NEWSLETTER
ARCHIVE 2010

CHELMSFORD TOWN TWINNING ASSOCIATION

Thanks to all who have helped us in 2010, the year of Twinning Celebrations

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW
YEAR TO ALL OUR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS

To access the CTTA web-site, click on www.chelmsford.towntwinning.org.uk
For further information on any of our events please contact Janet, Liz or Gloria:
Janet Smith, tel 01245 441624, email janetsd@talktalk.net
Liz Sutton, Hon Secretary, tel 01245 440534, email towntwinning@freenetname.co.uk
Gloria Nichols, Editor, ABC Twinning News, tel 01245 266437, email
gloriabn@live.co.uk

Article sent to the Essex Chronicle – November 2010

The CTTA held its Annual General Meeting recently and looked back on a busy and successful year.  Gloria Nichols was re-elected as Chairman and she reported on a full programme of past events, the highlight being the weekend in June which celebrated 20 years of twinning with Backnang and 10 years with Annonay.   More than 50 visitors from the two twin towns came to Chelmsford to be hosted by local families and they all enjoyed a memorable and action-packed weekend.  Liz Sutton, who was instrumental in the arrangements for the celebrations, was re-elected as Hon Secretary and Elaine Oddie continues as Hon Treasurer.

Once the official business of the evening had been completed, members heard an excellent talk by Mayoress Jackie Arnot who looked back on her varied twinning experiences since taking office.  Some of these must have needed a degree of diplomacy on the Mayoress's part and all were described with entertaining humour.

Representatives from Chelmsford attended the Essex and Suffolk Twinning Congress in October which took place in Hadleigh.  This annual meeting is a welcome chance to join in the discussions and compare notes on the problems and progress experienced by other twinning associations in the area.

Other recent events include a motor-cycle trip from Chelmsford to Backnang by artist Grayson Perry.  This was featured in a BBC Radio 4 programme and will also be the subject of a television documentary next year.  Grayson received a superb reception in Germany and delivered a letter from the CTTA to the Mayor of Backnang.

Members are about to travel to Backnang for the Advent Market and will once again be selling English marmalade, tea and ginger wine at an event which is much enjoyed by all who take part.

The year ahead will be busy and this time largely in our twin towns. Annonay will hold its own 10-year celebrations at the annual Balloon Festival in June, closely followed by Backnang's 20-year celebrations at the Strassenfest.  Hopefully as many people as possible will travel from Chelmsford to take part in the fun.

For more information on the association's activities please call 01245 440534 or visit www.chelmsford.towntwinning.org.uk


Janet Smith

         CTTA NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2010

The Gourmandises Food Festival in Annonay, 13th/14th November will be without a presence from Chelmsford this year as the members who usually travel to Annonay to man the stand have other commitments. Many members have been very supportive with help for our activities in 2010 but it is unfortunate that we cannot take part on this occasion. There will be anniversary celebrations taking place in Annonay in June 2011 and we hope to have a good number of people who will want to travel to France for this.

Details of the next CTTA Quiz on Friday 15th October are attached. Please contact Janet by email or telephone as soon as possible to register your team as this is a popular event and demand for places is high. The form listing food requirements, together with your payment, should be returned no later than 8th October.

Turner prize-winner Grayson Perry will be starting his cycle ride from Chelmsford to Backnang on Saturday 4th September, leaving from Chelmsford Museum in Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, 10am-11am. Do come along if you can to wish him well before he embarks upon nearly 1000 kilometres of pedalling to our twin town.

Diary Dates 2010: Grayson Perry cycles to Backnang 4 September
CTTA Quiz 15 October
CTTA AGM 22 October
Annonay Gourmandises 13-14 November
Backnang Advent Market 27-28 November (date tbc)

          CTTA NEWSLETTER - JUNE 2010

After a splendid weekend of Anniversary Celebrations the CTTA can congratulate itself!
The feedback from all three twin towns has been excellent and the Reception on the Friday evening was a night to remember with many people able to meet and catch up with friends from the past 20 years

Special thanks for the organisation of the programme for the weekend must go to Gloria and Liz, who both worked tirelessly for months beforehand to make sure that we all had a good time. Traute Priestley and John Salmon also worked hard behind the scenes, attending the planning meetings and ensuring smooth running on the weekend itself. Many thanks to John Cox who spent a busy few days behind the wheel of a minibus, and we are also very grateful for the support provided by Chelmsford Borough Council during the weekend's activities.

We can now relax a little - but only a little for the nine people who are travelling to the Backnang Strassenfest. We wish them well and good trading on the CTTA stand - hopefully they will have plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere in the Market Place while they listen to Caprice Essex Wind Orchestra.

Diary Dates 2010: Backnang Strassenfest 25th-28th June
Annonay Gourmandises November (date tba)
Backnang Advent Market November (date tba)

               CTTA NEWSLETTER - MAY 2010

After all the months of planning, the 2010 Twinning Celebrations are nearly upon us!
By now those of you who are hosting will have been informed of the names of your guests and the programme for the weekend. If anyone has a query about the arrangements, please call Liz or Janet as soon as possible.
A highlight of the weekend will be the CTTA Reception on the evening of Friday 11th June. If you have requested tickets for this event, please note that your tickets will not be sent out but will be available at the entrance to the Oaklands Museum.
The Chelmsford Folk Dancers will be performing on the lawn of the Museum from 7.30pm (weather permitting) and we are all looking forward to a fantastic evening.
All members are welcome to join the Civic Service and Reaffirmation Ceremony in Chelmsford Cathedral, 11.15am on Sunday 13th June. Members are also invited to bring a picnic lunch and come to Hylands Park from 1.30pm, to meet our guests from Backnang and Annonay.
This weekend marks twenty years of twinning in Chelmsford and many of you will have helped to bring us to this point - so lets celebrate!

Only six subscriptions for the year 2010 remain unpaid as of today. We are grateful to all who continue to support the CTTA and we look forward to hearing from you if you have not quite got around to it yet. A form will be sent by email or post if your subscription is still outstanding.

Diary Dates 2010: Annonay Balloon Festival 5th-6th June
ABC Anniversary Celebrations 11th-13th June
Backnang Strassenfest 25th-28th June


            CTTA NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2010

There are still places left for two teams at the CTTA Spring Quiz on Friday 30th April and we also have some spaces if people wish to come without a team of their own. Please contact Janet for last minute availability.

Unfortunately the details for the Curry Night on Friday 21st May could not be opened as an email attachment to the last newsletter. Many apologies for this technical hitch and you should hopefully have better luck with the improved attachment this time. The Curry Night will be an opportunity to provide information about the Anniversary Celebrations in June and we hope that as many members as possible will join us, particularly if you are involved with hosting our visitors from Backnang and Annonay. To make sure of your place (and your curry!) please contact Gloria, email gloria.nichols@chelmsford.gov.uk or telephone number below.

On Saturday 1st May we are planning a visit to the 2012 Olympic Site at Stratford. For more information and to book your place, please contact Gloria (details above).

Hosts are still needed for the Anniversary Celebrations, June 11th-13th. Some of the visitors will be staying in hotels or guest houses but will also need people to act as their guides during the weekend - if you are unable to offer accommodation yourself, help with this would be much appreciated. Most of the visitors will be arriving on the Thursday or Friday and leaving on the Monday. Hosts and guides will be invited to the CTTA Reception and other events taking place during the weekend.

Diary Dates 2010: CTTA Spring Quiz 30th April
Visit to 2012 Olympic Site 1st May
Curry Night 21st May
Annonay Balloon Festival 5th-6th June
ABC Anniversary Celebrations 11th-13th June
Backnang Strassenfest 25th-28th June


         CTTA NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2010

There are still a few places left for teams at the CTTA Spring Quiz on Friday 30th April . If you would like to take part please let Janet know by 14th April.

The association invites you to a Curry Night to be held on Friday 21st May, 7.30pm at the Kathy Mapes Hall, Legg Street, Chelmsford (details attached). As well as the chance to enjoy a sociable evening with a good curry, this will also be an information evening for the Anniversary Celebrations in June. Numbers are limited for this event and if you would like to join us please contact Gloria as soon as possible, email gloria.nichols@chelmsford.gov.uk or telephone number below.

On Saturday 1st May we are planning a visit to the 2012 Olympic Site at Stratford. For more information and to book your place, please contact Gloria (details above).

The programme for 11th-13th June is taking shape and looks like this so far:
Friday 11th June : 8pm An opportunity to meet our guests from Annonay and Backnang who will be coming to the CTTA Reception at Oaklands Park Museum , Chelmsford . Invitations for this will be sent out in the near future;
Saturday 12th June : Visit to the 2012 Olympic Site, Docklands and London ;
Sunday 13th June : Service and Re-affirmation of Town Twinning at Chelmsford Cathedral , followed by a Tree-planting and Picnic in the grounds of Hylands House .
Hosts are still needed for this weekend. If you can help, please contact Liz.

Diary Dates 2010: CTTA Spring Quiz 30th April
Visit to 2012 Olympic Site 1st May
Curry Night 21st May
Annonay Balloon Festival 5th-6th June
ABC Anniversary Celebrations 11th-13th June
Backnang Strassenfest 25th-28th June


         CTTA NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY 2010

We may find it hard to believe at the moment but summer will be with us one day and the June Anniversary Celebrations will come with it. There is plenty of action behind the scenes already and Liz is working hard at finding hosts for the many people from Annonay and Backnang who will be visiting Chelmsford. A questionnaire has been attached to this newsletter and if you can complete it and return to Liz we will be very pleased to hear from you.

Diary Dates 2010: CTTA Spring Quiz 30th April
Annonay Balloon Festival 5th-6th June
Backnang Strassenfest 25th-28th June
ABC Anniversary Celebrations 11th-13th June


          CTTA NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 2010

The date of the next CTTA Quiz has now been confirmed and we hope you will join us on Friday 30th April, once again at the Chelmsford Rugby Club. Further details and an entry form are attached to this Newsletter and we hope to make it another successful evening, raising funds for all the activities planned for the celebrations in June. Please return your forms to Janet as soon as possible to register your team - payment can be sent later but before 14th April please so that food orders can be confirmed.