Location: East Hendred and surrounding area

 Sarceaux Twinning Visit

The first week-end in July saw the coach arrive from Sarceaux, bringing over 40 visitors to the Hendreds, for the first twinning visit of the new Millennium.

Hosts were waiting to take our visitors to Snells Hall for their briefing, and the presentation of a Hendred Millennium mug for each family. Lunch was 'pot luck' style with each of the hosts bringing along a contribution, helped by beer and soft drinks.

The big event of the weekend was for the vistors and hosts to go to the special Oxfordshire Millennium event in Headington Park, Oxford, entitled 'OOMPH'. It began with a grand procession of local groups, accompanied by bands and musicians, starting in the centre of Oxford and each carrying a feature representing the history of the county. Once darkness had fallen the visual spectacle unfolded, involving huge pyramids of light, magical rivers and pathways, with spectacular aerial trapeze artists lit by spotlights, and finishing with a grand fireworks display. We were told that such events only occurred in the major French cities, such as Paris, so it was quite an evening to remember, both for the French and for their hosts. Everyone returned to the Hendreds by coach, well after midnight!

Sunday morning was 'free time' for recovery from the previous night, and time for a joint committee meeting and a group photo for this Millennium record. Lunch was more formal in Snells Hall, with a good selection of English dishes, with catering by Sue and Roger Humphreys. After lunch we went off to Roves Farm, between Faringdon and Swindon, which is a popular local farm visitors' centre. Activities included having a bet for charity on goat and sheep racing and giving the youngsters in the party a chance to bottle feed the young animals. Several of us went on the tractor tour, to see the 'green' features of the organic farm, such as willow coppicing to provide renewable fuel for small scale power production.

Coaches and cars brought everyone back to the Hendreds for a quick meal and a preview of the World Cup football, which started unfortunately just as the French left on the coach for Portsmouth. France won of course, so this was a real bonus finale to the week-end for our visitors.