Hermitage establishes a French connection

Village twins with Les Hermites

IN the middle of the EU Referendum storm, a West Berkshire village has established closer ties with a French village.

Hermitage twinned with Les Hermites, Indre-et-Loire, at a ceremony last Thursday.

The delegation from Les Hermites stayed with local families for a week and visited Basildon Park, followed by a celebration barbecue hosted by parish council chairwoman Ruth Cottingham.

The two communities also participated in a event at the new Hermitage Village Hall.

The signing ceremony between Hermitage and Les Hermites was carried out by Ms Cottingham and mayor Guy de Brantes in the village’s Holy Trinity Church.

The Rev Rita Ball hosted the reception, where elected representatives and members of the public of both French and English communities participated.

Parish councillor and chairman of the Hermitage Twinning Association, Nick Burraston, said: “This agreement brings together all our hard work accomplished over the last year by many people both here in Hermitage and in the village of Les Hermites.

“Interested parish members came together, and, after much discussion, we formed the Hermitage Twinning Association.

“The formal agreement between Les Hermites and Hermitage, plus Articles of Association, have been agreed with Hermitage Parish Council and here we are at this historic occasion – thank you to everyone who has made this possible.

“The next phase must be to try to involve families and young people in both communities.”

Twinning is a legal and social agreement between two towns or villages to promote cultural and social ties.

The concept is intended to foster, encourage and promote friendship and understanding between the different cultures of two countries.

In 1989, the European Union initiated a scheme to support twinning between countries.

Hermitage becomes the fifth West Berkshire community to establish links with a twin town after Newbury, Thatcham, Hungerford and Pangbourne.