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DIDCOT VISIT to Fourmies-Hirson-Vervins Rotary Club from an Outer Wheeler’s view
Friday 24th April. We set off at 7am Binning time, well a bit later. We had a trouble free journey to Dover and a good ferry crossing. Once in France we travelled through rural farming country and arrived at La Capelle to meet Etienne (a Rotarian) who escorted us to the hotel in Trelon. After booking in we had a brief look around the contrasting buildings of this former glass factory. Around 6pm Veronique and Bernard came to meet us to take us to our evening venue. At the lovely home of Bernard and Anne-Claude Line we met other French Rotarians, (some familiar faces, some new), and also some Belgian Rotarians. What a lovely buffet dinner, with lovely people in a lovely house.
Sat 25th April. An early start after a late night and hearing most of the ½ hourly clock chimes – not good. We were taken to just outside Laon, where we left our cars and travelled with different Rotarians. We had a brief visit to a house with a collection of fans with unusual designs. We then went to Premontre Abbey, a psychiatric hospital. As we drove down the long drive, I noticed the pscho-geriatric sign outside a building. That set me off into laughter as I tried to explain to Veronique, Christian and Monique that I am a nurse. (I later found the correct translation). But what a place for me to go, as some of you know I am a nurse working in a home for police officers – young, old, (geriatric), what more do I need to say?!!!! Well it was a lovely place but some of us were feeling somewhat parched by now and in need of a caffeine fix. A French lady was giving everyone a history lesson (in French) so it was a bit meaningless to us. The buildings from the outside, that we saw, and an inside staircase were beautiful though. As it is still a working hospital we were unable to see anymore. Off to Coucy castle for another history lesson, but this time in English. The small musty church beside the castle had some beautiful stained glass windows. Lunch,( finally at 2pm, and a much needed drink) was a very nice 3 course meal. We were then taken to Laon to see a beautiful 12th century cathedral. The architecture was lovely and the stained glass windows were fascinating. Some of us went up one of the towers and had a super view of the medieval buildings of Laon sitting on a hill. Having then booked into the hotel we had a 4 course dinner with our friends. Again an enjoyable evening with much laughter. Some of us struggled with odd French words, but Liz was stringing sentences along by now. Well worth the French lessons! Another late night we said our farewells to our friends. A bientot.
Sun 26th April. After a leisurely breakfast it was time to leave. We set off through the rural countryside, had another smooth crossing with a relaxed lunch (yet more food), and arrived back in Didcot early evening. Thank you everyone. Editor would like to thank Angela Campbell for this informative article |
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Site Last Updated 2nd July 2009 |
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The Rotary club of Didcot |
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Didcot is forever associated with the Great Western Railway, and the clubs emblem is the engine GWR3700 “City of Truro” |
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Welcome to the web pages of the Rotary Club of Didcot in South Oxfordshire, England. The Club is part of District 1090 of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland. We are a voluntary service organisation of men and women in business or the professions or who have retired, who meet as a club every Thursday lunch-time at 12:45pm at the Steventon House Hotel near Didcot. (Except for every month where there is a fifth Thursday when we have an evening event with partners). You are welcome to attend. Please contact our secretary Brian Key by telephone on 01865 820702 or by e-mail to secretary@didcotrotary.org.uk These pages will tell you a little about the Rotary International organisation and its principles, a little about our club and home town, and below, some information about what we are doing as a club in the immediate future, and some of the activities we are involved in. |
