Vitré guests in Lymington May 2023 - our first post-pandemic visit
Thirty-eight French visitors arrived on Thursday 18th May 2023 by coach from Vitré. It was good to see familiar and new faces.
The weather had been unsettled and wet but fortunately had improved for our visitors. It was good to see Jeremy their bus driver who knew the ropes having been over here four years ago on their last visit.
On Friday 19th May we set off on our trip to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Good weather meant that the group was able to enjoy not only the main house and the Swiss Cottage but the lovely grounds down to the shore with magnificent views across the Solent.
Saturday was spent by the guests with their hosts in and around Lymington. One of the new visitors was asked what she had enjoyed the most and she said “everything ...”.
To celebrate the 40 years of Lymington's twinning union with Vitré we had organised a formal dinner at South Lawn Hotel, Milford. The Covid pandemic had delayed our celebration which fell due in 2022 (here in Lymington) and 2021 (in Vitré).
Our newly elected Mayor, Jack Davies, was able to join us at very short notice (only having been elected Mayor days previously) and a magician kept everyone entertained. The general opinion was that the food was good and the service well organised. Our thanks to Sheila Ward and Shelagh Richardson for organising table labels and decorations.
We were sorry that long-standing Vitré stalwarts Anne and Dominic Rupin could not take part in the visit due to a family bereavement.
It is always sad to wave goodbye. It will not be too long, we hope, before our return visit to Vitré (planned for later next year).
Finally, a big thank you to all our thirty-seven hosts for their hospitality to their guests and helping to make the visit such a success.