A Wonderful Weekend in Cormeilles 8-10 March – when the Pledge of Friendship between Ware and Cormeilles-en-Parisis was renewed.
Saturday morning saw a (hard-hat) visit to La Marina, a Cormeilles Town Council initiative currently under construction, consisting of a large, new Seine-side development, with luxury apartments, restaurants, marina and riverside promenades. Very smart! Very chic! Some of it is almost ready for occupation. It will be an interesting development to watch.
After a very nice buffet lunch the group was bussed to La Défense in Paris, where an amazing experience was awaiting! First, there was a 360-degree visual presentation on France during the time of the Three Musketeers. This was followed by a virtual reality experience (which involved wearing a virtual reality headset) about Notre Dame, past and present, including the disastrous fire. Very surreal!
The day was rounded off by a superb dinner – with a welcome champagne cocktail – in a local Cormeilles restaurant.
The Renewal of the Pledge of Friendship ceremony took place on Sunday morning in the Mairie (town hall). The Ware Town Mayor, Cllr Tom Day, gave his speech entirely in French, a gesture warmly received by the audience. Mayor of Cormeilles, Yannick Boëdec was presented with a framed print of Ware High Street. (see photos in the Gallery)
The two Mayors signed the following Pledge of Friendship:
The Town Mayors of Ware, England and Cormeilles-en-Parisis, France
Representing the people of both towns, have great pleasure in renewing the Pledge of Friendship between the two towns.
We are delighted to acknowledge that the links of friendship have grown steadily stronger since the Pledge was first signed in Cormeilles-en-Parisis on 8 September 2001 and in Ware on 26 May 2002.
We hereby promise
To maintain and foster links of friendship between our two towns, and,
To promote and actively encourage personal, educational and cultural exchanges between all groups of all ages.
Following another excellent buffet lunch, it was time to start the journey home. As reported in a previous post, four of the group from Ware, representing the Town Council – The Mayor of Ware, Councillor Thomas Day; Councillor Graeme Hill; Town Clerk, Terry Philpott; and Council Officer, Kerry Mavris, cycled back from Cormeilles, returning to Ware Priory on Wednesday,13th March after a four-day charity bike ride from France. They faced adverse weather for much of the trip and difficult terrain. But, their biggest challenge perhaps was navigating central Paris in the dark and during rush hour! Further details here (opens Ware Town Council website in a new window)
A warm welcome was waiting for them. See photos in our gallery. A truly wonderful weekend – with a difference!
Ware Town Twinning Association 