4th to 11th April 2012

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Travelling to France by air, road and ferry, a party of about 40 Carnoustiens and friends arrived in Maule to take part in the town’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Town Twinning arrangement between the two towns over Easter weekend.

Whilst some were still travelling to the town, an advance party was experiencing a walking tour of central Paris visiting some of the better, as well as lesser known sites.

All groups of visitor and hosts came together on Friday evening at a reception held at Aulnay Primary school which had visited Carnoustie in 2009. The Mayors of both Aulnay and Maule were present and Chairman of Carnoustie Twinning Association Roger Jeffery and President of the Jumelage of Maule, Michel Contet, were invited to unveil a mosaic prepared by school children to celebrate that visit. The mosaic was styled on the design of tapestry sewn by Carnoustie school pupils to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the twinning and then given to the Maule schools. The evening was rounded off with some piping by two members of the Carnoustie Pipe Band who had travelled by car and ferry conveying all the band instruments for the event. The picture here shows Roger Jeffrey, Chairman of The Carnoustie Twinning and Michelle Conteh, Chairman of the Maule/Aulnay Twinning comparing the Carnoustie tapestry with the Aulnay mosiac.

The main feature of the weekend was a parade headed by members of Carnoustie and District Pipe Band, followed by mini highland games in the town. Along with the pipe band, the parade comprising the mayors from Maule and Aulnay, a group of highland dancers taught by Sheilagh Macfarlane and Marion Boath, standard bearers of the Souvenir Francais, the French equivalent of the Royal British Legion, a vintage Fire engine, and local Maulois from all the community associations in the town and visitors from Carnoustie wound their way through the town and market square stopping to play and dance for the townsfolk.

Carnoustie Pipe Band playing in Maule	Dancers in Maule

Throughout the day, celebrations were punctuated by sessions from the pipe band, highland dancers and various ‘heavy’ events.

On Sunday, groups walked, cycled and paid visits locally before taking part in a ‘guinguette’ evening of dance and music in the French style which for some marked the end of their weekend before their return to Scotland.

Our friends in Maule have produced a magazine marking the 20th anniversary of the twinning link:

It is in English and French and is well worth a read to give an excellent insight into how our two communities have linked over the years. There are copies available in Carnoustie Library and in all of the schools in Carnoustie. If you want to look at this an cannot lay your hands on a copy please get in touch and we can get one to you.