News for 2005
October 2005 - Liederkranz Murrhardt & Frome Singers Concert, Christchurh, Frome
Liederkranz Murrhardt, a group of over fifty choral singers from Frome's German twin-town, arrived in England for a packed weekend of musical and social events.
The concert was given at Christchurch by Frome Singers and Liederkranz Murrhardt, and introduced in English and in German by Mrs. Shirley Copley. Frome Singers performed a variety of imaginative choral arrangements, with songs in both languages being translated for their audience. The Murrhardt Youth Choir sang songs from 'Grease' & the Adult Choir performed songs from around the world, once more in both languages. The concert drew a rousing finale with all of the assembled choirs joining in Beethoven's 'Lied an die Freude'; the European Union anthem.
Before arriving in Frome, the visitors enjoyed a coach tour of London, having landed at Stanstead and many of their number never having visited England previously. After a welcoming reception and supper, the following day provided a guided tour of Wells Cathedral before the rehersals and performance at Christchurch. The hosts and their guests were also able to enjoy further trips on the final day, to various destinations including Stonehenge, Stourhead & Longleat.
Frome Singers would like to thank all of the people who helped in any way to make the time so enjoyable for their guests.
Shirley Copley
Frome Singers
August 2005 - Trilingual Festival
On Friday 22 July a group of 11, led by Twinning Association Chairman Christine Potter, joined 40 twinners from Château-Gontier for a busy weekend visit to Murrhardt. The Frome group, including Mayor Karen Harvey and Deputy Mayor Blanche Farley, travelled to our twin town for the annual meeting of representatives of the three towns, which this year coincided with Murrhardt's annual Sommerpalast. This is a 4-day festival held in the town's central park, with many activities under canvas and in the open-air. It provided an ideal opportunity for regular visitors to meet many friends and for first-time visitors to make new friends in a short time. At an official reception in the park, the three mayors gave speeches and gifts were exchanged to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of our tripling charter in Frome in 1985.
At the tripartite meeting on Saturday morning members discussed events planned for the coming year, as well as new ideas for other visits. These are not only aimed at specific organisations, but any interested individuals and, it is hoped, young people in the three towns.
Besides visits to the festival, visitors were treated to a town walk in three languages, followed by a horse-drawn coach ride to the historic Villa Franck, as well as various individual family entertainment - altogether a packed weekend. Cllr Harvey commented that she had thoroughly enjoyed the twinning experience and could recommend it.
The tripartite meeting in 2006 will take place in Château-Gontier in June to coincide with their arts and music festival, La Chalibaude.
June 2005 - European partner schools visit
During a recent visit by partner schools from Murrhardt and Château-Gontier to Critchill School, good weather allowed the groups to enjoy a barbecue evening. Staged a few days in to the week-long visit at Stratton-on-the-Fosse, the barbecue gave a wonderful opportunity for forging new friendships.
April 2005 - Murrhardt 'English Group' visit
During the Liederkranz Murrhardt 175th Year celebrations in Murrhardt last July 2004, a small group of The Frome Singers Twinning Choir met and enjoyed a German breakfast with the 'English Group', a band of more senior Murrhardters, who meet every week to improve their English under the tutelage of Oda Gerke, an expert linguist.
Some of the group had never met English people before and many had never been to England, so it was decided to remedy that deficiency with a visit to Frome in 2005.
That visit took place early in April when 11 Murrhardters visited 5 hosts in the Frome area, where an interesting and happy time was had by all. As much as possible was packed into a short stay before the group left for a few days in London, taking with them very happy memories and many new friendships.
Many thanks are due to the kind and generous people who hosted these charming visitors.
Pat Oakley & Caroline Toll
Members of The Frome Singers Twinning Choir
February 2005 - Have a Break in France or Germany
The French Twinning Association in Château-Gontier have put forward a proposal for participation in an exchange scheme whereby individuals or families can spend time with a French or German counterpart. These exchanges could be just for holiday or house swap or cultural or sports exchanges.
If you are interested there are forms requesting basic details such as age group, interests and occupation, which are available in the Tourist Office, the Town Office and the Library (or here until we have an online form submission). Once you have completed this it will be sent to France where the twinning committee will try to match people with a similar background in either Murrhardt or Château-Gontier or both if desired.
It has often been felt that current twinning exchanges in Frome have really only thrived through organizations such as the Youth Choir, the Fire Brigade or the Tennis Club and that consequently people not belonging to such groups could have difficulty in finding who to stay with if they want to visit our twin towns. We are hoping this scheme will get under way as soon as possible and that in future many new friendships can be formed across the Channel.
Elizabeth Wakefield - Hon Sec Frome Twinning Association.
February 2005 - Frome Twinning Association Quiz
Quiz-Master MIke Bishop once again came up with an interesting and varied set of questions for the quiz earlier this month at the South Parade Club. The association was a fundraiser for Frome Twinning Association. The runners-up kindly donated their prize money to the 'Headway' charity in memory of Gregory Langman who tragically died at the end of January.
The Twinning Association will be holding the Annual General Meeting on Friday 11th March at Trinity Church hall and would welcome new members.
Frome Times - 18th February 2005.