Sleaford hosted the last twinning visit of 2019 at the end of September, 20 years almost to the day after the Twinning Charter with Marquette-lez-Lille was signed here in Sleaford and 10 years after the Sleaford signing of the Twinning Charter with Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf.
The visitors arrived on Thursday afternoon, as usual, first the German group from their early morning flight from Berlin and then the French group after their coach trip via Eurotunnel. They were greeted by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and eventually collected by their hosts for an evening of food and talk – and maybe a few drinks!
On Friday morning all the visitors and some of the hosts scrambled for places on the French coach or in the Round Table minibus for the short journey to Newark. There we first visited the Civil War Centre (clutching translation and information sheets if necessary). There was something for everyone there, including a re-enactment group firing shots in the courtyard and dressing up clothes for anyone who wanted to try them. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with people and share the experience.
After this visit the plan was to eat our picnic in the churchyard and then follow the Civil War trail around Newark. The weather scuppered that one and there was no room for us to eat indoors at the Civil War Centre so we made hasty rendezvous plans for the end of the afternoon and scrambled for shelter. The Newark pubs gained some trade and sandwiches were eaten somehow! Everyone managed to see something of Newark in between the showers and we all eventually found the coach for the journey back to Sleaford, after the meeting place got “lost in translation”.
Saturday was, as usual, a day for guests and hosts to do something together. Peterborough or Lincoln seemed to be popular on another showery day.
On Saturday evening the party was at Sleaford Golf Club and again celebrated the twinning anniversaries.
Sunday morning was, for most, a leisurely one, with an opportunity for some to try lino-printing and a group photo snatched among the showers, after which the French group left for their journey home and the hosts and German guests adjourned for lunch before an afternoon departure for the airport. For many of us this was another pub opportunity!