Wessex Mead (Trowbridge) Rotary Club

Over the Easter Weekend, Wessex Mead Rotary Club welcomed 5 members (and their partners) from the Rotary club of Rodez Espalion to stay with us in our homes in Trowbridge.  The Rotary Club of Rodez Espalion is based in the Aveyron region of France.

We made the most of the fabulous weather with a variety of activities, including a traditional picnic overlooking the Severn Bridge at Portishead; a fish and chip evening with skittles in a local pub; plus visits to Bradford on Avon, Lacock, Avebury, Bristol and beyond. We have been looking forward to this cultural exchange with the view to the clubs twinning in the near future. 

A group from our club visited The Rotary Club of Rodez in September 2009 and enjoyed their generous hospitality, so this Easter Weekend gave us an opportunity to give them a Wessex Mead welcome to Wiltshire.

For a full report please click on read more...

Saturday Night - Skittles night

The Group in Bradford on Avon

Full report by Julia Davey:

This Easter weekend the Rotary Club of Wessex Mead was pleased to welcome 5 members of the Rotary Club of Rodez-Espalion in France to visit them in Trowbridge.  They flew into Bristol airport on Friday 22^nd April, along with their partners.

Members of Wessex Mead hosted the families in their homes for 3 nights.  A full programme of visits to local attractions had been planned including a visit to the Bristol Blue Glass SW factory in Bedminster, Bristol.  On our arrival we were welcomed with tea and biscuits.  Then we were treated to a full demonstration of glass blowing by the team who also arranged for a French translator to be present to explain the process to our guests.  There was then a chance to buy from the shop.

Next a drive through Bristol to see two of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s engineering masterpieces, the SS Great Britain and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. 

By now we were getting hungry so we drove to Portishead and in an area overlooking the Severn estuary near the two Severn crossings.  A fantastic feast was prepared and enjoyed in the April sunshine. 

After lunch we drove on to Clevedon to view the pier and were then treated to an informative talk at our President Mark’s brewery near Weston Super Mare.  After learning about malt, barley and other beer related things, we left the brewery for the short drive to Axbridge.  In Axbridge we stopped in the Market Place to take some photographs of King John’s Hunting Lodge and St. John the Baptist church.

Our visitors were treated to a drive through Cheddar Gorge and after avoiding the goats on the way, finally arrived home to prepare for the evening entertainment at the Crown in Timbrell Street.  This was a really enjoyable eveing playing skittles and eating fish and chips.  This was an opportunity for the whole club to come along and meet our guests.  After a long and tiring day we went home to prepare for Sunday’s adventures.

Traditional Sunday breakfast at the Hope Nature Centre started our day well.  Full English washed down with tea and coffee gave us the perfect excuse for a long walk around Bradford on Avon.  We walked to the top of the Tory for some stunning views across the town before wandering back down to Barton Farm for a look at the Tithe Barn.

No time for lunch today but instead we drove to see one of the many white horses in Wiltshire at Cherhill, before going on to Avebury for a walk around the stones.  Traditional afternoon tea at the Circles Restaurant was very welcome.  Our very last stop was in Lacock where we wandered the streets taking in the beautiful architecture that is admired by so many people.

A very pleasant weekend was rounded off by a Sunday roast dinner at our members homes before the whole group joined together once more for the last time. 

Our guests travelled back to Bristol airport after breakfast on Monday morning.  They all said that they had a lovely time with us and have invited us to visit them in Rodez soon.

The Group

Picnic at Portishead

Enjoying Fish and Chips

welcome break at Avebury

Avebury