“Everyone in the Parish is warmly welcomed to take part in the activities of the Twinning Association” says Chairman and former Parish Deputy Julian Bernstein. Julian is keen that more parishioners take an interest and engage in the associations many activities.
St. Brelade twinned with Granville in 1998, and there have been reciprocal visits each year since led by the respective community ‘heads’; the Connetable of St. Brelade and Le Maire de la Ville de Granville.
St Brelade’s similarities with Granville are perhaps more prounouced than at first realised. Granville is constantly under pressure of urbanisation; has a picturesque harbour, lovely stretches of beaches; an ever growing population, but a very strong sense of community. A community that holds similar concerns about the future as central government exerts ever increasing pressures upon municipal administration.
So what is the purpose of twinning? Twinning is popular right across the Europe. Most of Jersey’s Parishes are twinned with one or more towns and villages France, Germany and elsewhere that share similar populations. It provides an opportunity, through shared experiences, and informal discussion, to better understand community responsibilities and be better equipped to maintain our heritage and protect our way of life.
There’s the fun side too! Contingents from twinned communities make visits to one another to share culture and activities, ranging from dinners and specially arranged programmes to sports and recreational pastimes in which everyone can take part.
If you would like to participate in the Twinning Association, please collect an application form from the Parish Hall .