PANGBOURNE NEWSLETTER ARTICLE January/February 2025

Since out last article we have enjoyed two wonderful film nights. Spending one Sunday evening with The Three Musketers as they  swashbuckled (a difficult word to translate into French) their way through France duelling  with their swords and  their incredible fighting skills.Next we enjoyed the artistry of the very beautiful Coco Chanel. The film depicted the incredible life of Gabrielle Chanel before she became known as Coco. I am sure the audience  will agree this fabulous tale left us all with  a warm glow having  witnessed the trials and sucesses she  experienced  in her life.

 

December was of course a busy month, decorating our Christmas tree at St James the Less. The theme this year was Carols and choosing a French Carol to illustrate was a little tricky. Did you recognise which one it was? We continued with our occasional walks  with our walk and talk French group or  Marcher et Parler.  One walk included a lovely Christmas lunch rendezvous at the Englefield tea rooms

Next f comes Epiphany  with our celebration of the Fete des Rois  or twelfth night feast on Friday 10th January at the George. We celebrate this because the Epiphany is more of a tradition in France than it is here. Many families enjoying the Galette des Rois cake and the fun of hiding what used to be a bean but is now a tiny china figurine in the cake. There are of course other less well known traditions with children receiving small gifts from the Magi or Three Kings. It is also the beginning of carnival season which culminates with the Mardi Gras and the eating of crepes. 

2025 also sees the second half of our French film season This takes place every last Sunday of the month until April at Pangbourne village hall Doors open at 6.45pm The film  starts at at 7.30.

The  film on the 26th of January will be

La grande Vadrouille-The Big Stroll

 

Originally released in the UK as Don’t look now we are being shot at

A group of aimiable Frenchmen and unwitting Germans aid a Brtish bomber crew make their way across occupied France to safe territory.

Followed by

23rd February     Hidden
30th March           Demoiselles de Rochefort
27th April              Sarah’s Key

We also look forward to our fundraising Art cafes in Whitchurch in the New Year and of course the visit of our friends from Houdan. The dates have changed very slightly with the 1st of May (labour day) falling on a Thursday. This means that the French will have a bank holiday so they will arrive that evening. Most people in France will take a “pont “ day off on the Friday to bridge the gap to the weekend so they will return home on Sunday the 4th of May . We will have activities to keep them busy on the Friday and tennis and bowls to play on the Saturday this year.

Please do contact us if you would like to host this May or if you would like to join in with any of our activities. Membership is free and open to people of all ages. You do not need to speak French

infopangbournetwinning@gmail.com

We hope to see you at one of our events soon.

 

Pangbourne Twinning Association magazine article March /April 2024

Fête des Rois

In early January we enjoyed our “Fête des Rois” annual celebration of The Three Kings  or Twelfth Night dinner at The George Hotel.

Congratulations to Marilyn Grundrill who was the lucky winner of the” Fève”, a miniature statue hidden inside the specially made “Galette des Rois”- ‘Cake of the Kings’, made for us by the chef at The George. Thank you for the Galette, it was delicious. In France this would have meant that Marilyn was crowned Queen for the evening, but at our dinner she was just rewarded with a bottle of fizz.

Picture of Marilyn

French film night at Pangbourne Village Hall.

On the last Sunday of each month we have enjoyed the winter French Film season at the Village Hall. In January and February, we watched the hugely popular “Jean de Florette” and its sequel “Manon des Sources”, two fabulous films starring Gérard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil, two of the most well-known and famous French stars.

We now look forward to the March film. Please note that it is not on the final Sunday of the month because that is the Easter weekend. Our film for March will be shown on Sunday 23rd when we will enjoy “Un beau soleil intérieur” (Let the Sunshine In), a 2017 French romantic drama directed by Claire Denis and starring Juliette Binoche.

In April on Sunday 28th the film will be “Paris” a 2008 French comedy drama written and directed by Cédric Klapich. Starring an ensemble cast, the film depicts the stories of a diverse group of people living in Paris. Over the course of several months, various stories are intertwined, with different characters and plot threads intersecting.

Why not join us for these last two films of the season. Doors open at 6.45. There will be a chance to buy a glass of wine or a beer before the film starts at 7.30.

 

Exchange visit to Houdan, a beautiful small town near Paris.

We are also making plans for our visit to France for the Early May Bank Holiday (Friday 3rd to Monday 6th). We are welcoming some tennis players from the club in Pangbourne who will be joining us for the first time to play in a fun mixed tournament organised by the Houdan Tennis Club during the weekend.  If you are a tennis player from any of the local clubs around Pangbourne and you think you might like to join us we are particularly in need of male players. Contact us by email on infopangbournetwinning@gmail.com  Likewise for bowls players. A small number from  Pangbourne Bowls Club will be joining us for an informal competition, but more would be very welcome

If you would just like to come to meet some wonderful people and experience the French way of life for a weekend in the home of a French family, do contact us. There is no requirement to speak French and all accommodation and food will be provided. You just need to pay for your seat on the coach (approximately £150 return per person,  depending on the number on the coach) and consider the possibility of returning the favour by hosting an adult or a family in May 2025. Families and young children are very welcome.

Pangbourne Twinning Association