Twinning's Story

Headley-Corné Twinning

 The autors begs the indulgence of the reader towards his language mistakes.

The origins

It all started from the Festival Committee in Corné. Alberte JOUET, the chairwoman thought of a twinning to develop a new activity. All the inhabitants were consulted at the start of 1987, and they reacted very positively with a preference for a British twinning.

At the time, Beaufort Secondary School was twinned with Oak Farm Community School in Farnborough and the teachers in charge were Christian EBENER et Gordon WRIGLEY living respectively in  CORNÉ and HEADLEY. The simplest idea was to ask Gordon, who already knew Corné quite well, if Headley would be interested in such a twinning. It happened that the people in Headley were already thinking of a twinning with a French village. The first official contacts were taken by Gordon who met the local authorities in August 00.

The engagement

It was then decided to have preparatory visits to make sure that everybody was satified with the projected twinnng. Delegates from Headley came in October to reconnoitre. Other visits took place to Headley in February 88 and to Corné in May.

As the saying goes (literally translated from French!) " they met, they suited one another, they only had to get married". Warmly approved by both councils the wedding was planned for the 22nd and 23rd of October in Corné

The wedding

In Corné all the population got involved : events were organised in different places in the village. After the twinning oath and the signature of the parchment by M. HUARD Mayor of Corné and M. GALLAGHER, Chairman of the Headley Parish Council in  the presence of the local MP and County Delegate, the delegation from Headley walked around the village following  the local band.

The tour of the village ended with a torchlight procession to the Town Hall. A great dinner with interludes by the local associations gathered over 300 people under a great tent near the Infants School. The night ended with a ball in the festival hall.

Many more events were organised on the Sunday. Everybody met again on the Monday morning outside the Town Hall to bid farewell, a moment of emotion.

1989 :The wedding return

The return trip, prepared as early as January, took place from the 29th of April to the 1st of May 1989. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce our Headley friends to the "1st of May lily of the valley" French tradition. And also to officially unveil the engraved slate plaque showing the coats of arms of our villages, in the entrance of the Village Hall where it still stands. It had been presented by Corné to Headley at the twinning ceremony the year before and had been the opportunity for Corné to have a coat of arms created by our very competent local heraldist, M. Féneteau.

72 people from Corné enjoyed a fabulous programme of activities : Theatrical entertainment at the Village Hall on the Saturday night, visit of London on Sunday morning, Barn dance in the evening and on Monday some took part in the Fun Run. The plaque was unveiled in the afternoon by Josette Guichard, deputy Mayor.

Once again it was difficult to depart and that was the sign of a longlasting relationship between our communities.

And actually, year after year, exchanges went on although with variable numbers of visitors, but always warmly welcomed. In 1997, for the first time, a whole coach came from Headley, clearly a strong signal of the revival of our links.

1998 : Ten years later

On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Twinning, for the first time ever, something we had long dreamt of comes to reality : Our local football boys team crosses over to play their first international match, as a prelude to the World Cup !

A Voisin coach bearing the colours of the World Cup and four cars cross the Channel  heading to Headley. Easy crossing, warm welcome, discovery of London or Headley's surrounding landscapes and everybody meets in the Village Hall for a theatrical performance by the Headley Theatre Club. Another opportunity to make new contacts and remember the atmosphere of the first visit in 1988.

At the end of the show Gordon Wrigley recalled the history of the past ten years of the Twinning and paid homage to Alberte Jouet who had been at its start and who had died at the beginning of the year.

On Sunday morning, the great event took place. (We mean the football match!) Even those who were not precisely football fans enjoyed the game and the enthusiasm and fair play of the players of both teams. As a matter of fact Corné won 4-3 and both teams received medals and trophies.

In the afternoon most participants went to a farm fair and discovered  local traditional trades as well as piglet races. In the evening everybody took part in a barbecue party, with Morris Dancers. A feast !

Once again it had beeen a memorable week-end of shared friendship between our comunities

1988 - 2008 : TWENTY YEARS !

Twenty years have already gone by and the friendly relationship betweeen our communities has developped, our bonds grown tighter, year after year and for many years yet to come. Apart from the official annual visits,many private exchanges  have developped. Our Internet sites are regularly visited to get information.

Not only there have been anniversary celebrations in the past and today : every visit to Corné or Headley is a renewed opportunity for happy events, new contacts, the continuation of relations established a long time ago, sometimes since the start of the twinning.

We have also shared bereavements. This year 2008 Gordon Wrigley has departed this life at the beginning of January. We shall never forget, on either side of the Channel, how devoted he was to the twinning, his sense of humour and kindness. Let him rest in peace. It is partly thanks to him that we are now assembled to celebrate these twenty years of friendship, firmly intent to continue this great adventure.

Long live the Headley - Corné Twinning !