Axminster Twinning Association’s held their first post-Covid Annual General Meeting at Pippins Community Centre, Axminster on January 27.

The members were warmly welcomed by Caroline Hillyard, the Twinning Association’s Chair and, before proceeding with the official AGM formalities, Caroline gave an overview of the association’s gradual return to social activities during early 2022 as Covid concerns gradually faded.

A well-attended, mid-summer mini-golf evening in Lyme Regis, the return of weekly mixed-ability French Language Café sessions in the Waffle House plus the ever-popular French Film and Food night at Woodbury Village Hall followed in December by a lively Christmas Party in the Axminster Heritage Centre’s Bradshaw Room ended 2022 on a high note.

Looking to the immediate future, Caroline highlighted a number of 2023’s upcoming events, with others still being considered. These include a Skittles Supper evening in March, celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III in May as well as discussion about travel arrangements for a coach-party of Axminster’s Twinners to make a weekend trip to Douvres-la-Délivrande in early June to enjoy the hospitality of our French counterparts.

Matters then turned to the main purpose of the evening, the official AGM formalities, which were dealt with speedily and included the Treasurer’s Report, the formal election or re-election of committee members and any new committee members or resignations.

On this occasion members were informed that two of the Association’s longest-serving, very dedicated committee members, Jane & Graham Godbeer, had decided that, after 20 plus years on the committee, it was time to retire and hand over the reins to others.

Thanking them both for their immeasurable efforts over the years Caroline Hillyard presented them both with gifts as a token of gratitude for their long service. The floor was then opened for any comments or questions by the members, followed by a lively quiz with questions based on members’ knowledge of our twinned town of Douvres-la-Délivrande in Normandy and other aspects of twinning.

Any hunger pangs members were experiencing were then quickly allayed by the arrival of individual boxes of very tasty, hot, Lyme Bay fish and chips, washed down, by some, with glasses of mulled wine! An enjoyable end to the evening.