A developing link with the Rotary Club of Mulhouse, France
MULHOUSE in the Alsace region of France is the home of the Cité de l'Automobile, which houses the remarkable Schlumpf Collection of cars from the earliest days of motoring and includes many rare Bugatis. It was in order to visit this museum that eight Wakefield Rotarians travelled to the city in the spring of 2006.
Prior to their visit they contacted Thomas Bitsch who was then President of the Rotary Club of Mulhouse, as they were interested in the possibility of visiting his club. The welcome they received far exceeded expectations and contact has been continued in the intervening years. A full report on the visit in 2006 is available here. To further develop the link between the two clubs the Wakefield members were delighted to welcome four Mulhouse Rotarians and their partners when they visited Wakefield for a two night visit on the 1st May 2008.
Rotarians Michael Stead and Ken Pinder collected the visitors from Liverpool John Lennon airport on the afternoon of the 1st May and took them to the home of Richard and Yvonne Hensby in Netherton. With President Christian Colombina and his wife Suzanne were Thomas & Isabelle Bitsch, Frederich & Lola König, Bernard Lesage and Denise Koch. To greet them and share a glass of wine and some supper were President Peter Gallivan and his wife Pauline, John & Alison Southall, Peter & Susan Rhodes and Andrew & Vivien Cole.
After a night spent at either the home of Richard & Yvonne, John & Alison or Peter & Pauline our guests were ready for a day in York on the 2nd May with mid-day refreshment being taken in the traditional Three Tuns public house.
At a gathering at the home of John and Alison Southall on the evening of the 2nd May fifteen Rotarians and their partners mixed with the visitors and further improved the ties and all were impressed with the quality and variety of food prepared by Alison for them to enjoy.
Both sides declared that the visit had been a great success. Christian Colombina said "We spent a marvellous two days with you ....everybody was happy. We saw that your club is a real group, working together and full of friendship. We are looking forward to seeing you on your next visit to France."
We too look forward to our next visit.
