Denton Town Twinning

Denton twinned with Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France

Founder Member
Mr Frederick Elms

President
Councillor Margaret Downs

Chairman
Mr Gavin Childs

Secretary
Angela Taylor, 70 Mellington Avenue, East Didsbury, M20 5NH
+44 (0)161 445 6367 amtaylor@uwclub.net

Treasurer
Diane Roache, 93 York Road, Denton M34 3HH

Tameside veterinary practice helps another French student gain practical experience 

This month sees the arrival of French student Flavy Benoit. Flavy, who hails from Montigny- le-Bretonneux, is the first of a number of French students who are due to take up work experience with Tameside companies during the course of 2010.

Flavy, aged 21, will be taking up a two week placement with Gourley’s Veterinary Practice in Ashton as part of a ‘séjour linguistique’. Her placement is particularly appropriate given that she is currently preparing for her entrance exams for the French veterinary school.

Flavy, is delighted at being afforded such an opportunity and is very keen to take up her placement. She hopes that her stay in Tameside will not only give her an insight into the world of veterinary practice but that the visit will help her to improve her spoken English.

During her albeit brief stay in Tameside she will be lodging with a local family and receiving English lessons from Brian Booth, one of the twinning association’s members. As this is her first visit to England she is also hoping to see some of the main sights of the region.

Her visit follows that of Eve Manceau who recently passed her exams for entrance to the French veterinary school as a result of her placement at the veterinary practice in Ashton.

Experiencing Life and Work in Montigny

Amie Chalmers, Carrie Wilson, Jordan Brooks, Ross Catracchia and Sarah Collis, all 2nd year modern apprentices with Tameside Council, have recently returned from France having spent five weeks working in the town hall in Montigny.

The placements, all of which were funded by the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci Programme, took place in the last week of September and all of October.

Before going to France the modern apprentices underwent French language and cultural awareness training to give them the confidence to take up their placements. An individual training plan was also drawn up for each apprentice which included cultural and leisure pursuits.

Amie, Carrie and Sarah worked within the town’s Events Unit, Ross was placed in a garage and Jordan worked in Sports and Cultural Services. The apprentices also spent sometime at the Lycée Déscartes chatting to French students during their English lesson.

It wasn’t all work though; the apprentices got the opportunity to visit Paris several times, seeing all the famous sights. They even managed to squeeze in a trip to Disneyland Paris and despite an initial bout of homesickness they were all sad to leave the new friends that they had made. During their stay in France, the apprentices kept a diary of their experiences and took several hundred photos some of which are featured here.

Sarah said:” We feel we have achieved and learnt so much. We have become different people with new ways of approaching things and we have built new friendships. This has been a once in a life time experience and we plan to keep in touch with all the friends we have made and also keep the friendship which has grown between the five of us. Our French has improved and we have realised what an achievement it is to have another language so are planning on keeping this up.”

The trainees have also decided to join the Denton Town Twinning Association to help develop links between the youth of both towns

Since their return, the council’s Human Resources Section has been inundated with applications for next year’s visit! Watch this space for updates.

Exam success for Eve!

Eve Manceau from Denton’s twin town, Montigny le Bretonneux, is one of a number of French students who have taken part in highly successful work placements in Tameside companies this year.

Eve completed a three week placement at Gourley’s Veterinary Surgery in Ashton and was hosted by a local family during her stay in Tameside in February.

During her placement, Eve gained invaluable practical experience in her chosen career and was afforded the opportunity to practice and improve her command of sp oken English ahead of a compulsory English examination for entry into veterinary school in France.

Following completion of her examinations, Eve is delighted to inform us that she has passed her English examination with flying colours and is now looking forward to taking up her place at veterinary school this autumn.

Eve hopes to return to Tameside in the very near future to further improve her spoken English and to take part in another placement.

Fête in Montigny

A number of members of the Twinning Association organised a coach trip to Montigny our twin town in France during the weekend 19th to 21st June to take part in a music and arts festival to welcome the first day of summer. This is a national celebration in France and similar events were taking place all over the country.

As part of the Denton/Tameside contribution to the event the Twinning Association took a selection of Paintings from Denton Art Group (see also reference below to Denton Art Group). Members were also joined on the coach by Apparatchik a four piece rock group from Stalybridge. A folk duo: Bill Hackwell from Dukinfield and Paul Fernley was also featured in the event.

The ‘Fête’ was held in the grounds of the Ferme du Manet in Montigny and, over Saturday and Sunday several thousand people came along to see the exhibits and to listen to the music which was almost non-stop. The event was also supported by Montigny’s other twin towns from Germany, Romania, Ireland, Italy and Spain.

Apparatchik took to the stage on Saturday evening at 9.00pm and really wowed the large crowd with a unique brand of rock music which contained several original numbers. They gave a really polished, dynamic and professional performance. Bill and Paul entertained the audience on Sunday afternoon. They featured as part of a varied programme of entertainments which included performances from musicians and dancers from the other participating countries.

During the festival The Worshipful the Civic Mayor of Tameside Councillor John B. Sullivan spoke on behalf of those present from Denton/Tameside and, speaking in French, he really impressed the crowd. He gave a brief summary of the programme of Twinning Events which are taking place during the year and he drew attention to the support that Denton/Tameside gives to encouraging young people from Montigny and from Tameside to take up study and work placement opportunities in the twin towns. On Saturday afternoon our mayor and mayoress were taken on a conducted tour of Montigny-le-Bretonneux by the mayor of Montigny, Michel Laugier. During the closing ceremony on Sunday evening Councillor Sullivan presented a token gift to visiting dignitaries and, possibly with a visit to Tameside in mind, he also gave each one an umbrella. In the photograph he is seen (left) making a presentation to the mayor of Montigny.

Denton Art Group

We extend a special word of thanks to the members of the art group for creating especially for us a collection of art works that we were able to present to the people of Montigny. Denton Art Group is due to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2010. It meets each Wednesday evening in the Festival Hall adjoining Denton Library.

Web Author
Brian Booth, 86 Lynwood Grove, Audenshaw, Manchester, M34 5TE
0161 370 4113 0161 370 4113  brianbooth@ntlworld.com

For information on other Twinning Associations around the UK log on to www.towntwinning.org.uk

For more information on Montigny go to www.montigny78.fr