The Town Twinning Association
Was set up in 1992 to bring together two similar community's, one in the centre of Britain and one in the centre of Brittany. Both Haltwhistle and St Meen le Grand are small market towns, which initially grew due to Roman occupation in their area. It is situated 40 miles south of St Malo, 30 miles west of Rennes, and was founded by a Welsh monk in 548 AD. St Meen's strategic position on the main north/south and east/west routes has helped the town to grow as well as it's abbey and seminary attracting scholars and foreigners. Each year the twinning exchanges bring new ideas and knowledge, plus new friendships are made and old ones strengthened. The people of St Meen are very friendly, easy going and love to have a good time, so making the time spent with them great fun.
The Association is open to everyone living in the Haltwhistle area with new members always welcome. We currently have members living in Slaggyford, Halton Lea gate, Gilsland, Bardon Mill, Newbrough, and Hexham.
The committee is made up of anyone who wants to help make the decisions, though they must be elected at the Annual General Meeting in November, as laid down in the constitution. It meets once a month to discuss the details of visits to and from St Meen le Grand, social events and fund raising ideas. These are then put into newsletters and are sent out to all members.
Social evenings are usually held every few months, in the Comrades Club , Garibaldi Room, upstairs. These usually have a buffet meal and a quiz or music themed to various countries, such as Italian, Spanish, Greek, Irish and of course French. The social evenings are a good way of meeting people locally and of keeping in touch with "twinning" friends. An Annual Superquiz is held every January at the Workingmens' Club.
Groups of about 70 people, of all ages, have thoroughly enjoyed visits to and from each town, usually the last week in August. A coach takes members from here to St Meen, crossing by ferry. After some sight-seeing on the way members are welcomed by the families they will stay with. Previous visits have included a day at the beautiful coastal town of Dinard, also the walled town of St Malo, a boat trip around the islands in the Golfe du Morbihan, walks in the nearby Broceliande Forest and were treated to wonderful evenings of entertainment.
In April 2000 a group of about 30 came from St Meen to stay near Haltwhistle for a walking holiday. Twinning members organised interesting walks for them and the Association laid on an evening's entertainment. Later, in August, Haltwhistle played host to 70 people from St Meen. The program included a day trip to the historic city of Durham, a BBQ at the Roman site of Birdoswald, a choice of a scenic tour of the Scottish borders or a day at Lightwater Valley, (which most of the forty or so younger ones really enjoyed), plus two nights with entertainment, a fun bowling match, a basketball tournament and a treasure hunt in the town centre.
Other activities have included the exchange of local crafts, which won the national Eurotunnel Competition, the visit of a very talented youth orchestra from St Meen who played concerts at Haydon Bridge and Haltwhistle, next year the Under 17s Football Team are taking part in a football competition in St Meen.
The Twinning Association revived the Haltwhistle Carnival back in 1992, which then involved our twin townsfolk dressing in their beautiful Breton costumes and dancing and playing music in the street procession. The carnival has now developed into a whole week of events.
Our Euro MP, Dr Gordon Adam, has been helpful with getting together business people in both towns and this year we plan to progress with a "Youth Forum 25" project for young people in this area, St Meen in Brittany, Fehrbellin in Germany, and Tomelilla in Sweden. The Association has arranged for the Haltwhistle leaflet to be translated into French and German to help bring more European visitors to the town.
On the north side of Haltwhistle Main Road, just west of the Grey Bull Hotel is "Haltwhistle Twinning Garden", which the Association took over from the local council and renovated. When Haltwhistle was by-passed the Association was granted permission to rename the old A69 "Avenue St Meen" and it is planned that trees will be planted along the avenue as well as landscaping part of the area. In St Meen a park called "Haltwhistle Square" is nearing completion.
You can receive further information from the Chairman, David Hutton 01434 321750, 2 Adeline Court, Willia Road, Haltwhistle, NE49 9PZ or the Secretary, Claire Heaviside, 01434 322251, 12 Fell View, Haltwhistle, NE49 9AZ