What we do

The Twinning Association was formed in 2003 to foster friendship, share knowledge and understanding between our two communities of North Ferriby in East Yorkshire, UK and Le Pellerin in Loire-Atlantique, France.

The Twinning Association came about because of the friendship between two individuals - Jane Knight (from North Ferriby) and Carole Larroze-Chicot (from Le Pellerin).

The relationship between the two villages has developed steadily and the two villages were formally twinned in June 2011.

A visit to France is arranged every two years. We stay with families in Le Pellerin and enjoy their wonderful hospitality and the many social functions and trips that are laid on for us. In the intervening years, we are delighted to be able to reciprocate when our friends visit North Ferriby. Over the years strong friendships have developed between families in our two communities and regular visits across the Channel have been made.

The Twinning Association organises social events, which have provided the opportunity to make new friends within the village, including:

Gourmet meals

Wine tasting

Quiz nights

Garden parties

Barbeques

Barn dances

In addition, members can (allegedly) improve their French by joining one of the fortnightly 'CHAT' groups.

The Association is working hard to involve the primary and secondary schools on both sides and we hope to be able to add sporting links in the future. There are no limits to the levels and types of personal or group involvement with Le Pellerin. These can be family and school exchanges, sports, gardening, flower arranging, scouts, guides, bowls, music, language and cultural trips, maybe even work experience.

Everyone is invited to participate.

Would any individual or village organisation interested in exploring possible contacts with a French group with similar interests, please contact any member of the Committee.

New members and families are very welcome to join the Association and see what we have to offer and explore new horizons!

Promoting Friendship and Co-operation since 2003

The idea of twinning grew out of a long standing close friendship between a family in North Ferriby and one in Le Pellerin in Loire Atlantique, France. Together they recognised that their two communities, similar in size, shared other features in common – one on the banks of the Humber and close to the city of Hull, the other on the banks of the Loire and similarly close to the city of Nantes. Both villages are within reach of the coast, Le Pellerin being just 30 minutes from picturesque Pornic with its marina, beach and superb fish restaurants.

So in 2003 both villages established their own Twinning Associations with the aim of fostering friendship and mutual understanding between the residents of North Ferriby and those of Le Pellerin.

The Association’s activities include:

• organising visits and exchanges by individuals and groups, particularly involving families with children and young people;

• facilitating personal contacts and thereby broadening individual’s understanding of different cultures and lifestyles;

• encouraging the full participation by cultural, educational, recreational and commercial associations and institutions in our linked communities;

• organising activities to foster the aims of the Association and to give members the opportunity to come together on a regular basis for social events which enhance the Twinning theme;

• providing French language and culture classes; and,

• maintaining reciprocal liaison with our sister Association in Le Pellerin.

The Association helps to link its members with like-minded individuals or families in Le Pellerin so that they can be hosted in Le Pellerin during the biennnial group visit and in turn, play host to visitors from Le Pellerin when they come here. The welcome and warm hospitality provided by people of all ages in Le Pellerin shows that language need never be a barrier to friendship. The sharing of each other’s cultures is enjoyable and rewarding in itself and over the last ten years, many friendships have developed between families and individuals of all ages across our two communities.

Twinning is also a good way to make new friends locally at the regular social events organised by the Association such as: wine tasting, gourmet meals, barbecues, quizzes and ceilidhs. These also raise the funds necessary to host our visitors from France every couple of years.

In recognition of the strong ties which had developed over a number of years, North Ferriby and Le Pellerin became formally twinned in 2011 when an agreement between the Parish Council and the Mairie was signed. The North Ferriby Parish Council has delegated to the Association responsibility for the day to day management of the twinning relationship.

The agreement acknowledges the bonds of friendship which now run through our communities and seeks to encourage more people to enjoy the opportunities this provides, to experience more of French life through linking with a family in Le Pellerin and equally to give them the opportunity to learn more about life in North Ferriby.

The Association is actively looking at new and interesting ways to broaden and strengthen our links with Le Pellerin and welcomes new ideas and proposals from individuals and associations to develop wider contacts and joint activities.

The Twinning Association welcomes new members of all ages – be they young families, pensioners or people on their own

You don’t need to speak French – half the fun is finding out how easy it is to communicate.