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Lockdown over, trips from Harrow to Douai are back on. The first one for several years was two groups of students from Stanmore College who visited Douai in June 2022. Details were given at the Harrow In Europe Christmas Brunch on 17^th November. While enjoying French wine, cheese, paté, and bread, HiE's chairman John Hinkley showed two powerpoint presentations put together by the students themselves. Please click or press on the links to see them. The first shows the visit itself and the second a history of Douai: its Flemish past, its coalmining industrial heritage, and a modern present.

The two groups were greeted by the Major of Douai and other officials from both Douai itself and the local college, with the exchange hosted at the professional college Lycée Rabelais. It was a week of cultural and educational exchange. Activities included digital skills training, graphic design, and first-aid training. Lycée Rabelais's enterprise and accounting students ran a jewellery making workshop. The jewellery is sold to help fund school initiatives and as a show of support Stanmore College bought the jewellery made for each Stanmore student to keep.

They also met students from Lycée Rabelais' culinary training programme, tasting some of the goodies that they had made together including Choux pastries and Béchamel source. Stanmore students were treated to a restaurant service re-enactment. They tried new as well as more familiar food.

Stanmore's students naturally enough went on a tour of Douai led by European officials and volunteer guide Aaron. Chiara Dias commented that she: “Enjoyed the sightseeing, the interactions with the French teachers and students.” As for the town itself, Agnes Gyabaah made the remark that: “The buses were very different compared to the ones in England.” The students visited the Belfry Tower, Douai's main historical landmark. They climbed the 193 stairs to view the inner workings of the bell tower and learn about its historical significance. Accompanied by local official Michelle, the students visited the Mus'e de la Chartreuse to see how art produced in Douai has developed over the centuries. While a visit to the Collegiate Church of St. Pierre revealed what happened to the town during the French Revolution. The students also took time out of Douai to visit the local city of Lille.

At the end of the trip the students enjoyed themselves bowling and laser tagging. To mark the occasion there was an exchange of gifts between Stanmore College and representatives from both Douai Council and Lycée Rabelais.

Geoff Rooke

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The 40^th anniversary of Harrow-Douai twinning and exchanges was commemorated on November 7^th when Harrow and Douai majors signed a joint declaration reaffirming links between the two in a ceremony at Harrow Civic Centre. It was the same venue and indeed the same room, the council chambers, in which the original declaration was signed 40 years ago.

The two majors, Cllr Nitin Parekh for Harrow and Douai/s M Frederic Chéreau, and their families were joined by Douai councilors Khadija Ahantat and Carolle Divrechy, archivist Ophélie Girard, and former Labour leader of the opposition in Harrow Council Keith Toms who was present at the original event. In a speech Keith Toms commented upon how much Douai had in common with his own Welsh roots including coalmining and a strong left wing tradition.

The Douai mayor and his entourage were each given presents about the life of local artist and maverick Heath Robinson. After the official ceremony those present went to a local restaurant, Bombay Central, for a commemorative meal.

Here are some photos taken at the ceremony.