Twinning

Stalybridge has been twinned with Armentières since 1955. In 2005, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the link.

Over the years, many different groups from Stalybridge have exchanged visits with groups from Armentières and many friendships have been formed.

This year, groups from primary schools, junior football teams, carnival queens and brass bands will exchange visits. Swimmers, gymnasts and photographers will also visit Armentières.

Armentières is situated 60 miles from Calais, 10 miles from Lille and just under 1 mile from Belgium. The town of Ypres is 10 miles away.

Armentières is a lively and thriving town with Flemish-style architecture, beautiful floral decoration, a large outdoor leisure park with water sports, childrens activities and a nature reserve, busy markets and a cultural centre offering a wide range of exhibitions and entertainment.

From 29th April to 2nd May, a group of young swimmers from Stalybridge Amateur Swimming Club, another group of young gymnasts and a small group of adult photographers will be visiting Armentières, for activities with their counterpart clubs.

Also, a group from Stalybridge Twinning Association and another small group from S/B District Assembly will be visiting Armentières that weekend too. It is Armentières' official 50th anniversary weekend - they will be staging event on English themes.

For the weekend of 7th/8th May, two teams of junior footballers from Armentières will be visiting Stalybridge for Celtic Junior Tournament.

For the week 23rd to 27th May, a group of pupils from Léo Lagrange Primary School, Armentières, will be received by St. Paul's Primary School, Stalybridge. The pupils are working together on a project on the environment.

The Armentières Festival Queen and attendants will be visiting for Stalybridge Festival.

Carrbrook Band will be visiting Armentières for the annual festival, the Fête des Nieulles, in September (10th/11th). S/B Carnival Queen will also be attending.

We are planning a French Weekend for 7th, 8th and 9th October. That will be our official 50th anniversary celebration. We shall be inviting a group from Armentières and we shall invite past twinners that we can get in touch with to an official ceremony and an evening buffet/social evening. There will be different events with French themes in S/B.

To celebrate our 50 years of twinning, we are holding a special event later in 2005, and we would like to invite those who have taken part in exchanges at any time since 1955. If you are one of these, or if you are just interested in our activities, please contact the Secretary of the Twinning Association.

''Dear Kath,

Thank you for putting a link to the Stalybridge-Armentières Twinning on your website. I didn't know your site existed before, but now I visit it regularly. I think it's wonderful!

We are very keen for anyone who has been to Armentières since 1955, on an exchange or just on a one-way visit, to contact us. As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, we are planning a French Weekend in Stalybridge in October. There will be several events, including a social evening with buffet, and we would like to send special invitations to "past twinners".

I have noticed that a lot of your emails are from people who now live away from Stalybridge, and even all over the world. We would also like any of them to contact us, if they have been to Armentières. We have plans that can involve them across the miles too!

I'll also keep anyone who is interested up to date with our plans for the French Weekend."

Eileen Monies.

[email protected]