We had a busy Easter hosting our Yerville partners this year. We brushed up our French & Franglais prevailed as 18 local families hosted 45 French exchange visitors from pensioners to just 3 years old. New families on both sides took part for the first time.

Highlights were Portsmouth’s Historic Naval Dockyard for a boat trip & to see he ‘Warrior’ & ‘Victory’ warships & an American Supper on Easter Sunday with an Easter Bonnet contest. Brightly decorated tables with yellow & white cloths & greenery really set the scene as families tucked into tasty home cooked dishes while French & English alike paraded in a dazzling array of Easter headwear. This very English tradition had really fired French imaginations. Homemade hats of all shapes & sizes appeared, lovingly prepared & carefully brought across the channel for the occasion. English families, determined not to be outshone, also sported some highly original designs. French twinning chairman Alain Gee had all the English in stitches, practicing English pronunciation with well-known tongue-twisters & leading his committee in a rousing version of ‘Money Money Money’.

We waved our French friends off on Easter Monday but long after their coach had gone we were still there, planning our return visit next year.

Many of us had found new English friends & first time hosts confessed they’d been a bit apprehensive beforehand but had loved every minute & were looking forward to going to France in 2012.

Twinning is hard to describe. The mutual affection & friendship that develops over just a weekend is quite amazing & it was fabulous to see so many French kids really enjoying their first visit to England & being

motivated to pick up a few words of English ’

For more information & exchange pictures see our website gallery.

Want to join us? Call Franco Casalicchio on 01425 617328.

Community SpeedWatch.

SpeedWatch can only operate on roads with a speed limit of 30 mph and under. The best locations would be 20 mph zones and community and residential areas that have a 30 mph limit. Community volunteers work alongside Hampshire Constabulary officers to identify vehicles which exceed the speed limit.

Details of the vehicles will be collected at the time of the alleged offence and then entered onto a database. The registered owner of the vehicle will then be sent a letter telling them that their vehicle was seen exceeding the speed limit, how it affects the local community and asking them not to do so in the future. If the same registration number is logged again within 12

months the owner will receive a warning that if the vehicle is seen speeding a third time the details will be passed to an officer who may take further action.

Commercial vehicles or vehicles that belong to companies will have a separate letter sent to the local transport manager and the roads policing unit will be made aware.

Community SpeedWatch locations will be suggested by the local community and the police but will have to be sanctioned by Hampshire Constabulary's safer roads officers. A risk assessment of the location will have to be done before activity can take place.

Volunteers must be aged at least 17 years and each scheme needs a minimum of six volunteers. Keen applicants will need to complete an application form and vetting process which can take up to six weeks to clear. Specialist training will be given to volunteers and any local travelling or out of pocket expenses will be covered. Community volunteers working on the roadside will be given use of high visibility jackets, wet weather equipment, road side signs and equipment to monitor speed and record vehicle details. Volunteers will be covered under Hampshire Constabulary's public liability insurance for roadside working.

For more information about starting a scheme, the equipment we use or becoming a volunteer visit our website, contact your local neighbourhood police officer or e-mail the safer roads officers at: