Alfriston & Cuckmere Valley Twinning Association
Back in 2013, Alfriston officially twinned with the beautiful Normandy village of Veules-les-Roses, just down the coast from Dieppe. Since then, a wonderful friendship has grown between our two communities.​​
Every two years we enjoy official biennial visits, either welcoming our French friends here in Sussex or travelling to Normandy ourselves. Alongside these, there are also lots of individual reciprocal visits, as friendships made through twinning continue and flourish throughout the year.
The Association exists to build and nurture these links, giving people the chance to share culture, laughter, food, music and the simple pleasure of spending time together.
As well as the visits, we organise French-flavoured events in and around Alfriston – from concerts and social evenings to wine tastings and themed suppers. These gatherings are open to members and non-members alike, and are always welcoming and fun.
We’re not an exclusive club: although Alfriston and Veules-les-Roses are our hubs, members and supporters come from all over the Cuckmere Valley and beyond. All ages are welcome. You don’t need to speak French (though it’s a bonus if you do!) and you don’t have to host visitors unless you’d like to.
If you’d like to be part of the twinning – whether that means travelling with us, joining in local events, or simply meeting new people and making friends – we’d love to hear from you.
For further information: Angela Morrison: angela@bobmorri16.plus.com
​
Past events
A night of Christmassy
music, fun and Frenchness
with French Twinners
​
Our final event of the year was a merry musical affair with a Christmas flavour. It was a great evening of live entertainment with the ever popular chanteuse
Lo Polidoro and her accordionist husband,
Nigel Broderick of Fleur de Paris.
​
Cash bar, light snacks and raffle by the Twinning Group
​
​​
​
​
Twinning News 2017
​
'Bake Off' has nothing on the baking skills within our Twinning Group! Absolutely nothing. We celebrated Epiphany in French style with some truly mouth watering, artistic, Galettes des Rois from various French regional recipes. My goodness they were good and within each galette a hidden fève, (a bean). About thirty of us gathered in the OCC for this French traditional occasion which celebrates the arrival of the three wise men in Bethlehem.
​
You may remember that the Mayor of Veules les Roses presented us with one of the French National symbols, a magnificent Gallic Rooster. This coq galois had pride of place on the central table and was surrounded by the freshly baked galettes. The first to discover a fève was to be the person awarded custody of the coq for the coming year. The safe hands of Mark Hurst was the winner!!
​
As we emerge from winter and the most welcome lengthening days, our thoughts and plans are turning to spring, summer, autumn, to meeting with our French friends and to trips across to Dieppe and along the Normandy coast.
