Bridgwater La Ciotat 60th Anniversary Visit

Cllr Graham Granter, Mayor of Bridgwater, meets the kids

On 23rd June 1957 Bridgwater Mayor Oscar Coates signed the Twinning agreement in La Ciotat with the French Mayor Jean Graille. 60 years later a group of  Bridgwater La Ciotat Friendship Society members, Town Councillors and the Mayor of Bridgwater, Graham Granter, visited the French town to re-sign a document committing them to future links.

To find the history of the link click here.

 Travellers;- 

Cllr Graham Granter (Mayor of Bridgwater), Mrs Kay Granter (Mayoress) 

Cllr Derek Alder and Mrs Doreen Alder (student exchange organisers 1975-2005)

Cllr Brian Smedley (Leader of Bridgwater Town Council and present day organiser of Bridgwater La Ciotat projects)

Cllr Leigh Redman (former Mayor of Bridgwater) + Mrs Tracey Redman

Mr Keith Giles, Diana Giles and Hayley Giles (La Ciotat Friendship Society members)

Thursday 22 June ;-

Bristol airport  0740 Easyjet flight EZY6107 to Marseille.

Flight arrives Marseilles  1035.

Transfer to La Ciotat by vehicles provided by La Ciotat.

Accommodation  Hotel Rose Thé, 4, Boulevard Beaurivage 13 600 La Ciotat

Dinner at a nearby cafe

Free time.

1900 welcome and dinner at ‘Maison du Jumelage’

Friday 23 June ;-

Breakfast

free morning

1130 quick lunch at Rose The

1430 official ceremony of re-signing the treaty of friendship and exchange of gifts.

1900 evening event celebrating the anniversary

Saturday 24 June

Breakfast

1045 boat trip around the cliffs, Ile Vert and harbour

dinner in the city

1700 re-marriage ceremony for Doreen and Derek at the Mairie

1830 anniversary celebrations for the re-marriage

Evening event at the Bastide Marin

Sunday 25 June

Breakfast

1000 Brunch at the home of Nathalie MacAndrew

1200 transfer to Nice Airport by 1425

 for 1625 departure to Bristol Easyjet EZY6114 arrive Bristol 1735

First Priverno Student Group visits Bridgwater

After several years of patiently building up links with our Italian Twin Town, Priverno, in the Latina region of Lazio, which included many civic visits and several music tours, finally we had some students. A promise made 3 years ago finally came real. It was Carla Contini from the Theodosio Rossi school that brought across 21 students and it was Anna Jackson at Bridgwater College Academy that provided the educational space for the face to face link up with Bridgwater kids. A full programme organised by Bridgwater International, including catering, transport and even a comedy political election debate, and a week at Model Farm providing the setting. Particular thanks to Hilary Bruce for her hard work co-ordinating and especially in translating everything.

Tues  9 May	8-9 Breakfast  -   0910 to BCA-   0935-1230 SCHOOL 1235-1310 packed lunch at school with UK students 1315 collected by bus> Bridgwater 1330-1500  welcome to England -Tour of Bridgwater 1330 Caroline Wilkins at Art Centre 1400-1445 treasure hunt to end at town hall 1445 town hall 1500 -1700 renewable energy –visit to EDF energy in Bridgwater + Cllr Mick Lerry followed by visit to Steart Marshes – midway between Tidal barrier and Hinkley point and tidal lagoons 1730 return to Model Farm 1830 barbecue -
Wed 10 May	8-9 Breakfast/ 0910 to school 0935-1230 SCHOOL 1230 >Stoke st Gregory  - Coates English Willow, Stoke st Gregory TA36HY 01823 490249  (eat packed lunch in outdoor classroom)  1600 >Langport ;-Shakespeares Glass making- Shakespeare Glass & Arts,2 groups‘ 1745>Bridgwater (40 mins)   2000 evening meal
Thur 11 May	8-9 Breakfast/ 0910 to school 0935-1235 SCHOOL 1235>Fyne court -via pynes (lunch/orienteering/ picnic area/toilets/tea rooms/circular walk ) >c 1350 Cothelstone 1400 Cothelstone Ranger 1500 1500>Dunster (30 mins)1530-1645 1645>Kilve (25 mins)  1715-1815 1815 depart>Farm (20 mins) 2000 meal    evening meal
Fri 12 May	8-9 Breakfast 0910 to school 0935-1230 SCHOOL 1235-1310 school dinner   1315 >Taunton (1345) 1345-1500 Museum of Somerset (Susie Simmons) 1500-1630 Vivary park mini golf  1630 depart>Model Farm (arr 1700) 1830 MEAL 1900 siobhan picks up 3 italians>Mayor making 1930 Mayor making event 3 italians invited. Ceremony 1930-2030 Banquet 2030
Sat 13 May	08-900 Breakfast/     0915>Stonehenge (arr 1030) 1030-1230 (free school group)- 1230 >Salisbury (arr 1300) 1300-1330 picnic on cathedral green 1330-1530 Salisbury- magna carta 1530>Bridgwater (arr 1700) 1900 evening meal
Sun 14 May	0800-0900 Breakfast 0915>Bath (via Cheddar gorge-short break) 1100-1530 Bath fashion museum/bath spa/Victoria art gallery-free tour/ Roman baths 1400 -  fashion -1600 museum 1100   Victoria art 1230 1300-1400 picnic Pulteney bridge 1630>Bridgwater (via Glastonbury – short break) 1900 -20.00 evening meal + social (Italians to prepare food) 2000 dinner + political debate
Mon 15 May	0730 B/K>MF 0800-0900 Breakfast  - depart 0930 flight Bristol>Rome 1210 arr 1545 EZY6185