and fishing. Les Thiaulins, a singing and dance group, promote traditional folk culture of the region, and there are several choral societies in the cantons.

In contrast Dunbar , with the surrounding villages of Stenton, Innerwick, Oldhamstocks and Spott, enjoys a costal situation with a much colder maritime climate. With a population of over 5000 the local primary schools all feed into the Grammar School at Dunbar . Recently the cement plant and nuclear power station have become major employers with fewer people being involved in fishing and farming. Major upgrading of the main road from Edinburgh and the continuing train link has encouraged many people to move out from the city. Tourism in the town benefits from proximity to Edinburgh and the town's association with John Muir, the founder of Yosemite National Park in America . Local interests include football, rugby, athletics, swimming, hill walking, trout fishing, shooting, choirs and pipe bands.

Fund raising to support our activities has been an important aspect of the association. There have been French meals catering for between 60 –90 people. A beatle drive in French, stalls at civic events, quizzes, wine and whisky tasting evenings and exhibitions have all proved popular.

Many gifts have been exchanged. Gifts have put the seal on burgeoning friendships and serve to cement the union between our two communities, associations and individuals.

They have varied from the precious to trivia – tartan ties, beautifully crafted wooden plaques, ceramics, watercolour paintings, silver pens, crystal photo frames, wine and whisky, (gallons and litres of them), hand made horse brasses, salvers, clocks, hand produced coats of arms, kilos of shortbread and oatcakes, volumes of books depicting the beauties of Scotland and Cher. All expressing goodwill.

The official ones have been displayed in the library, town offices and other public places. They are finally coming to rest collectively in Hallhill Healthy Living Centre in the near future.

The twinning arrangement was founded on the success of the school exchanges. The relationship has continued over the years, with the Twinning Association supporting young people in many ways.

Until recently the school exchanges have continued biennially. Difficulties have arisen recently with changes of staff in both schools who have altered policies and perhaps commitment. These changes have lessened the enthusiasm of the youngsters and their parents.

And now, the Child Protection Act has raised problems. This concerns schools all over Scotland and the district councils are trying to address them.

But there is still a nucleus of people wanting to promote this idea and the visits continue.

Many language students have benefited from spells in Berry and Dunbar on work exchanges. Families have opened their homes to these young people. Schools and offices have been prepared to give work experience to them. One university language graduate is now on the committee. She and her young family were hoping to work and live around Lignieres.

Local pupils have been involved in designing logos for T-shirts and headed paper. Primary schools have encouraged pen friendships between their schools and at one time, even Primary 1's formed links with an Ecole Maternelle.

Dunbar Grammar School Pupils have been invited to be on the committee but with the transient nature of this stage of life, it has been difficult to sustain. Others have given presentations to the committee on their time in Lignieres, having been partly sponsored by the committee.

Local youth groups such as the Ann Henderson Dancers performed at the Comice Agricole in 1997. Mme Berthot's agricultural students were given beds, floor space and breakfast by two members of the committee. Belhaven Hill School has participated in “It's A Knockout” evenings at the leisure Pool and have allowed us to use their premises to accommodate the Relais in 2002. At all times the Association has sponsored various events when Lignieres College has been in Dunbar . My dream is that a youngster between 16 and 25 years wishing to pursue their tertiary education, in any sphere, be partly supported financially and practically by the local communities.

Music can be said to be an international language. It can transmit mood and emotion without a word being said. Music has been an integral part of our link with Lignieres. The pipers of Dunbar Royal British legion and the folk group, Les Thaulins of Lignieres and Cantons, have played an integral part in bridging the language barrier, encouraging the formation and sustaining the twinning link.

Dunbar and District Choral Society have had the honour of performing the Bourges cathedral and sung their way around the cantons, in schools, churches and abbeys on several occasions. Their high standard of music has been much appreciated.

Stenton Singers have recently established themselves as a lively group who give charming renditions of traditional songs from both lands and take friendship where ever they go.

The visit of the visually impaired and renowned organist of Bourges Cathedral, M. Pagenal, and his trumpeter companion, M. Pierre Dutot, in Haddington's St. Mary's, and Edinburgh's St. Paul's and St. George's were stimulating and fun events by two superb musicians. Those who were privileged to hear these celebrity recitals marvelled at this unusual combination of instruments and their players who blended classical and modern music with a light handed skill.

Sport is another activity which unites people all over the world. Again, no language involved. Our activities have centres on creating friendships, enjoying the comradeship, that participating together brings.

On the school exchanges, during the Knock Out fun at the Leisure Pool, events were deliberately designed to mix the teams so that international and social tensions were subdued!

The Dunbar Athletic club hosted a workshop where young athletes of both towns were able to share the coaching and facilities provided.

In August 2002, the brilliantly conceived and innovative visit by the cyclists and runners of Lignieres was one of the highlights of the twinning connection. 27 participants (including backup officials) ran, cycled and flew (across the Channel by microlight) in relay covering the 1340 km between Lignieres and Dunbar in five days. The logistics of this venture required minute detailed planning and costing. It was done!

By comparison, petanque seems very tame but there is a small group of players in East Lothian who play and compete regularly. The French have shown us a lesson or two, but in mixed teams, of course.

Tourism certainly flourished in Scotland and the Department of Cher. Both parties were keen to show off the beauties, cultural and historic links of their areas, as well as wishing to know something more about each other's environments.

Each outing had to be organised, booked and paid for. Usually there were was a tour guide and a resume of the background visited was prepared in French or English. Often an interpreter came too. Many of these roles were taken by a core of retired people, mainly teachers. There are stories of hangovers, falls, romances and complaints of ABC ( Another Bloody Castle, Church, Cathedral)!!

Included in the programmes were town tours, farm walks, whisky and beer sampling, stately homes (including the Royal Yacht Brittania), palaces, chataeux, potteries, glass works, leisure pools, hill walks, civic chambers, nuclear power stations, woollen mills, charming gardens, ghostly closes, famous golf courses. Fir the French, “The Highlands” began once the Forth Bridge was crossed and a visit to see Nessie was mandatory though never successful.

Packed lunches were usually the order of the day. The best fish and chips were consumed in Dunbar and Anstruther, Stenton hospitality was famously generous. Many of the snack places in Scotland were abysmal in my opinion. Gorgeous food was appreciated by the discerning French. Most people enjoyed most things.

Maintaining public relations is a constant worry. Each partner circulates newsletters to it's members once or twice a year. The local newspapers are supportive giving coverage to most events. A local magazine featured an article. We have mounted shop window displays. We have arranged stands at Civic Week and agricultural fairs. Leaflets have been distributed to households throughout the area. Websites are created. Many people are interested but hesitate to get involved. But we persist!

Communications are of the essence but in spite of all the latest gizmos, the exchange of messages is only as good as the person or persons operating them. We can talk, write, phone, fax, e-mail, send out newsletters but too many things go wrong, machine wise or human temperament wise. There are misunderstandings, postal delays, e-mails get lost, telephones unanswered and so on. All that added to the language problem and nuances of meaning! At joint meetings, a good translator and a firm chair are essential. It has been a challenge but we have come through ten years more or less successfully, determination and goodwill accounting for much.

Why did we become involved? Some of us shared this ideal of forming links with people from other countries in order to promote some sort of harmony between nations and share our common humanity. Others had other reasons e.g. widening their families' experiences, travel, promoting commercial and industrial connections, enhancing their careers but all basically with the original premise in mind.

The rewards might be an achievement of these goals with a lot of fun thrown in. Hopefully, the knowledge that perhaps the establishment of some goodwill between two small towns has added to the more positive aspects of human behaviour.

Are we succeeding?

Well – tourism locally and in Scotland and France has benefited. Thousands of pounds, francs and euros haven't been made but “mony a mickle maks a muckle”. A few hundred hear and there on buses, gifts, food, entry fees, accommodation all helps.

Certainly awareness that there is another world beyond East Lothian and Lignieres canton has been heightened. (There are youngsters in the exchanges who have never seen the sea before).

Also we have discovered our common humanity. We are not so different after all and share similar problems and pleasures.

Visits on every level, formal and informal, have played a great part in developing lasting friendships. Like any relationship or friendship, we have had our ups and downs, laughed together, cried together, had our differences and misunderstandings but these have been resolved and we have carried on. Some ideas have not come to fruition, others are steadily developing.

There are issues we give us cause for concern for the future.

The maintenance of school links due to the Child Protection Act is worrying. Can a balance be found?

The lack of interest in the communities, especially Dunbar. We try very hard to involve more people but in common with many other voluntary organisations there is difficulty in finding adults who are prepared to take on community projects. Health and Safety regulations may be partly responsible for that, along with busy life styles and a general decline in the concept of giving service. Or whatever. I did read as a society we are letting our youth down.

Anyone who has taken up voluntary work soon realizes that your particular cause is not everyone else's cause. Even if someone offers skills, time and so on, it is not at the top of their personal agenda. To volunteer is to give commitment and not just when it suits. Other qualities required are determination, time, tact and organisation. Enthusiasm and dedication are paramount. There is considerable enjoyment and satisfaction, most times, to be had in being involved with the enrichment of life!

Like any relationship or friendship, our Jumelage links have to be nurtured or they wither away.

There is a core of dedicated enthusiasts who are quietly working to ensure the continuation of the twinning ideal and who will find solutions to any difficulties. All those visits, letters, Christmas cards, gifts, individual commitments, family bonding, shared personal experience and affection have set the future. We have been through births and deaths, a Dunbar child has godparents from Lignieres, a member has set up a second home near Lignieres and Danielle looks forward to the first marriage! What a celebration that will be!

We are fortunate that two of our younger members who have been involved one way or another since the beginning, are willing to carry the torch into the future by participating actively, taking their families with them. There are others who will give good will and practical help, if not now, but late in life. So Danielle's dream may become true some day!

VIVE LE JUMELAGE!