Well done to all ACFAA supporters who have been busy raising funds in aid of the annual breast cancer campaign – Octobre Rose.

Dozens of people turned out on 19th October to take part in Eymet’s annual walk.  ACFAA committee members collected donations and welcomed walkers with pink wristbands in readiness for the gentle 3.4km promenade around the town.

Monday saw another collection thanks to the efforts of Walk, Stretch and Shape members and the Crazy Stompers line dancers held a convivial morning of dancing with light refreshments which raised a further sum.

In total, members’ efforts this year have raised more than 1,000 € for Octobre Rose.

Our Summer Party – postponed from June because of the heatwave at the time – went ahead with great success in September.

On the morning, the social committee had to make some quick decisions  regarding seating due to rainy conditions, with tables, chairs and benches being laid out in the tent.

Come 16h00, the Wholly Vinyl DJs were in full swing, the beer and wine bars were set up and party-goers arrived, picnics in hand.

A great afternoon was had by all and more than 400 euros were kindly donated for the benefit of the local Secours Populaire base in Eymet.

Another successful ACFAA Open Evening took place on Thursday 4th September at La Gare in Eymet.

This is one of the most important events in the calendar, and a great opportunity to meet up with friends again before all the regular activities begin.

Group leaders or their representatives were available to describe their plans with new and returning members.  A number of groups have revised schedules so please check their webpages for the latest information here.

The languages team, who offer classes in French and English, were in high demand.  All French ‘beginner’ classes are now fully booked and have waiting lists but there are still places available on ‘intermediate’ level and above.  Space remains on all three levels of our English classes.  For details of Language Classes and availability click here.

Claire Riley, recently re-elected for a third term as ACFAA President, said: “Although the majority of our members sign up online, we also take many inscriptions in person at our Open Evening.  “We now have members from 26 countries globally which reflects the vibrant and multi-cultural community that we all enjoy in this beautiful part of France.”

Two days later, ACFAA took part again in Eymet’s day-long Forum of Associations event, where we received more membership applications, and joined in the promotion of the wide range of cultural, social and health-related clubs that exist locally.

Summary

The Annual General Meeting for 2025 took place at the Jardin de Cadix in Eymet on 22nd May.  Sixty five members were in attendance.

The minutes of the 2024 AGM were accepted and approved with no queries arising.

Key Points

• Membership stands at almost 800
• The financial position remains strong
• Membership fees and concessions unchanged for 2025/26

Officers and Committee

• Claire Riley was re-elected as President
• Nicola Lack re-elected as a Committee Member
• Sally Blackman stood down as member of the Committee

The minutes of the 2024 AGM were approved without comment, followed by verbal reports by the President, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Language Group Coordinator. The Vice President presented the Social Committee’s report.

The roles of President and one other committee post were due for re-election.  Claire Riley was voted in for a third term as President and Nicola Lack was re-elected to the Committee for another term.

ACFAA’s financial situation was confirmed as stable, and membership numbers reached a new high this year – almost 800 – of whom 16% are French, and 14% are from more than 20 other countries.

Claire said: “We’re delighted that our association is so diverse in its membership.  It truly reinforces our underlying purpose, of forging French-Anglo relations, but clearly more than that, we are bringing people together of so many other origins, to share and enjoy the best of our respective cultures.”

One key member of the committee, who has served for five years, stood down. Sally Blackman brought years of teaching experience to help develop ACFAA’s language courses, which are increasingly popular.

Many groups created special displays of their work for the assembled visitors to enjoy, and also took the opportunity to give a brief verbal rundown on their activities, including John Simmonds, who announced he is stepping down after five years of leading the Photography Group.

Alison Broder presented a report on behalf of Margaret and David Cowan’s Social Games Group, which celebrated its 10th year in September. She also reported on Poetry Group’s activities.

Mary-Ann Boudreau talked about the Art for Pleasure group’s successes this year, while Florence Simmonds discussed her Relaxation group, and Caro Hartridge spoke on behalf of the Line Dancing group.  Finally, Peter Taylor – who with Sarah Allsopp, stepped up to lead Singing for Pleasure this year – entertained us with an impromptu musical rendition of his report.

You can read the Minutes of the AGM in French or English by clicking on the relevant link:

• French
• English

Working with the Maison de Retraite to provide new facilities

The new shop at the Maison de Retraite in Eymet is now officially open.  Having already made a beautiful circular tree seat in the gardens, the ACFAA Atelier Group have been busy creating shelves for the inside of the shop, using recycled wood.

The shop will stock supplies of small gifts, clothes, bags, consumables of all nature.  It will be open every Friday.  A thoughtful addition for the residents as many are unable to leave the building to go shopping.

When Manu, who works at home, approached Tim Richardson (Leader of the ACFAA Atelier Group) she explained that “I’ve always taken the residents shopping at the supermarket. Over the last 2 years, things have changed. The residents were expressing their needs more often and I was no longer able to satisfy enough of the requests, which meant that I had to make more trips to the shops or keep the residents waiting. In short, that’s when the need for the shop became apparent. I’ll continue to take residents who want to go to the supermarket, but the shop will be an important support. The aims of the project are to give residents back their ability to be customers and to manage their money. But also a group of residents will decide on everything in the project, which will allow them to get involved in the choices and the residents will help to run the shop. They will manage the till, the supplies, the labelling and the shelving. The residents have decided to open the shop every Friday from 3pm to 5pm. The Association sisao’L will finance the purchases (hygiene, cakes, stamps, clothes). The products bought will be resold at purchase price, whereas what is donated or made will be sold at a small price and will go back to the association, which helps to finance outings. Everyone can buy. Residents, families or staff.“

Arts, Crafts and Gardening Projects at the Centre de Loisirs

The Director of the CdL, Nadia Raffier, asked if ACFAA could organise a special afternoon for the children who use the Centre.

After a discussion with the Art and Craft Group Leaders, we decided to offer the children the opportunity to try out painting with water colours, making craft designs using buttons, decorating clay pots, and a little planting in the new raised beds, built by the ACFAA Atelier Group.

Christine, Janet, Pauline, Jill and Jenny from the Craft Group and Linda, Susan, Lorraine, Helena, Irmi, Marie, and Sue from the Art group, along with Jayne and Fiona came to help.  More than 60 children of different ages were split into small working groups to try out the different activities.

Donated clays pots came from members of the Gardening Group, Stretch and Shape Groups, and the Fleurs d’Eymet.  Stretch and Shape Groups also gave some money instead of pots and I was able to purchase some tomato plants.  The children helped to plant these in the raised beds.

I’m not sure who enjoyed themselves more, the children or the volunteers.

Claire

Perigueux students visit Eymet

Around 40 students from Saint Joseph’s Lycée in Perigueux visited Eymet on a school trip in March, among their aims to learn about the historic bastide town and to practice their English language skills.

After exploring and having lunch in the centre, their coach brought them to Col de Pouthet (just outside Eymet) where ACFAA Atelier Group Leader Tim Richardson hosts various outdoor and forest pursuits.

Claire Riley and Maxine Walter, representing ACFAA’s main committee, were also present to welcome the students and their teachers.

Splitting into four groups, the visitors enjoyed a calming walk through the forest, learning about the inhabiting salamanders, and other elements of forest biodiversity.

They also enjoyed some fun, quiz-style games designed to get them speaking English in their groups.

Claire Riley said: “It was a pleasure to meet the students and to be able to get involved in their learning about our local community. I’d like to thank Tim and his wife for helping to host the event.”

Atelier & Gardening Groups join forces

The ACFAA Atelier Group have been busy building raised planting beds using recycled wood, for the children at the Centre de Loisirs as part of a new project to grow some fruit and vegetables they can eat with their lunch.

Many of the children helped to fill the beds with compost donated by the municipal services, recycling of green material from maintaining the public areas in Eymet.

Coming up next, we will be planting strawberries, tomatoes, radish, and hopefully a gigantic pumpkin.

Claire Riley, ACFAA President & Tim Richardson, Atelier Group Leader

ACFAA Volunteers supporting local Resto du Cœur

On Friday 7th and Saturday 8th March teams of ACFAA Volunteers were stationed at Intermarche and Lidl in Miramont, and Carrefour in Eymet, helping to collect non perishable food items, cleaning products and many other necessities for low income families, on behalf of Restos du Coeur.

The ACFAA Association presented a cheque for 100 € towards the charity and many generous shoppers coming to the stores to do their regular shopping donated items on the “wish list”.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Claire Riley, ACFAA President

ACFAA Art for Pleasure group supports Dick Whittington pantomine

Susan Jackson and Avril Parsons came up with the idea that the Art for Pleasure group should start a Cats and Rats project a few months ago in support of the Pantomime, which was held in early January 2025.  It was such a great effort that their pieces were shown as an exhibition in the foyer of L’Eden for the duration of the Pantomime.

The Art for Pleasure group team, Mary-Anne Boudreau, Avril Parsons and Susan Jackson along with Linda Fenty worked with the Art for Pleasure Group and Linda commented “I was blown away to see the Art group members wonderful and diverse work” and further commented “I feel very proud to be part of this group of very talented artists, and hope this will be the first of many more displays to come”.  The team’s effort was supported by a new Art 4 Pleasure banner made by Irene Johnston as a gift to the group.

Once again, ACFAA members enjoyed the popular quiz held on Saturday 24th January in Agnac.

The evening started with members enjoying their picnics and working their way through the picture round.  A big thank you to our hosts Nicola and Steve Lack who had put together an enjoyable and challenging quiz with 6 rounds, which saw Gina, Peter, Alan, Klara, Julia and Roger take the winning prizes in first place.  Christine, Viv, Dennis, Janet, Patrick and Elissa took the wooden spoons.

For details of our events, please take a look at our What’s on section.

Decorating Rue du Temple – ACFAA Atelier Group

The ACFAA Atelier Group took up the challenge after an idea from Sara at the Mauvaise Herbe Book Shop.  Sara believed that the Rue du Temple was sparsely decorated as against the square and the boulevard at Christmas.

The challenge was for the Atelier group to make a number of Christmas Trees for the shops to decorate either with Christmas decorations or produce from the shops.

It was a great success and some of the shop owners gathered together on the afternoon of 14th December to display their trees.  Claire Riley, President of ACFAA was present alongside Tim Richardson, Group Leader, Atelier.

Tim Richardson, Atelier Group Leader

Our bus departed Eymet at 08h30 on Thursday 16th January, with a large group of excited passengers bound for the stunning city of Bordeaux. Some of our party were planning to visit the shops to benefit from the January sales while others headed for the impressive Bassins des Lumières, the former submarine base.

Also on the list of places to visit were the Halles de Bacalan, a huge food hall offering everything from cappucinos to tapas, ice cream and sandwiches, The Cite du Vin, an interactive experience and museum focused on the theme of wine across cultures and civilizations.  The Musee d’Histoire Naturelle and the Musee des Beaux-Arts were also another choices.

There is something different for everyone in Bordeaux and it is never possible to see everything in one day.  I have no doubt that we will return.

Claire Riley, ACFAA President

In November more than 80 of our members were entertained by Quartette Jazzique while enjoying a festive afternoon tea at La Gare in Eymet.

The profit raised from raffle ticket sales was pledged to the Secours Populaire, Eymet.  The gifts were provided by local businesses and associations, Theatre Musical d’Eymet, A Taste of Britain, La Cave, Sara’s Café, The Walnut, Le Latucia restaurant in Lalandusse, and Alger Apiculture in St Astier de Duras, as well as gifts donated by the ACFAA Committee.

With the support of those attending the event, we were able to donate 500 € to the charity that offers support to 140 plus local residents on low income, who struggle to provide food and other household provisions for themselves and their families.

Around 100 people attended our very festive Afternoon Tea in November.

ACFAA volunteers laid out and decorated 17 tables, then set about prepping the sandwiches, homemade quiches and cakes, mince pies and cream teas, all served on beautiful vintage plates.

Guests were welcomed with a complimentary glass of bubbly, and settled in for the afternoon, accompanied by music from the melodic Eymet Quartette Jazzique.

Thanks to generous donations by various businesses in the area, a raffle offered a wide range of prizes, with proceeds going to the Secours Populaire, a local charity which supports people in need in their immediate areas. At time of writing, more than 500euros was raised.

The next day, ACFAA was present at Eymet’s annual Fête de Ste Catherine celebrations, with the ‘Crazy Stompers’ performing a mix of line dances for all abilities, and our Craft and Atelier groups offering hand-crafted items for sale.

Once again, ACFAA joined forces with Eymet’s Mairie by organising the town’s ‘Octobre Rose’ solidarity walk, fund-raising for breast cancer awareness.

The beautiful sunny Sunday morning brought together eager walkers of all ages – and a number of well-behaved four-legged supporters – many suitably clad in shades of pink.

The 3.5km route led the estimated 200 walkers over level terrain – starting in Parc Gabriel Forestier, crossing the old railway bridge, around Parc Bretou, and back to Place Gambetta where many sat down and enjoyed a celebratory end to the event.

Eymet’s ‘Octobre Rose’ event is also supported by runners who have a choice of following 8km or 15km routes.

People donated generously leading to an overall collection on the day of more than 900€.

Octobre Rose was launched in France in 1994 and runs throughout the whole month.  Events take place nationally and every year the Eiffel Tower is illuminated pink.

Open Evening

Hundreds of people from around our region turned up at La Gare in Eymet on 5th September for the annual ACFAA Open Evening.  Our 18 interest groups, represented by their leaders and volunteers, shared information on what’s ahead for the coming year.

This is a key event at the start of the annual ACFAA calendar for people to join up or renew their membership and to explore new interests provided through our regular groups and special events.

Claire Riley, ACFAA President, said: “It was wonderful evening and great to see so many familiar – and new – faces.  ACFAA brings together people of Anglo and French origin but also of many other nationalities and I’m hugely grateful to the many people who make our growing number of activities and language courses possible.  I’m sure we’re all looking forward to a busy and active year.”

Forum des Associations

The Open Evening followed on from a wider ‘Forum des Associations’ event held in Eymet on 1st September of which ACFAA was one of around 35 groups in attendance.  ACFAA’s stand was staffed by various committee members and helpers and saw high interest in joining our language classes. ACFAA’s ‘Agnac Crazy Stompers’ performed a mid-morning set of seven line dances.

Sally Blackman, who helps lead ACFAA’s Language courses, said: “It was great to take part in this event, an added reminder of how important social groups are in local communities.”

Working alongside local students in preparation for World Culture Day

Earlier this year ACFAA was approached by Le Cluzeau Collège & Lycée Sigoulès to work with students in the second year of their course – Baccalauréat Professionnel SAPAT (Service à la personne et au territoire).  The focus of curriculum is caring for children, elders and disabled people, but also includes planning events and activities.

For World Culture Day*, students were tasked with presenting different cultures of the world, through an aspect of that culture such as food, traditional clothing or cultural traditions.  In order to help them develop their ideas and create a presentation that was authentic as possible, Le Cluzeau reached out to our members to share their culture with students.

One of those who took part is long-time member Roz Drinkwater.  Here is what she had to say about the experience.

“In May 2024, I was part of a small team of volunteers supporting Baccalaureate students at the Le Cluzeau Lycée in Sigoulès.  The students were asked to prepare group exhibits on World Culture Day, and I was teamed up with four students who had chosen to represent the UK.  After discussing various options, Guy Fawkes Day was chosen as their subject and my role was to support them in understanding this custom, researching, preparing and presenting a visually interesting stall.  Their presentation included a handmade guy, homemade mini toffee apples, craft representations of fireworks and posters detailing the history and characters related to this tradition.”

“It was an extremely rewarding few days.  All the students were respectful, appreciative and enthusiastic about their tasks.  My involvement was an enjoyable mix of chatting to the group, helping them improve their English language skills, and hands on practical support with the exhibit itself.  The volunteers were invited to attend the event at the school on World Culture Day so we could see all the different presentations.  Not only was it a valuable experience working with the students, but new friends were made amongst the volunteers also, so it was an all-round positive experience for everybody involved.”