Visit to Meylan by Didcot Youth
26 - 29 October 2006
A group of 9 young people and two adults from the Didcot area made their first twinning visit to Meylan from
the 26th to 29th October 2006. After a very early start they arrived at Lyon
airport at 11.10 and were whisked away for lunch and a visit to the 'Antésite'
soft drinks factory at Voirin, where they were shown a film, the factory and tasted the drinks made from liquorice - famous throughout France for their
thirst quenching qualities, healthiness and economy. The weather was glorious, 30oC. Then it was on to Meylan to be introduced to their families for
the duration of their stay.
That evening there was a buffet reception and music. The Didcot young people were given souvenir twinning pens and pocket torches and they gave the Meylanais gifts from local businesses
including RWE
nPower, the Diamond Project,
Grundon, CCLRC
(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory), UKAEA
(United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) and street maps of Didcot and a
commemorative certificate from Didcot’s Mayor, Mike McNulty. All these were
much appreciated.
The next morning they were
given a guided tour of Meylan and were impressed with the beauty of the
surrounding mountains, the local facilities(theatre, music school, senior school, parks, and halls), and the
attention paid to Didcot. At the large sundial it was possible to find out the
time at Didcot and the pedestrian underpass at a roundabout had a large mural of
Didcot showing the station, countryside, power station and town.
A coach ride along hairpin
bends took them into the mountains for a picnic and orienteering at Le Sappey.
The French and English young people were put into teams, given a map, had to
follow a route, answer nature questions and get back to base as quickly as
possible. The day was rounded off with an evening of games and challenges
testing skills, creativity, taste, and knowledge of Europe at 'Horizons à
Horizons'. Once again the young people had fun working together.
Saturday was spent at a large,
fairly new gym at Charlaix where they were able to play table tennis, badminton
and other games and take advantage of the magnificent climbing wall. New
friendships were cemented as the two nationalities helped each other succeed. A
German party from Meylan's twin town of Planegg
arrived that afternoon and after an official reception at which the mayor and
councillors welcomed and gave a gift to all the young people it was time for a
quick break, then the final evening meal with music at Décibeldonne.
All were sad to leave their
host families on Sunday and agreed they would love to visit Meylan again and
receive the Meylanais in Didcot. The trip was a wonderful way in which to
experience the French way of life, the town of Meylan and the lovely surrounding
countryside and to make new friends and have fun. Moreover the young people were
such good ambassadors they helped strengthen the ties between our twin towns so
that more French people are keen to come over here.