FRIENDSHIPS were renewed and a new generation introduced to French culture as residents visited their twin town.

For almost three decades Ongar has been twinned with the town of Cerizay in France, and residents have taken it in turn to visit each other every year.

This year it was the turn of families from Ongar to make the journey, and while in France they made a trip to the medieval chatteau where they practiced archery, enjoyed four course Easter meals with their host families, even even won the annual boules tournament between the towns.

Sheila Spring, 65, lives in Kettleberry Way in Ongar and has made every trip to Cerizay since the towns were twinned.

She said: “It was a wonderful visit this year. “The people we stay with are like members of our own family now, we have been to weddings of their family and they have been to ours.”

Amongst the places the party visited was the Chateau de Tiffauges, where the notorious medieval aristocrat Gilles de Rais murdered and committed numerous atrocities against children.

“Tiffauges was fascinating. It was awful to think that in the midst of all this lovely landscape such awful things had happened. The castle is in ruins but there is definitely a strange atmosphere.

“As always it was great to see the culture but the most important thing is seeing people you have formed friendships with over the years.

“We had a banquet at a hotel near Cerizay on the Sunday in a hotel with wonderful views overlooking the valley.

“The young people loved it and there was music and dancing.”

Sheila’s husband, Derek, 70, said: “It was certainly good to win the boules this year, I put that down to the practice we have been able to put in on the boules pitch we have built in Ongar.”

Reflecting on the importance of the trips, Mrs Spring said: “I think we have learnt an awful lot about each other’s cultures from the trips over the years.

“It is so important the relationship continues for future generations.”

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