Here’s just a taste of some of the activities from 2011.

A group of hikers from our French twin town, Mitry-Mory, came over for a walking weekend, that took us up the North Sea coast and along the River Tyne.  Prudhoe walkers went over for their hiking weekend.  Photogrpahs from the walks here in England can be seen below.

Along with the walkers came a jazz group called- Dr Folamour (Dr Strangelove). They joined forces with Eric Robertson and Bob Hindhaugh’s Classic Rock musicians for some memorable performances, including at a barbecue at Matfen Brewery.  Photographs from this event are also shown below.

Sometimes a direct link isn’t obvious. Mitry-Mory has a very strong Wrestling Club and we don’t.  But we found out that a Boxing Club had just started at the East Centre and they made a very good match.  Wrestling in Mitry-Mory is a popular family sport - both sexes and all ages participate. The group included two little six-year-old girls, and Cindy, a five times national female champion.  Cindy issued a challenge to our local lads … That was interesting … as you can see in the fabulous shots below!

Totally different - a group from Prudhoe (Derek Gillespie, George and Judy McCreedy and Dave Vause) travelled over to represent Prudhoe at Mitry-Mory’s annual Christmas Market.  The Market is a big event in the town’s preparations for the festive season - there are always stalls stocked with fine foods and wine, farm-produced pâtés, olives, preserves, as well as handicrafts, decorations and gifts.  The mainstays of the Prudhoe stall traditionally are our marmalade and fruit cakes - the French love jams and preserves, and some people stock up with a year’s supply of Prudhoe marmalade, to keep them going until next Christmas. It’s something so small - but so many breakfast tables in Mitry-Mory include a little bit of Prudhoe every morning.