I have today received the following email.

Hi There

I am a member of a Association which promotes pride in our village, Le Breuil Coiffaud in the Poitou-Charentes area of France, and raises money to repair and restore elements of the village.

It has only a population of around 100 and wants to explore twinning or a casual relationship with another similarly sized village in the UK, there is a leaning towards a Scottish village. Is there any help and advise you can provide?

--
Best wishes

Graeme Swan

Graeme & Graziella Swan are owners of a gite holiday complex in Le Breuil Coiffaud, but are treasurers of “Hier et Aujourd’hui” – “Yesterday and Today” Is an association set up by neighbour Jean-Pierre Goursot set up in 2007 to help protect and preserve the history and character of our village - Le Breuil Coiffaud. We were invited to become treasurers of the association to help raise money to pursue good works in the village.

The first project was to raise enough money to repair the village church bells, which used to chime out the hours and were heard for miles around. They had been struck by lightening causing the mechanism to frazzle. The insurance company ironically claimed “Act of God” and slapped on a heft excess, the diocese refuse to put hand in pocket.

Through a lot of begging and pleading many of the local businesses and residents donated sums to the association, helping us to raise enough money not only repair the bells but also enough to start thinking about other projects.

This would appear to be the basis for their request for a (preferably) Scottish Link

There are very few requests for twinnings between such small communities so this is an option that the samller comunities might like to consider, and perhaps, even work to gether on a mutual basis to help each other in some way or another.

If you are interested please communicate with me in the first palce and I will release contact details.

alan