Ivybridge French Twinning Association and "Comite de Jumelage"
IVYBRIDGE / St PIERRE SUR DIVES
The twinning between our two towns was ratified after a Charter was
agreed in 1972. Incidentally this is one of the oldest
Twinning Charters in Devon. The origin of twinning between the
two towns began as far back as the late 60's. It was the
brainchild of Mr Frank Caxton who was the Devon County Council
Twinning / Education Officer with particular interest in South
Devon. He thought there was much merit to be gained by the
'twinning' of schools in the area with schools in France for
educational purposes.
Schools exchanges, developed into formal twinnings between towns and villages. In 1970 Frank suggested that a formal twinning between Plympton St Mary Rural District Council and the Normandy Town of Yvetot, but for various reasons this did not come to fruition. The next suggestion was St Pierre-sur-Dives, but Plympton Council decided that as the new Local Government Act would cause them to be dissolved they felt that Ivybridge should consider the suggestion especially as the Council Committee Chairman and member for Ivybridge was Mr John Congdon. On 27 September 1971 a Public Meeting was held at the Ivybridge Comprehensive College at which a local Twinning Committee was established, which included 6 members of Ivybridge Parish Council (Chairman - Mr J H Congdon) after which a delegation led by Mr John Congdon paid an exploratory visit to St Pierre in October.
After a similar visit from St Pierre to Ivybridge a formal twinning was agreed by St Pierre Town Council and Ivybridge Parish Council, incidentally, as far as is known, at the time, only the second in England by a Parish Council. All others being Towns or District Twinnings. Devon and Calvados remain County Twinning Charters and so on 25 June 1972 a delegation consisting of Frank Caxton, Ken Simpson (then Clerk to Plympton), Guy Van de Kiste and Derek Bowden (Vice Chairman of Ivybridge Parish Council) travelled by invitation to Normandy to sign the Charter (and what a celebration it was!). The following September, a delegation from St Pierre signed the other half of the Charter agreement at a ceremony at the Council Offices of Plympton St Mary especially used as the venue for the occasion. Afterwards the Party were entertained at the Holiday Inn in Plymouth and on Sunday the French visitors were entertained by the Ivybridge Rotary Club at a luncheon. The French press reported that they were fortunate to have a Dr Leopold Berl as Mayor of St Pierre-sur-Dives as he was a member of the Calvados Twinning Committee and deeply interested in exchanges between the two Counties of Devon and Calvados and stressed the importance of Britain preparing to go into the Common Market. The first President of Ivybridge Twinning Association was The Hon Mrs Helen Mildmay-White of Flete, Holbeton, Devon.
Then under the Chairmanship of Mr Congdon a full Twinning Association was formed (The Mayor of Ivybridge becoming the permanent President). The Association were given a grant of £100.00 by both Ivybridge Parish Council and Plympton Rural District Council and recognised by Devon County Council.
And so began one of the most successful Twinnings in Devon which continues to this day. Every other year there is a visit to St Pierre and they come to Ivybridge in the intervening year. Members have forged personal links staying at each others homes, being invited to weddings, christenings and even had homes offered for holidays. Members attend organised events such as raffles, Bar-B-Q's, Quiz Nights, Dances,. Walks, etc and raise funds with a modest subscription. When Ivybridge visits St Pierre the Mayor is always invited and a small token gift is taken. We are always looking to welcome new members.
If any reader would like to find out more about the French Twinning Association please contact either Mr Geoff Gibbs (Chairman) on 01752 690642 or Clive Hunter (Committee) on 01752 893726 or Judith Tasker (Committee Secretary) on 01752 894766
Clive Hunter - Committee