In the year 2019, I can say without contradiction that we’ve grown!! We have more members, we’ve done more things, we’ve broken new ground in the type of things we do, we’re ”better-off”, we have more resources and, as a result, we’re better known and we’re gaining a reputation as one of the most go-ahead, innovative, associations in the Creuse!!!

We’re by no means a gigantic association – we had 52 members at the end of the year but that’s almost doubled our membership in two years! We’ve continued with our ‘traditional’ activities – the English-language library, Burns’ Night, Afternoon Tea, Soirée Beaujolais-Nouveau, Bird
Identification Ramble – and made them better! And we’ve introduced new activities for the benefit of our members and the local community.

Once again we have been generously supported by the St. Pardoux-Morterolles Council – their grant of 200€ covering the cost of our annual insurance and membership of the Tourist Office, Creuse South-West.

Our celebration of Burns’ Night on 25 th January was enhanced when we were able to obtain the services of a piper, Francis Fowke, and, amongst our 50 members and friends, we were honoured by the presence of the President of the Creuse, Valerie Simonet and her husband.

A week later, on behalf of the Com-Com South-West Creuse, we hosted the superb Occitain group Lo Barrut for a magical musical evening which attracted 44 visitors.

On April 3 rd we opened a new library branch in the Alain Gouzes Centre opposite the Tourist Office in Bourganeuf, thanks to the help of the Bourganeuf Metropolitan Council. This has proved to be a major success with 175 visits in 9 months, including new French and British members – as well as serving as a convenient venue for members to contact the association’s representatives when visiting the weekly market.

May was an especially busy month for the Association. We repeated our annual ramble with 15 members under the guidance of Max Richer of the Limousin Bird Protection association and artist/ornithologist Alastair Riley and, later that month, were guests at the unveiling of the 5 th Tolkien tapestry at the Cité de la Tapisserie in Aubusson where a number of us were honoured to meet Baillie Tolkien, daughter-in-law of the great author, as well as the British Ambassador, Lord Llewellyn. During the month we also organised an afternoon workshop, led by Gordon Williams and Joelle Comencini, for members who were having problems with their computers.

Afternoon Tea on 22 June was another success with 40 members and guests - despite many other competing events that same weekend. For the occasion we bought a new set of 50 porcelain cups and saucers as well as teapots and milk jugs so we’re now well-equipped for future events. In fact we now have a good stock of crockery, glasses and serving utensils built up over the last 2 years.

In August our Tolkien Reading Group drew a large audience to the Médiathèque at Royère where, once again, Mme Simonet was a surprise guest and she further surprised the group by inviting us to present another extract at the unveiling of the sixth Tolkien Tapestry “Trolls” in September. This turned out to be a wonderful occasion for the readers and the members who took advantage of our, now-regular, invitation to attend. Not only did we read in front of the President of Nouvelle Aquitainne but all of the members present took part in the cutting of the tapestry from the loom.

October saw culture of a totally different genre with a pub-style Singalong led by Francis Fowke and Bernard Rispal. Songs from the last century in French and English - accompanied by burger and chips and British real beer - were sung and danced to by over people.

November brought our popular bi-cultural Beaujolais Nouveau/British Cheese Evening - enjoyed to the full as every last drop of wine and cheese was consumed by our a record number of 62 members and guests.

Finally, our reading group performed once more, at St. Dizier in aid of the Telethon with a series of  humorous readings and sketches in French and English which helped raise over 13,000€ for charity!

I’m confident that the Association Open Door has had a year of which it can be justly proud. As with most voluntary organisations, this has meant that a relatively small number of people have done a large amount of work, for which I thank them most sincerely. But we continue to attract new members and I hope that some of them will want to join our committee and involve themselves in planning and organising more activities for the enjoyment of our members and to help us integrate the English-speaking community in the region even further after Brexit.

Peter Edmondson
President, Association Open Door

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