Bon voyage for twin’s pupils (From Swindon Advertiser)

Bon voyage for twin’s pupils

10:10am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News

PUPILS from France have been spending the week in Ashton Keynes as part of an exchange visit.

The exchange, which is now in it’s 14th year, has been arranged with the village’s twin town of Grandchamps Des Fontaines, near Nantes.

Twenty-two visitors arrived on Monday night and have been experiencing life in the UK.

They have been on trips to Cardiff and Bath and on Tuesday were treated to a play performed in French by pupils of Ashton Keynes Primary School.

“Everyone has enjoyed themselves and gained so much from the trip,” said Ruth Britton, a member of the Ashton Keynes Twinning Committee.

“The play our pupils put on was absolutely fantastic and everyone mixed together really well.”

The French students, aged between 10 and 11, arrived in the UK in snowy conditions on Monday evening.

The children, for whom many it is the first time out of France, have been staying with host families in the village.

An assembly in the primary school today will see the French pupils presented with plaques to remember their time here before they depart on Friday morning.

Organisers of the trip are keen to stress the benefits to anyone who gets involved in the exchange.

“There is so much to gain,” said Mrs Britton. “My daughter went when she was very young and is now an interpreter so it has become her career.”