Jum Regal Les Herbiers International Food Festival May 2015

The twinning of Newtown with Les Herbiers in the Vendee France has been active for over 15 years. Over the years, there have been many cultural exchanges such as musical events, school exchanges and food festivals along with sporting activities such as football, cycling and the twinning Olympiads. Many long lasting personal relationships and friendships have been developed to the benefits of all concerned.

In 2015 a new Twinning Committee was formed and we meet regularly to discuss twinning issues and projects. As well as cultural and community work the committee is looking at ways of supporting and promoting local businesses.

As a result of our French friends participation in the 2014 Newtown Food Festival, the idea of an International Food Festival in Les Herbiers was developed. In 2015 we supported the Les Herbiers International Food Festival and promoted many of our local producers at this event by advertising, promoting and selling their products in Les Herbiers. The event was very successful, approximately £4,000.00 of sales were made by us on their behalf.

French producers are due to visit Newtown again for the Newtown Food Festival this September 2016 and will run a French market at the Festival. A French walking group will also be returning during the Festival to join with our local Walking Newtown group.

In 2017, we are expanding our business support to the promotion and sales of Newtown local crafts at the new International Crafts Fair to be held in Les Herbiers in 2017.

We are also working on a number of new sport exchanges including Cycling, Tennis and Walking clubs. A French professional Tennis Coach from Les Herbiers will be providing free coaching to members of Newtown and Berriew clubs in July this year.

We are aware that the Newtown Silver Band and the Newtown Male Voice Choir are keen to visit Les Herbiers on a cultural / musical exchange and we are in the process of setting up exchanges for these organisations.

We have started to set up our new website, linking to the Town Council website, this is currently under development.

We are a charitable organisation, all members work for free although we are part financed by Newtown Town Council and have a Town Councillor serving on our committee. However, to enable us to undertake further cultural, sporting and commercial work for the benefit of the town and its people we are trying to increase both our personal and corporate membership locally.

En Route...........

Festival!

Frolic Street

Gala Dinner

Prep Work

The Send Off!

La 1re édition de ce festival gastronomique, organisé par le comité de jumelage vendredi et samedi, a trouvé son public et profité de la pluie.

L’idée était bonne, dans tous les sens du terme. Organiser un festival aux couleurs, et surtout aux saveurs, des trois villes jumelées avec la communauté de communes du pays des Herbiers : Coria (Espagne), Newtown (Pays de Galles) et Liebertwolkwitz (Allemagne). Au programme : dégustation et vente de produits régionaux, ateliers, animations musicales et dîner dansant à Herbauges. La recette a fait mouche !

En ce week-end pluvieux, les Herbretais sont venus nombreux – surtout vendredi – chercher un peu de soleil dans les spécialités espagnoles et un peu de chaleur dans les liqueurs allemandes ou le thé gallois. L’entrée était libre. “C’est une façon originale de découvrir les villes jumelées avec notre commune !”, déclare Julie, après avoir acheté son fromage espagnol.

En septembre prochain, ce sera au tour des Herbretais de faire découvrir leurs produits régionaux, cette fois-ci à Newtown, pour un autre festival gastronomique. Un retour en Vendée est fortement espéré.

Plus d’infos dans Dimanche Ouest-France, édition Les Herbiers-Fontenay

The 1st edition of this food festival, organized by the twinning committee on Friday and Saturday, has found its audience and benefited from the rain.

The idea was good in every sense. A festival of colors, and above all the flavors, the three sister cities the community of communes of the country of Herbiers: Coria (Spain), Newtown (Wales) and Liebertwolkwitz (Germany). On the program: tasting and sale of regional products, workshops, musical entertainment and dancing dinner Herbauges. The recipe was a hit!

In this rainy weekend, the Herbretais came many – especially Friday – look a little sunshine in the Spanish specialties and a little heat in German liqueurs or Welsh tea. The entrance was free. “This is an original way to discover our common sister cities!” Says Julie, after buying his Spanish cheese.

In September, it was the turn of Herbretais to showcase their local products, this time in Newtown, for another food festival. A return in Vendée is strongly hoped.

From The Press....