Mem001

All visitors were presented with special edition photographs (see photos above) and a short
history of St Aubin. The Association was presented with the St Aubin book which will be
available for reference in Emsworth Library.

In the afternoon we attended the opening of a fascinating exhibition at the Post Office of old
'objets philateliques', including an original post office and post master(!), before moving on
to Salle Aubert for a marvelous slide show and exhibition of old post cards of St.Aubin.

In the evening our hosts organised a 'soirée' in true St.Aubin style, at which virtually all 600
guests were dressed in 19th century costume. Association members entered into the
spirit of the evening and looked very grand in their various guises. You will be pleased to
learn that Queen Victoria accompanied us on the visit! The French gathering also had its
own wedding party in full costume. After dinner, guests were treated to a film 'Ma Saint
Aubin' produced by the people of St Aubin about their town. It included interviews with 150
members of the community of all ages (including many Association members) about their
thoughts, as well as facts about St Aubin. The Association hopes to purchase a copy,
which can be lent to members.

The year 2001 was the 150th anniversary
of St.Aubin-sur-Mer which, until 1851,
had been part of the neighbouring village
of Langrune. A kind invitation was
extended by the community of St.Aubin,
for a group from the Emsworth
Association to participate in their
celebrations. Over the first weekend of
July sixteen people comprising the
current committee, founder members,
immediate past Chairman John Barrett
and Daphne Cook, wife of former
Chairman Harold Cook, visited our twin
town.

A fountain and garden were opened
on Saturday morning by Mayor Pierre
Letellier in commemoration of the
150eme anniversaire. This was
followed by the presentation of a
handmade 10 foot embroidery/
patchwork of the St Aubin coat of
arms sewn by a group of
St.Aubinaise, and which now hangs in
the Mairie.

The Association members were
entertained to lunch by Alain Tranquart
and hosts, during which the committee
presented a plaque commemorating the
150th anniversary and the link between
the two communities (see photo). We
also gave a print of Queen Victoria
during her visit to Emsworth about 150
years ago.

Sunday dawned bright and clear and inhabitants and guests once more donned their
costumes to join a procession around the town. There were so many people that the
procession divided into three, starting at different points in the town, each group led by
decorated vehicles. Some truly beautiful costumes had been made especially for the
day, including 'La Reine de l'Iode' the famous bathing belle of St Aubin (see photo)!
For two and half hours the processions wound their way all around the town and along
'La Digue' in temperatures of 28-30! There were crowds lining the streets and at the
windows of all the houses. People came off the beach to watch the 'defilé,' which was
later featured on French television!!

Eventually the procession wound it's way to the large field in front of the church where
later a concert by well known French group 'Mes Souliers sont Rouge' was one of the
highlights of the celebrations. Many thousands attended the concert gratuit, and the
group's music was enjoyed by French and English of all ages.

The visit was a great success and our friends in St Aubin were most impressed with
our costumes and pleased that we had entered into the spirit of the occasion!