Aylsham Twinning History
This list only picks out a few highlights of our visits, and doesn't mention the numerous social events our members enjoy throughout the year. Each year we have around six social events, taking place either around a lunch or evening meal, with various entertainments. The style of the events changes but the highlight of the year is the the old year night's dance, with music by Barry Lee.
July 2024
Visit to our Friends in La Chaussée St Victor
Everybody who went had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting old friends once again. Visit to Monmousseau Wine Cellars with wine tasting, a picnic on the banks of the Loire and in the afternoon a visit to the Château de Chenonceau. The next day Bowling for the Pig Tournament with refreshments, unfortunately, the pig remains in France!! On Saturday a very interesting visit to a sweet factory in Amboise where we all made our own lollipop!! After a delicious lunch there was free time to amble around the town of Amboise. Sunday we enjoyed the celebration dinner and Monday morning we said farewell to our hosts. The return visit to Aylsham has been suggested for 1st to 5th July next year. This will be confirmed at a later date
April 2024
Spring Walk
This event was run in conjunction with Aylsham In Bloom. Despite the weather this was a very successful event and very well attended. It raised £585 for our funds. Many thanks to those who helped and provided refreshments for the tea stall and Maureen and Richard Burr for the use of their garden
December 2023
Christmas Tree Festival
Our tree was magnificent and many thanks to Ruth, Charlotte and Amanda for organising it. We received the sum of £92.75 from the collective pot for our funds
Wine Tasting Evening
Another enjoyable event with a lovely selection of wines to sample. Thanks to Father James Walsh for organising the event and selecting the wines
November 2023
Quiz Night
This was a great success and enjoyed by all who were there. There was a very good attendance and it made a good contribution to Twinning funds as well as being a lot of fun. Many thanks to Mike Downes for organising the event
October 2023
Sunday Lunch with Entertainent
A really enjoyable and fun event. Liz Scott gave a very entertaining performance as the kitchen maid at Blickling Hall and a very informative presentation about the history of the hall. This was preceded by a really tasty lunch. Thanks must go to all those who prepared the food.This was a very enjoyable event with a traditional English meal of Cottage Pie plus a number of delicious desserts. Many thanks to those who provided the food
April 2023
St George's Day Lunch
This was a very enjoyable event with a traditional English meal of Cottage Pie plus a number of delicious desserts. Many thanks to those who provided the food
February 2023
Annual General Meeting
At the AGM we elected our 2023 committee. The officers were elected at the first committee meeting and below we list your new committee:
Mike Bush Treasurer 01263 732051
Sue Domalski 200 Club 01603 495524
Peter Felgate Newsletter 731878
Jean Howorth 734336
Sue Margarson 733518
Amanda Postle Vice Chair & Secretary 732540
David Smith 732736
Father James Walsh 01603 652100
Ruth White Chairman 733201
Charlotte Wootten 732951
Pat Prekopp - Council nominated member
Margaret Greenfield has now retired from the committee and we would like to thank her for her contribution to Aylsham Twinning
July 2022
Visit to La Chaussée Saint Victor
Our 20th Anniversary Visit had been a long time coming!! At last, in July, 18 Aylsham Twinners travelled to La Chaussée-Saint-Victor for the belated celebrations in our 22nd year of Twinning We were given a warm welcome at the Carroir by the Town officials, President and Vice-President of Twinning and, of course, our hosts.
The following day we visited the very interesting Maurice Dufresne Museum of vintage vehicles and machinery, we even viewed a mobile guillotine and a travelling dentist’s caravan (it looked more like a torture chamber!!!). Bastille Day followed with a free morning to get ready for the annual ‘Bowling for the Pig’ competition!! Very pleased to report the competition was won by the English and the pig is now happily back in Aylsham.
In the evening we visited the Le Petit Chateau for the Bastille Day celebrations and a wonderful firework display. In searing heat, the next day we visited the beautiful Chateau at Chambord where we enjoyed a Horse & Bird of Prey Show, viewed the Chateau and gardens and enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch provided by our hosts. In the evening we were treated to Son et Lumiere at the Chateau Royal de Blois which told its history through the ages.
Saturday, the final day of the visit, was a rest day with the official dinner in the evening. Our chairman presented our anniversary gift of a pictorial map of Aylsham. Speeches were made outlining the history of the twinning and a toast was raised to the continuation of our association for many years to come. At the end of the evening we said our good-byes, sad that the visit was over but lots of happy memories were made and ‘old’ friendships cemented further. Our hosts were invited to visit us in Aylsham from 2nd - 8th September next year.
June 2022
Platinum Jubilee Street Party
Although the weather could have been a little kinder it was a very enjoyable afternoon. We were very pleased to welcome three of our friends from La Chausèe to celebrate the Jubilee of our Queen.
May 2022
Bluebell Walk
This was a very pleasant, relaxing afternoon with plenty of chatting, train riding and walking among the bluebells. Many thanks to Richard and Maureen for the use of their lovely garden.
November 2019
Wine Tasting Evening
This was another very enjoyable evening, with a good selection of wines to sample and some lovely cheeses to go with them. Many thanks to Father James Walsh for organising the wines and telling us all about them.
August 2019
Visit from our friends in La Chaussée Saint Victor
34 visitors from La Chaussée together with their hosts enjoyed 4 full days of events visiting the KindaKafe underground street tour in Norwich, Aylsham Show, Hog Roast & Bowling for the Pig on the Rec, an all day visit to Southwold, taking in a tour of Adnams Brewery & Distillery and a visit to the Radar Museum at Neatishead & Hoveton Hall Gardens. The visit concluded with a Celebration Dinner in the Town Hall. It was good to welcome new members from La Chaussée St Victor and all enjoyed a memorable visit in glorious sunshine.
August 2019
Summer Lunch Party
The weather was kinder for the Summer Lunch party at the home of Mike and Sue Bush. We had a record attendance of 50 people, which is very gratifying for the organisers of the event. As ever it was a lovely social occasion with good food, good company and plenty of good conversation. We were very well entertained by the Aylsham Ukelele Band with their lively blend of old and new music. Bowling For The Pig was very competitive with a bowl off needed to decide the winner. Mike Downes was eventually successful and is now the proud guardian of our wonderful pig. Many thanks to Mike and Sue for the use of their garden, to John and Charlotte Wootten for supplying the gazebos and to everybody who contributed to the wonderful food and also to everybody who came to make it such an enjoyable afternoon.
July 2019
Brocante
The weather was not so kind to us this year. A number of people who had booked tables decided not to come. However there were still some bargains to be had and a chance for a chat and a cuppa. £45 was raised for Twinning funds so it was still worthwhile.
June 2019
Open Garden Weekend
Open garden Weekend Many thanks to John and Charlotte Wootten for opening their garden at Diggen’s Farmhouse, Old Buxton Road, Aylsham for visitors and donating the proceeds of their refreshments to Twinning funds. They raised the magnificent sum of £161.
May 2019
Evening Garden Visit
The evening was a great success. Huge thanks must go to Richard and Maureen Burr for allowing us in to their lovely garden and also for providing such delicious food and drink. Everybody who attended had a great time and were full of praise for our wonderful hosts. The grand sum of £368 was raised for Twinning funds.
September 2018
Visit to La Chaussée Saint Victor
It was hard to believe that two years had passed since our last visit. 26 Aylsham Twinners travelled by coach and together with 12 more independent travellers, we were met by committe chairman Muriel Le Chalony. The following day we visited the Cléry St André Basillica followed by a picnic lunch and then onto the Cuvler Museum dedicated to bicycles. A wonderful day was spent in Blois discovering the Boule de Fort game (unique to the Loire Valley) where the boules are delivered on a curved track. We were delighted to beat the Chausséans and the pig was brought back to Aylsham strapped to the front seat of the coach. Later that evening we were given a tour of the Carroir, a newly built community hall and theatre in La Chaussée. There was also a visit to the Botanical Gardens at Tours followed by a picnic lunch, a visit to the Trade Guilds Museum and a trip on the tourist bus. Our evenings were spent eating delicious food, drinking excellent wines and making and cementing 'old' friendships. The final event, the official twinning dinner, came all too quickly. Our hosts were invited to visit us in Aylsham in August 2019.
August 2018
Summer Garden Lunch - This was another great event. The weather was good, the food was delicious and the company, as ever was scintilating. We were also wonderfully entertained by the Broadland Ukelele group. They played a variety of tunes from traditional to rock and roll. They are certainly worth asking again. Many thanks to John and Charlotte Wootten for the use of their house and garden and for supplying the Kir and canapés.
May 2018
Once again the sun shone on our Brocante. Some people made some money, some got a bargain or some just had a chat and a cuppa. Another successful event.
April 2018
This was a very enjoyable evening. We started with a video presentation of some of our previous events. We then had an assortment of delicious pizzas and some mouthwatering desserts. The evening finished with a quiz supplied by Amanda. Many thanks to those who contributed to the evening.
August 2017
Another fun day out at the Cromer Pier Show. A trip to a matinee performance of the only end of pier variety show in the world, at least that is what they say and who are we to argue. A traditional variety show with some singing, dancing comedy, magic and juggling. The show was followed by a delicious fish and chip supper at No. 1. We even managed to avoid the disturbance in Cromer that day, they must have heard we were there and decided that discretion was the better part of valour.
June 2017
Our Summer Garden Lunch was as popular and enjoyable as ever and a good time was had by everybody who attended. Many thanks to Mike and Sue for the use of their lovely garden. If you missed it this year try to go next year as it is a lovely event.
May 2017
Another wonderful visit with many old friendships being renewed. Although there were less visitors than usual, this did not stop everybody having a marvellous time. We had a lovely relaxed afternoon and evening at Top Farm with a delicious meal. Our visitors won the bowling for the pig so we must be more determined than ever to reclaim the porker next year. An interesting visit to Van Dal shoes to learn about shoe making was followed by a visit to the lovely Plantation Gardens. A garden party at North Walsham Catholic Church passed a relaxing afternoon. The final activity was a visit to Houghton Hall followed in the evening by the celebration dinner in the Town Hall supplied by the Black Boys. There was plenty of free time for hosts to spend with their guests which made for a relaxing time. All in all a good time was had by all. The return visit to La Chaussee next year will be from 18th to 23rd September so make a note in your diaries.
December 2016
This was another wonderful Hogmanay party where everybody had a great time, with fun and games and super music from Barry. A terrific way to welcome in the New Year.
August 2016
Our Summer Garden Lunch was another extremely enjoyable afternoon. Many thanks to John and Charlotte for being such wonderful hosts. Also thanks to those who erected the tents and prepared the lovely food. The Bowling For The Pig was won by Mike Bush, who now has the honour of keeping our prize porker well fed and watered ready for next year.
July 2016
Visit to La Chaussée Saint Victor
33 members have just returned from a very relaxed and enjoyable visit to our friends in LCSV. As always, we were well entertained with visits to the recently opened Loire Observatoire, the Chateaux at Selles sur Cher, the Matra Museum and attending the local celebrations and firework display for Bastille Day. Finally, the Official Twinning Dinner, where a delicious meal was served and speeches made. Carole Matthews laid a wreath at the local war memorial on behalf of the Aylsham Branch of The Royal British Legion to commemorate both the French and English killed at the Battle of the Somme. The weary travellers arrived back in Aylsham with smiling faces and many happy memories.
May 2016
Summer Barbecue
This was another well attended event. The weather was kind to us and we all had a great time. People brought their own food for cooking on the barbecue but a great selection of salads and many delicious desserts were supplied for the enjoyment of everybody. Thanks to those who supplied the aforementioned and also to Pam and Derek for hosting at Home Farm, Marsham. Also thanks must go to those who set up and dismantled the party area, and manned the barbecues, an important but sometimes overlooked job.
August 2015
Brocante
Another successful Brocante took place in Blofields Loke. The weather was good to us and there were many stalls selling a variety of goods with plenty of eager customers snapping up bargains or having some tea and cake and a good chinwag. This looks as if it could become a regular feature of Aylsham life.
July 2015
Summer Garden Party
This was a wonderfully enjoyable afternoon. The weather was kind, the food was delicious and the company excellent. What more could you ask for? The Bowling For The Pig was won by Derek Bailey and the porker has taken pride of place in his conservatory. Look after it well Derek, we will need it next year. Many thanks to Mike and Sue Bush for their hospitality and allowing us to use their lovely garden.
May 2015
Another great visit from our friends from La Chaussée St Victor is over far too quickly. This year we are celebrating fifteen years of our Twinning Link. An excellent programme thoroughly entertained everybody who took part.
A visit to Langham Glass gave us the opportunity to see the wonderful skill of the people there in making animals and birds in glass and also using glass blowing to make wine glasses. After lunch at Letheringsett Mill there was time for a visit to Holt for some shopping in Bakers and Larners.
A trip to Davenports Magic Kingdom had everybody bewitched and bewildered with the amazing tricks (or is it really magic?).
The evening saw us at Blickling Hall for drinks and canapés and a chance to walk around the garden.
After a free day on Sunday we had our Celebration Dinner at The Links Hotel, West Runton.
The final full day saw us at Oxburgh Hall, where a few brave souls ventured into the Priests Hole.
That evening we had supper in the Town Hall. Once again the French won the Bowling For The Pig. If we do not win it back soon it will forget its mother tongue.
Early Tuesday morning saw many bleary eyes and a few tearful ones as with much hugging and kissing we bade farewell to our visitors for another year.
The return visit next year will be from Thursday 7th July to Tuesday 12th July.
May 2014
Another wonderful visit took place over the May bank holiday weekend. The weather started out in an unco-operative mood but when it realised who it was dealing with it bucked it’s ideas up.
We started with a free day with hosts which after a long tiring journey was a relaxing way to begin the visit. Other highlights included a visit to a 12th century monastry with a picnic in the grounds and a visit ot the medieval city of Loches.
We also had a boat ride on the Briare canal, which has the longest canal bridge in the world, with a delicious lunch on board. On the last day we had a barbecue in glorious sunshine. Our hosts challenged us to a tournament of Boule, their national sport, for the pig. Unsurprisingly we lost the competition so the pig will have to spend another year over the channel.
The official dinner was in a lovely manor house which had been renovated and turned into a hotel.
Many thanks to our French friends for such a marvellous visit. Also thanks to Chenery’s coaches and to Shaun our driver for a very comfortable journey.
May 2013
We welcomed thirty five guests from La Chaussée Saint Victor over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend when new friendships were made and ‘old’ ones cemented further.
The Town Council hosted a reception at the High School when Eileen Springall, Town Council chairman, welcomed the guests. They then went off with their hosts for a quiet evening before the programme of events began.
Friday morning saw heavy rain but spirits were not dampened as everyone rendezvoused at the Bure Valley Car Park to board the French bus bound for Sandringham. At Sandringham House the French friends were met by Jane, a French speaking guide.
Saturday morning was free time with hosts, when many took the opportunity to visit Blicking, the Flower Festival and other events which were all part of Aylsham Festival. The afternoon saw a tour of Richard and Maureen Burr’s garden in Burgh Road, which was followed by a supper. It was discovered that two new members from France and a new member from Aylsham all sang in choirs and they led singing in both French and English.
Sunday’s weather was perfect for a visit in the afternoon to West Lodge Gardens, which were opened in aid of the Royal British Legion.
A Bank Holiday Monday river cruise on the Wensum down to Coldham Hall rounded off the weekend of trips.
Rene and Mireille Agostini, visitors to Aylsham for the first time, said ‘Many thanks for the kindness and hospitality of our new English friends and we look forward to welcoming you next year in France'.
April 2012
A party of students from Aylsham High School travelled with us this year in order to spend time with the students of the local college. They had their own itinerary with the Blois school, and the thirty nine from the twinning went off with their hosts.
We enjoyed a dramatisation of various historical events by the students of the College of Provinces in Blois, which is attended by many of the youngsters of La Chaussée St Victor. They acted out stories such the trial of Joan of Arc, having written the plays in English and then learning them. An absolutely brilliant effort by all of them.
We also went to a dance and supper evening, with music by a local jazz band, and a sauerkraut supper, visited the Chateau of Ussé, an arboretum and a cave where we were treated to a charcuterie lunch and had the opportunity to purchase some wine to bring home.
The final dinner this year was held in the Chateau of Fondjouan at Mur de Sologne, a lovely chateau-hotel in delightful grounds, and the students rejoined us at the end of the visit for the journey home.
July 2011
A party of forty travellers came to Aylsham with ten students from the College of Provinces at Blois. Lord and Lady Walpole invited us to Wolterton Hall and told us a little of the history of the house, much as they had in the early years of the twinning at their other house, Mannington Hall. We enjoyed lunch and a convivial afternoon in the rain at the Saracens Head, a visit to Fairhaven Gardens and a day at Thursford museum (later to be seen to have been described at La Chaussée as "a day of dreams").
A dance was held in the Town Hall in a similar format to our Old Year's Night events, with Barry Lee providing the music, and this years Celebration Dinner was at the Assembly Rooms in Norwich, with one of Sanders super-size double decker buses to ferry everyone there.
June and August 2010
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Twinning with La Chaussée-St-Victor and to celebrate there were two visits, Aylsham to France in June and La Chaussée to England in August.
We were in France for the Festival of Music, but were also treated to a visit to the Chateau at Valencay and a guided 
tour of Old Blois by the pupils of the Collège de Provinces. The Twinning Square was named and we took with us a signpost as a present for our twin town, which we look forward to seeing prominently displayed in the near future.
Our visitors were treated to a seal trip from Morston, after a windy picnic, afternoon tea at Felbrigg and a visit to Holkham Hall, as well as dinner at the Great Hospital in Norwich. Our special guest was Baroness Shephard.
April 2009
We received visitors from la Chaussée over Easter weekend. The weather was kind to us, and we were treated royally by the RNLI during visits both to the Lifeboat station and the Henry Blogg Museum. Hot Cross Buns were of course obligatory. We also organised a walking quiz around our town, using it as an excuse to show off the sign boards showing our history, as well as many of our lovely buildings, and another walk along the riverside of Norwich.
February 2009
We mourned the passing of Ivan Lutkin, our first chairman and one of the driving forces of our Twinning
October 2008
We were in France, to see the Chateau at Villandry, with its magnificent gardens and lovely interiors, and we were treated to a trip down the Loire on a Futreau, the traditional flat bottomed Loire sailing craft, the Loire equivalent to the wherry. We toured Blois to see all the work being done by the Blois Aggloplys, of which La Chaussée is part, and enjoyed an outdoor picnic in the grounds of the Basses Roches school.
July 2007
Two visits occurred in July this year, first it was the turn of our French friends to come over and enjoy our hospitality, and fifty five travelled to visit Canterbury and Cambridge en route to Aylsham, and then join us on our organised weekend. After a Friday evening reception at the Bure Valley Railway (many thanks to our Town Council for hosting it) Saturday saw the first visit of the weekend, to Weybourne station to begin a walk through Sheringham Park, and then on to the Sheringham station to board the steam hauled train to Holt, with coffee and scones on board. From there to a leisurely lunch at the King's Head at Letheringsett for almost ninety of us, and then a return to Aylsham because it was our Carnival evening.
Sunday saw us at Oulton Chapel for an outdoor barbecue picnic lunch, our International Bowling competition during the afternoon (well done Alex), and the the superb performance by the Shining Lights to round the afternoon off, before returning to homes for a rest before evening meals en famille or au restaurant.
Monday it was off to the Time & Tide Museum (via the Eels Foot Inn for coffee) for a visit, including an excellent buffet lunch, with a short walk around Great Yarmouth for those who wished it, then a return to Aylsham for a brief rest in time for the dinner for one hundred and seventeen at Pinewoods Country Club at Bodham on Monday evening.
Later in the month there was a visit of seventeen from Ochtendung. Aylsham's relationship with Ochtendung still continues to be an informal friendship with a limited number taking part, and therefore still tends to be rather more a visit between friends that a Twinning visit. However it is based around our friendship with La Chaussée-St-Victor, and therefore it is important that we continue to develop the friendship, hoping that it will gradually grow. Our visitors were taken on the Broads, almost obligatory now, shown the fine city of Norwich and the Cathedral (by Waltraud Jarrold who hails from near Ochtendung), and treated to some real Aylsham hospitality.
May/June 2006
In the rotation of regular group exchanges, it was our turn again to go to La Chaussée, this visit coinciding with the Tenth anniversary of their twinning with Ochtendung. At the end of a busy but extremely enjoyable programme of activities, two hundred people sat down for the excellent celebration dinner, including thirty Germans and over forty from Aylsham.
September 2005 Fifth anniversary return visit to La Chaussée.
As the original Twinning charters were signed officially in both towns in the same year, it was agreed that the Fifth Anniversary of what has been a very successful project should be celebrated in both places this year. So about fifty went from Aylsham to La Chaussée in early September, at the time of the Foire aux beignets in France, the La 
Chaussée annual Doughnut Fair. Visits organised included a morning in Vendôme, the Cathedral at Orléans, the Commanderie d'Arville, an historic Knights Templar base, and the floral gardens at Orléans La Source. The dinner was held in a hall in the grounds of Chambord Chateau, and included the presentation to Aylsham Twinning of the coat of arms of La Chaussée carved in wood.
July 2005 Fifth Anniversary French group visit to Aylsham
The fifth anniversary is a good reason to have a celebration and a group of fifty five guests (including ten from Ochtendung) arrived on the 14th July to join their friends in Aylsham for a varied programme of event and functions, including a grand celebration dinner. Our French visitors brought over their theatre company, the Théatre de Mées, to perform French romantic farce written by Marcel Achard (who adopted La Chaussée as his home) called Voulez-vous jouer 
avec Moâ.
The celebration dinner was held for the first time outside Aylsham, because of the number attending. The venue was Pinewoods at Bodham, who provided a superb meal, admired by French and British alike. A celebration cake was 
prepared by our own town clerk, Mo Reynolds and enjoyed by all. Visits included a tour to Sutton Mill Museum, a journey on the Broads from Horning and a visit to Ranworth. Afternoon tea and croquet was enjoyed at Diggens Farm, and Aylsham Ex-Servicemen's and Social Club treated our visitors to an English Pub evening,
February 2005
There was another invitation for a small group to visit Ochtendung at the time of the Karnaval, and experience to be savoured we are told.
May 2004
Another group visit to La Chaussée by Aylsham Twinning saw a total of forty people enjoying the normal unsurpassable levels of friendship and hospitality. Visits were often underground this time, while we looked at mushroom cultivation in some of the disused galleries from which some of the chateau stone had been mined, a look at some troglodyte caves, and a dinner in a function room in yet another formerly disused underground gallery, this time having been brought back to life for wine storage as well as the function suite. During the dinner, Ivan and Lutkin were made Chevaliers, which, apart from giving them the award, required them to drink at least one hundred bottles of Touraine wine each year!!
February 2004
As a result of a visit in August 2003 of a small group of Germans from Ochtendung, La Chaussées's German twin town, a small delegation from Aylsham accepted an invitation to visit Ochtendung for the weekend of their annual Karnaval, a celebration on a huge scale including a procession of floats and up to one thousand fancy-dressed townspeople.
August 2003 Cycles again
Our French friends were in Aylsham again, nearly seventy of them, for the bank holiday weekend and the Aylsham Show, and were welcomed into the homes of 
Aylsham Twinning members for the second or third time in several cases. Among the party were members of the la Chaussée Vintage Cycles Club who gave two displays at Aylsham Show as part of the Show programme, dressed in period costume appropriate to the age of their bikes. In typical show business style, Mauricette Martinez rode her machine despite slipping on the boat to the seals at Morston the previous day and injuring her leg.
May 2003 European Week
Nearly thirty members travelled to La Chaussée to share their European Days which celebrated the diverse cultures of the fifteen member states of the EU. A similar group was there also from Ochtendung, their German twin town, plus individuals from most of the other European Union countries of the time (prior to further enlargement). The Aylsham group was joined in La Chaussée by members of Aylsham Flower Club who went there to contribute floral displays as part of their own fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
August 2002
A group visit to our twin town was made by sixty enthusiastic twinners of Aylsham, some of them for the first time but many returning to revisit and stay with friends they had already made. Many of them had enjoyed private visits in the meantime, one way or the other.
June 2002 Jubilee weekend
We welcomed a delegation of seven Chausséens, invited to represent their twinning association and their town to come and join in and share the fun of Aylsham's Golden Jubilee celebrations.
May 2002 A cycling visit
A party of forty seven come to Aylsham from La Chaussée, including fifteen who had cycled the five hundred miles from the Loire Valley to Norfolk over six days. They were met at Dover by a keen Norfolk cyclist, John Woolnough, who cycled with them back to Norfolk, and they were met by Norfolk cyclists, including a few Aylsham Twinning members to guide them the last few miles home. This was followed by celebration in typical twinning style, including a dinner at the Aylsham Lodge Hotel.
July 2001
A group of forty six people, more than half of them new visitors, came to Aylsham for the first informal exchange since the official twinning the previous year.
October 2000
A group of sixty three Aylsham people went to France on the return visit for the corresponding twinning ceremony there. Since then the link has gone very quickly from strength to strength with interest, membership and involvement growing year on year.
August 2000
The first formal twinning ceremony took place at the Aylsham Show, attended by a party of fifty from La Chaussée. The official ceremony was in the grand ring in boiling hot sun, an omen for what was to become a very sunny and bright link between two special towns.
September 1999
A similar group from Aylsham paid a return visit to La Chaussée as a result of which firm friendships were quickly established in a very welcoming town in a lovely area of France.
July 1999
Four representatives from la Chaussée, including Madame Maire Jacqueline Gourault, visited the town and were delighted by the town, the area, the people they met and the warm welcome they received.
March 1998
The Aylsham Twinning Initiative was formed at a meeting at Aylsham High School attended by only seven interested people.
The Initiative quickly gained momentum and after a lot of fact finding work, plus the normal formal overtures, contact was made by La Chaussée-Saint-Victor, near Blois on the River Loire, circumnavigating the red tape by a direct telephone call because of previous difficulties they had had with the twinning "bureaucracy".