Twinning update - Caton & Brookhouse - Socx
Many in the village will know (because there has been previous publicity in The Link) that about a year ago we received a twinning proposal from the village of Socx in northern France. Socx is a bit further from Dunquerque than we are from Lancaster. It is slightly smaller than we are - it has about 1,000 inhabitants - but otherwise there are many similarities between us. A small delegation from Socx came to see us in June. The visit was a great success, enjoyed by both French and English alike. Following the visit a Caton & Brookhouse Twinning Group Steering Committee was set up to promote the twinning and a return visit was planned.
This visit has just recently taken place. Eight of us - Ruth and Ron Gibbons, Diana and Ian Kennon, Elaine and Ian Maxwell and Pat and Mike Quinton - representing the Caton & Brookhouse Group, spent the weekend of 4-6 October as guests of Socx. We stayed with local families and were exceedingly well entertained, wined and dined, shown many of the delights of the area and generally fêted. We were greeted by the Mayor of Socx at a public meeting attended by about fifty people, and it is clear that the people of Socx would greatly welcome a twinning with us.
Our last morning together was spent agreeing the wording of a Twinning Charter, to be formally adopted by both villages. It stresses the benefits of these exchanges, in increased knowledge and mutual understanding, opportunities for education and the fostering of real and lasting international relationships at a personal level. The Caton & Brookhouse Group hopes to arrange a public meeting in the village shortly, to explain in greater detail what is involved, before we welcome a French contingent back here again in February or March. We hope this meeting will be well attended.
In the meantime, the Group would like more members. Anyone can join. If you are interested, please speak to Diane Hickie, our secretary (771127) or Diana Kennon, our assistant secretary (770404) or Ruth Gibbons our chairman (770002).
