French Twinning Society

Our 2026 quiz

2025 update

The Twinning’s AGM takes place this month on March 20th at the Brace of Pheasants.  We have much to discuss, including the planned visit to Longueville at the end of May this year. We’ll be staying with French families and look forward to their warm hospitality.

AGM : March 20th 2025 7pm The Brace of Pheasants.

Visit to Normandy May 29th – June 1st 2025. 

If you are interested, please call 348670 !  

2024 update

Despite the rain in September, we welcomed 12 of our French friends to the Valley. Staying with local families, they were delighted to renew old friendships and see more local attractions and re-visit local pubs. Highlights included a day at the newly refurbed Athelhampton and a visit to the Falconry near Dorchester, both exceptionally good. Dinner at the Thimble was much appreciated, with separate outings organised by the host families to The Tank Museum, The Lakes and Tyneham the following day. 

The weekend ended with a dinner catered by Rosemary Rogers, giving the visitors traditional tastes of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with trifle after. 

About us

The Twinning began in 1993 and at first was solely for Piddlehinton residents. The membership was widened to the whole Piddle Valley in about 2000, and current membership is around 20 people of all ages.

The aim has always been to encourage friendship and understanding with other European countries. Educational links have been a priority over the last 20 years.

We remain under the ‘umbrella‘ of Dorset Twinning Association, which arranges group insurance for all the twinning associations in Dorset, of which there are more than 20 – some linking with Germany or other countries. 

Our twinned village is Longueville, on the Cotentin peninsula to the very West of Normandy (not too far from Mont St Michel, and very close to Granville). They have roughly the  same number of members as us, but are lucky enough to receive some financial help from their commune. Here, in Dorset, we raise funds for hosting with subscriptions and by putting on events.

A huge benefit of being a member of a Dorset Twinning association is a 10% discount on Brittany Ferry crossings…. at any time of the year.

We are in frequent touch with our friends in Longueville, and look forward to welcoming them here again in September 2026. A small piece in the building of international friendships, but as we have all found, very important.

Upcoming events 2026

Our AGM will be in March at the Brace of Pheasants 7pm followed by dinner together. (Date TBC)

Recent events

  • In November 2023 we held Dambuster to Dambuilder – an illustrated talk by Jenny Elmes, the niece of a young WW2 bomber pilot John ‘Hoppy Hopgood’, who lost his life in the raid – but whose legacy is improving the lives of thousands of people in Africa. A collection was also held for WaterAid. Jenny’s book can be purchased from Amazon here
  • In September, we held a quiz for members of Dorset’s wide group of Twinning Associations, and also local teams. We welcomed teams from Bridport, Sturminster Newton, Bradford Peverell, Shaftesbury, Dorchester and Buckland Newton. Huge thanks to our team who worked so hard to make this event a success.
  • John and Jane Preston hosted an afternoon tea and river walk around the pretty lanes and cottages near their new home in Charminster.
  • Our Summer picnic was held in the garden of Judith and Julian Wardlaw.

What do we do?

In May 23 we enjoyed our anniversary visit to France, where 16 of us celebrated 30 years of friendship with a wonderful visit to Longueville. With us were two teenagers from Hardye’s, which is very encouraging. We were treated to a visit to the Chateau of Lassay and an equestrian centre, with a gala dinner and pétanque later in the weekend. We all stayed with French families. We strongly recommend that anyone with a love of France join us and experience the great friendship between us and French culture. Many of us have little or no spoken French, but that never seems to matter in the slightest!

We run an annual quiz and hold events, such as talks, quizzes and barbecues.

We meet our French friends every year….. one year here and the next in Normandy. There are very special outings (such as Stonehenge or Kingston Lacy here, and Mont St Michel or a day out by boat to the Isles Chausey over there). Some very close friendships have been made over the 30 years.

We often hold a garden party in the summer or Twelfth Night party in January for our members. Non-members are very welcome to all our fundraisers … but anyone wishing to travel over to Longueville with us needs to be a member.

Meetings and membership

There are no regular meetings timetabled, but the Committee meets every two months and we fundraise throughout the year.

All our funds come from fund-raising and subscriptions … at present £20 pp. pa. This goes towards welcoming our French friends and paying for their meals and outings while they are here – and also towards welcome drinks for everyone when the French arrive.

All Dorset Twinning Members benefit from 10% discount from Brittany Ferries when travelling to France.

Contact us

Contact Jo Thornton on 348670 for more details.