Welcome to
Holsworthy - Aunay-sur-Odon Twinning
Regular meetings at the 'The Skills Centre', Well Park, Holsworthy, (see News & Events)


Aunay-sur-Odon Town Hall

Aunay-sur-Odon is a small town in the Calvados area of Normandy. Normandy, has had a very close association with England from the mid 11th C for 400 years from William Duke of Normandy until the time of the 'Maid of Orleans' Aunay itself was virtually rased to the ground by allied bombing in 1944, but has bounced back to be a lively and welcoming town in a beautiful area of France.

Aims & Objectives

The aims and objective of the Association, as also confirmed in our Constitution, are in general, to foster international friendship and understanding between ordinary citizens, and in particular;

Membership is open to anyone living near enough to Holsworthy to be able to participate in exchange visits.

	Holsworthy Church

In pursuit of these aims, the Association does many things; to start with, we meet fairly regularly as an association at the 'The Skills Centre', Well Park in Holsworthy, usually on a Monday, and at 8 o'clock in the evening, (see News and Events for the next meeting). Of course one of the main events of the year is either a visit from Holsworthy to the Calvados area where there are outings, a great market, and always a Dinner Dance, OR a group from Aunay comes to visit us in Holsworthy and district, when we offer them the same. In this way, family friendships have grown up over many years, but others have visited or entertained different families, or just stayed in the local hotel. Non-members may join excursions organised by the Association on payment of a surcharge.

In addition, the association has social events, such as Wine & Cheese parties, Skittles tournaments, Quiz evenings and Safari evenings. Some members have taken the French contact quite seriously, and with their families, taken French lessons in Holsworthy, or bought themselves a home learning course. In all membership of the 'Holsworthy - Aunay-sur-Odon Twinning Association' is stimulative, and fun.

The membership fee is at present £4, per year for a single person, and £7.50 for a family, which includes children up to the age of 16 years. A long weekend in France with the Association, this year for example, runs out at £80, for an adult and £40 for a child, Holsworthy - Aunay and back. Try us!

Officers

History

Holsworthy Church

Initially, a group of Headmasters and a Youth Advisor visited the Luneburg area of Germany, with a view to reporting on 'Twinning' possibilities. Since however Devon Secondary Schools taught French as a second language, they together with Devon County Council decided to twin with Calvados. The first village that looked at Holsworthy turned us down, but soon afterwards, representatives of Aunay-sur-Odon visited and invited our representatives to visit them in 1972 directly after the Devon Country Council formally signed a Charter with Calvados in Caen and Exeter.

Already at this stage Holsworthy A.F.C., representing the County at a match in Caen. Pyworthy was represented along with the Mayor of Holsworthy on a visit to Aunay-sur-Odon, where a verbal covenant was agreed between the two towns. Exchange visits were made in 1973, but first after a Committee had been formed in May 1974, under the Chairmanship of Mrs H. Broad, a Charter was signed in June, at a Twinning Ceremony in the Mairie of Aunay-sur-Odon. In July of that year, there were 30 active Holsworthy members attending meetings, and a constitution was drawn up, meetings being held initially every 2 - 3 weeks in the Youth Centre. Aunay presented Holsworthy with a Plaque, which has been kept in the Council Chambers. The Town Band as well as footballers were frequently involved in Twinning ceremonies and visits. Apart from a yearly subscription of 50p/family, the Social Club, the Golf Club, the R.B.L. and H.A.T.S all gave some financial support.

At the very beginning of Holsworthy Twinning, when we used to attend meetings in the manor offices, there were only five members who were ever present. Two of these men were Wilf Trace and Brian Hughes, and without these two men, twinning would have died in those early years. We have no doubt, that Wilf, being a District Councilor, Town Councilor and Mayor of the Town, it was his commitment, enthusiasm, connections, you name it, that ensured that there was no way under his leadership, twinning would fold.

As for Brian, he was a teacher at the Community College, and it was his knowledge of speaking French and a passionate desire to make Twinning a success that kept young people like us, and others, interested. We had a nick name for Brian, it was 'Joe 90' that speaks for itself, we can honestly say that Brian was one of nicest blokes we have ever met. Lastly, they kept the interest in football, and we think that that was they key to the first ten to twelve years. So all of us, who now enjoy twinning, can say a big 'thank you' to Wilf and Brian.

Recognition of the efforts of the County of Devon in promoting twinning, was given by the Council of Europe in September 1974 at Exeter County Hall, in the form of a Flag of Honour. This and other events were regularly reported in a Newsletter. After considerable fluctuation in the reported number of French guests arriving for the Twinning Weekend in March 1975 in Holsworthy, 80 guests were accommodated, some younger French visitors on mattresses in the Youth Centre. Later during this visit, the Twinning Charter (English version) was signed, and presentations made by Holsworthy to the Aunay visitors.

By 1979, many informal visitors were being made, based on the basic Twinning between Holsworthy and Aunay. Trips were made by the Church Choir, the Royal British Legion as well as School Children and individual family visits. Over the late 70's and early 80's financial survival was often a problem, and individual members lent the Association money to 'tide it over'. This had however improved by 1982 due to successful fund raising events, in particular, a sponsored walk. 1984, the 10th anniversary of the signing of our Charter, saw 3 full coaches from Holsworthy visiting Aunay-sur-Odon, including Majorettes and Royal British Legion as well as Twinning members

It was decided that 'Aunay Close', would be the name of a new local road, in honour of our association with Aunay-sur-Odon, and this appeared on the town maps from 1992 on. Also in 1992, in October, a renovated Red Post Office Telephone Box was taken over to Aunay by our then Chairman and Secretary and presented. It was put on show outside the Mairie, and a video of this event made. By the mid 90's the Association finances were looking a very healthy, totals of over £3,000, - were in the accounts. Much of this was due to successful fund raising ventures, but grants had been applied for with success, giving the funds a considerable boost.

At this stage, it had been arranged that Holsworthy visited Aunay during the even calendar years, and Aunay visited Holsworthy during the odd years, adjustments being made for special celebrations, such as the 25th year of the signing of the Charters in the respective towns.

It may be said, that according to the records, every visit was a success, despite some times dreadful weather conditions, and stormy crossings.

Visits are still made regularly in both directions, please look at our 'News and Events' section for the latest information.

News & Events