St Saviour’s renews its link with France
LINKS between St Saviour’s and Montebourg in Normandy were reinforced recently as people from each community enjoyed La Foire de la Chandeleur.
The parish’s links with Montebourg have existed for more than 40 years and they were officially twinned in 1989 to promote cultural and economic links.
This is often achieved through Guernsey members visiting Montebourg and setting up a stall at La Foire de la Chandeleur, a 900-year-old annual cattle fair and market.
The stall advertises Guernsey as a holiday destination and promotes Guernsey produce such as butter, cheese, gache, flowers, cider and gin.
In return, Montebourg Association members attend the West Show to sell crepes and Normandy cider.
La Foire de la Chandeleur celebrates the end of Christmas, Normandy cattle and the twinnings and promotes local cuisine such as tripe, pigs’ trotters and tarte aux pommes, with competitions for each dish.
Traditionally, a member from each twinning association joins the jury to judge the tarte aux pommes.
This year was the turn of Sarah Crisp, who said: ‘I was a little anxious about judging the tarte aux pommes, especially as I’m not French, but I was very relieved that I didn’t have to judge the tripe. It was all great fun.’
This year the president of the St Saviour’s side of the association, Jurat Stuart Crisp, took boxes of Ben Le Prevost’s chocolates to members of other associations which twin with Montebourg.
Jurat Crisp said: ‘La Foire de la Chandeleur is a great event and gives anyone who attends from Guernsey a real insight into Norman culture, especially as we live and eat with our French hosts.’
. The twinning association is self-funded and relies heavily on the generosity of sponsors and those involved in both the Guernsey and Montebourg associations to ensure that the link between Guernsey and one of its closest neighbours, geographically and historically, continues to flourish.
