Christmas Greetings from Oignies
Les Amis de Buxton present two short festive videos, put together by Tony Lannoy, and featuring many of our Amis from Oignies. They were produced by Tony for the Trans-Manche Christmas Zoom on the 9 December, 2023. They are available for streaming further down the page. Enjoy!
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Click the <PLAY> button on the screen below to start the movie.
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To zoom to full screen click at the bottom right of the player screen.
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Cliquez la touche <LECTURE> dans l'écran au dessous pour démarrer le movie.
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Pour le zoomer en plein écran, cliquez en bas à droite de l'écran du lecteur.
Saturday 25th November 2023:
Buxton Dickensian Market
Magnifique!? Easily the biggest stall there!
Recognise anyone?
Our French Celebrities Quiz
Saturday, 25 November saw the 2023 edition of annual Dickensian Market in the Buxton Octagon. It was a busy day on the Friends of Oignies stall, raising funds and promoting the the Twinning. We managed to tale just under £200, a valuable contribution to Association coffers. There was also plenty of interest in the 'Who's who of French celebrities past and present' picture quiz. The bottle of champagne was won by Janette Sykes of Buxton with an excellent score of 24/26. Well done Janette!
Un grand merci to les Amis de Buxton. Each and every family contributed an item or two for sale on the stall, which were brought over on the coach from Oignies earlier in the year.
Many thanks also to those loyal members who did a stint on the stall or contributed items for sale.
12th November 2023:
Remembrance Sunday
This year's Buxton Remembrance Parade took place at the War Memorial on the slopes, on Sunday 12th November. The Friends of Oignies Association was represented by Chair, Derek Thomas, and Vice Chair, Helen Bloomfield.
A wreath of poppies was laid, on behalf of the Association, at the foot of the Memorial.
The Buxton Oignies Twinning came about as a direct result of links between the two towns which were forged in 1940, during the darkest days of World War II.
You can read more about the history of the Twinning and the tragic events that took place in Oignies on the about us page here.
"On behalf of Twinning
Associations of Buxton
and Oignies (France)"
Le Jour de l'Armistice à Oignies
The people of Oignies held their annual Armistice Parade on the 11th of November with a parade through the town, pictured here.
High Peak Mayoral Charities
2023
- A very useful boost to Association funds
Thanks to a successful bid to the High Peak Mayoral Charities Committee, which was put together by Association Chair, Derek Thomas, we were allocated £600 this year. A tidy sum which will start to replenish our coffers after our very successful (...but not cheap!) Twinning Weekend, hosting our Amis Oigninois in Buxton a few weeks ago.
Derek receives the cheque from High Peak Mayor: Ollie Cross
Bienvenue aux Oigninois from
Hargreaves of Buxton!
Martin at Hargreaves in Spring Gardens has created this magnificent window display to welcome our visitors from Oignies.
If you've not seen it yet, it's well worth checking out next time you're in Spring Gardens. Don't forget to point it out to your French guests too if you're in the area.
The display will be in the shop window for the weeks before and after the Twinning Weekend.
21st - 25th April 2023:
Twinning visit to Buxton
Programme of Events
Please note: In unforeseen circumstances details may have to be amended. Any last minute changes will be posted on the website
There is a concise programme leaflet, which you can download here, detailing what is happening and when, which you can print out and share with your guests should you wish.
Friday 21st April
5:45pm for a 6pm arrival (estimated) - Reception at Buxton Community School, in the Gothic Hall
Drinks Reception
with Optional Supper Buffet.
We have organised a welcome drink and a supper buffet at the Community School to greet our guests. If you would like to partake of the buffet, which will be partially subsidised by the Association, we would ask for a contribution of £7 per head. There is no charge for your French Guests.
Alternatively, you may prefer to take your guests home straight after the reception drink, rather than staying around for the buffet.
Please note: - When arriving by car on Friday Evening to meet your guests at the Buxton Community School, can you please use the entrance on College Road? Parking is available on the adjacent tennis courts.
Saturday 22nd April
9:30am - Joint meeting of the Committees at the Pavilion Café, Pavilion Gardens
Joint Committee meeting, committee members only
10:45am for 11:00am - Meet at the Town Hall for the Service of Remembrance
Followed by refreshments at Bath Road Church Centre
The remembrance parade will finish in the Town Square in Higher Buxton. Please join us afterwards, along with your guests, for some light refreshments at the Bath Road Church Centre, round the corner in Bath Road, SK17 6HJ. These will be served in the hall, and will include la bière pression (draught beer) brewed in Oignies, and kindly supplied by Nicolas Thévenette from his very own micro brewery, la Brasserie Alceste.
2:30pm - Jim's Tour of the Famous, Unusual and Curious Sights of Buxton
Meet by the Opera House - Front Entrance
Over the last year or so, leading up to the 2023 Twinning Visit to Buxton Jim Marriott has been posting a weekly pictorial feature representing the town and its surroundings. As well as some of the town's more famous landmarks, this illustrated countdown has depicted some less well known and more curious local features. You can see the latest picture here, and the full countdown starts here.
On the Saturday afternoon Jim will be leading a guided walk, of about an hour and a half, around Buxton. The walking tour will visit many of the sights featured in the countdown, including some of those more curious and lesser known, with commentary and fascinating facts provided by Jim.
Please let us know via email : friendsofoignies@gmail.com if you and your French guests would like to join the tour, to give us an idea of numbers.
7pm - Harry Potter Themed Soirée at Hogwarts (AKA The Palace Hotel)
Please come along dressed as your favourite character from the Harry Potter novels.
We will be taking group photographs between 7:15 and 7:30 so please arrive in time for this if you wish to be included.
The evening will include a three course dinner with wine followed by tea or coffee, and live music. This event is also subsidised by the Association, and we have been able to negotiate a great price of just £35 per head, or £25 for children (without wine!). As usual there is no charge for our guests from Oignies.
Sunday 23th April
Journée libre / Free day to spend with your visitors
There are no organised events on Sunday. During twinning visits, one day is usually left aside, to spend time with your guests from Oignies, as an opportunity do something which appeals to individual tastes.
Monday 24th April
9am - Day Trip to Bakewell and Thornbridge Hall
Coaches depart from Burlington Road
We'll be driving by coach to Bakewell, taking the scenic route through the Chatsworth Estate. Arriving in Bakewell there will be an opportunity to explore the town, and visit the famous monthly Farmers’ Market, which will be taking place that Monday.
We will then travel the couple of miles to Thornbridge Hall for a two course dinner with wine, followed by an afternoon spent in the Hall and grounds. Here we will contest the annual Albert Boitrel Trophy between Buxton and Oignies. After a string of defeats in recent years let's hope we can do better this year! This will be followed by afternoon tea and cake before returning to Buxton. We expect to back in Burlington Road around 6pm.
The subsidised price per head for the day is £35 per head, £20 for children. No charge for our guests from Oignies.
Tuesday 25th April
Change of time !!!
Departure of our guests from Burlington Road - Meet at 7:30am
Please arrive in good time with your guests and their luggage to allow for a smooth and timely departure at 8am.