Twinning activities

Welcome to the Lingfield and District Twinning Association Website.

Lingfield has been twinned with Plaisance du Touch, in the south of France near Toulouse, since the 1970’s. Many visits to and from Plaisance have taken place over the years and long-standing friendships have been formed during this time. We alternate visits on a yearly basis and try to encourage other groups in and around Lingfield to either come with us or organise a visit of their own.

We are always looking for new host families as we would like to “spread the word” on how enjoyable a visit can be. We take great pride in showing our visitors the English countryside, our history and the English way of life and we get to know our guests on a personal basis. When we go to Plaisance we are shown what goes on in and around the area, which is very different from our own, and they entertain us in great style, both within a family and as a group. We either try out our French on them or they try their English on us and even if neither side speak a great deal of each other’s language it’s amazing how much you can communicate! For anyone with a greater knowledge of the language, what better way to improve it than by talking as a family – you certainly learn a lot more than you would by just visiting a tourist spot and asking for a beer! Our visits to and from Plaisance have inspired some of our members to learn French in order to make themselves better understood. We have also had school children trying out what they have learnt and this has encouraged them too to continue with their studies with more enthusiasm. What more could we ask – this is the aim of twinning – to establish relationships in another country and to get to know and better understand a way of life other than our own.

Our last visit was a very enjoyable weekend in Plaisance at the end of October when both the Lingfield Silver Band and Marlings Morris Dancers took part in two evenings of concerts, music and dance. For both groups this was the first time they had experienced the hospitality of our twin town and everyone concerned was absolutely amazed at the welcome afforded to them. Plaisance have now accepted our invitation to visit Lingfield to coincide with the Marathon Weekend at the beginning of May 2009 when we will be celebrating 30 years of twinning between our two communities. We are hoping that both the Lingfield Band and Marlings Morris will again take part in our weekend of celebration. We are looking for host families as so many people from Plaisance now wish to visit Lingfield on the strength of our successful visit to them. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement – get in touch with any of the committee who will be more than pleased to give you further information.

Janet King

Chairman