Formed in 1964, Friends of Pontoise is an association based in Sevenoaks, Kent, whose membership comes from the town itself and the surrounding villages. Our purpose is to promote goodwill and understanding between ourselves and the citizens of the French town of Pontoise in the department of Val-d'Oise, with which Sevenoaks is twinned. In Pontoise, there is a sister organisation, Les Amis de Sevenoaks, representing those residents of Pontoise who foster the same ideals of cross-Channel fellowship. Over the years we have had plenty of fun and some warm and lasting friendships have developed between the two communities.
Membership qualifications are few. Fluency in French is by no means essential, with both "Friends" and "Les Amis" well used to accommodating a variety of language abilities. It helps if you are gregarious by nature but all that is really required of members is an interest in France and the French people. In fact we do have many activities that don't involve travel to France at all and acting as host to our French friends is by no means essential, we realise that is some cases it is just not practicable. The main thing is that members should feel free to join in with whichever activities they are comfortable.
Nevertheless, a key feature of this Anglo-French relationship is the long weekend spent together each Spring. Here, the two organisations take it in turn to act as host, with English families putting up their French counterparts one year, the reverse the next. As a group, visits are arranged to places of local interest and there is an official dinner, but the opportunity also exists for members to entertain on a more personal level.
 |
--- |  |