Sporle WI visit Northern Germany June 2018
The WI members of Sporle WI had busy long weekend when visiting the German Landfrauen (Country Ladies), a similar organisation to the WI for ladies.
The WI members of Sporle WI had busy long weekend when visiting the German Landfrauen (Country Ladies), a similar organisation to the WI for ladies.
Twinning Visit September 2016
2016 was the year that all three twinning delegations met in Swaffham. Whilst our French friends arrived Thursday, our German friends arrived Friday. Many of the hosts independently held social evenings for their & other guests. An official meeting was held on Saturday morning followed by visits to Sandringham & other popular destinations. That evening the Swaffham Twinning group had organized a dinner & entertainment by "Novinka! Folskaband", which proved to be a fantastic evening for all. Sunday gave the Town an opportunity for a more formal occasion with presentations to each town Mayor. Held at Lynford Hall, the venue impressed all with its' old manor house and sumptuous gardens. The "Red Shoes" provide wonderful singing entertainment. More socializing was enjoyed that evening and not a few were late to bed. Our French group had unfortunately to leave early on Monday, however our German friends were able to enjoy more excursions before they sadly had to return home. |
German Landfrauen Visit
Many members of the Twinning Association also make international friends via national organisations such as the WI. A visit from Germany was hosted by members of the WI and Swaffham Twinning Association. From our twinned town in Germany visitors came from Hemmoor and represented their equivalent organisation known as the Landfrauen (Country Ladies). From early Friday until mid-Monday their lives were one fast whirl of activity starting with breakfast at Elvesdon farm shop, Oxburgh hall and a BBQ. A coach trip to Blicking hall for the Craft exhibition and gardens. The Old Vicarage gardens at East Ruston astounded everyone for its size and spectacular plants and flowers. Dinner at the Necton Windmill, Norwich WI federation headquarters, a quick look inside the Norwich Union marbled foyer and of course M&S. |
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Xmas Dance
Swaffham Twinning Association Christmas Dance 2015. This proved to be a great success with lots of dancing to "Hush" and a fantastic supper provided by the well respected "Village Butcher". The first event to help raise funds for the forthcoming visit from our French & German twin towns on the weekend starting 23rd September 2016. We are looking for host families to share their weekend with a French or German guest, a wonderful opportunity to meet the real people. A time when special friendships are made. More events will take place as the year progresses, to raise awareness, as well as funds. |
Wine Tasting
Members of the Swaffham Twinning Association seemed to have lost their sense of direction recently when they travelled all the way to South America for their wine tasting evening. A disappointing result for our twin towns in France and Germany, however a great time was had by all (Hic) when wines were sampled from the mountains and valleys of Chile and Argentina. |
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Xmas Dance
Saturday night at the Assembly Rooms in Swaffham resounded to the music of Novinka! Folskaband. All fingers and feet were tapping at the highly successful fund raising evening given by the Swaffham Twinning Association. The band entertained guests with their unique style of music providing an opportunity for dancing and singing as well as a spot for some young musicians to join in. Altogether a wonderful evening. |
Twinning Visit to Hemmoor 2014
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"It ran like clockwork, here in the UK, RyanAir and the host association got everything right. For our first experience of twinning it was perfect. Our hosts were extremely friendly and we made new friends from both the Swaffham and Couhé groups. We had a wonderful time at the receptions and organized visits, as well as the informal visit to Stade provided by our host and a farm tour provided by our other new German friends. Such a difference from business trips, a chance to meet the real people." |
Sporle WI travel to Germany to meet their sister group.
A request had been received via the German Twinning club for a group of women belonging to a local "Landfrauen" or "Country Women" group to visit Swaffham. Arrangements were made and a very successful weekend was enjoyed by all involved. Naturally a return trip was on the cards and members of Sporle WI made a reciprocal visit that seemed to involve numerous excursions to dairies, pubs & Xmas shops, as well as the Great Garden Exhibition in Hamburg. Towns visited included Stade, a pretty harbour, Osten and "Himmel Pforten" or Heavens Gates. |
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Twinning visit to Hemmoor 12-15 September 2008
This visit commemorated 40 years of the 3-way twinning of Swaffham, Couhé and Hemmoor so was a special occasion in the lives of all three communities. The 24 strong party from Swaffham traveled by Ryan-air to Bremen and thence by coach to Hemmoor. We were in Hemmoor in good time for lunch, having left Swaffham at about 3.00am to make sure we caught the 6.25am flight! A well packed programme was planned for the weekend and started on the Friday evening with a Welcome in the Schutzenpark where traditional soup and bread were served in a gathering which got steadily noisier as old friendships were renewed and new ones begun. Mayors, Town Clerks, Councillors and Twinning Club officers attended the Saturday morning business meeting whilst most of the rest of the visitors and hosts went off to Osten to see the transporter bridge, church and the bottle and archeological museum. Saturday evening saw everybody attending the Civic dinner and dance in the Schutzenpark again. Sunday was when the Hemmoor Twinning Club hosted everybody to a splendid lunch in the Festhalle at Osten. Monday, sadly, was departure day. Our German hosts had arranged for us to visit the Bremen University Science Park on the way to the airport and we spent a fascinating couple of hours playing with all sorts of interactive displays, both indoor and outdoor, before heading into Bremen for a look round the city. We’d had a superb weekend and very many thanks are due to all our friends in Hemmoor who played their part in looking after us and making the groups from Swaffham and Couhé so welcome once again.
This visit commemorated 40 years of the 3-way twinning of Swaffham, Couhé and Hemmoor so was a special occasion in the lives of all three communities. The 24 strong party from Swaffham traveled by Ryan-air to Bremen and thence by coach to Hemmoor. We were in Hemmoor in good time for lunch, having left Swaffham at about 3.00am to make sure we caught the 6.25am flight! A well packed programme was planned for the weekend and started on the Friday evening with a Welcome in the Schutzenpark where traditional soup and bread were served in a gathering which got steadily noisier as old friendships were renewed and new ones begun. Mayors, Town Clerks, Councillors and Twinning Club officers attended the Saturday morning business meeting whilst most of the rest of the visitors and hosts went off to Osten to see the transporter bridge, church and the bottle and archeological museum. Saturday evening saw everybody attending the Civic dinner and dance in the Schutzenpark again. Sunday was when the Hemmoor Twinning Club hosted everybody to a splendid lunch in the Festhalle at Osten. Monday, sadly, was departure day. Our German hosts had arranged for us to visit the Bremen University Science Park on the way to the airport and we spent a fascinating couple of hours playing with all sorts of interactive displays, both indoor and outdoor, before heading into Bremen for a look round the city. We’d had a superb weekend and very many thanks are due to all our friends in Hemmoor who played their part in looking after us and making the groups from Swaffham and Couhé so welcome once again.