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By 1985, the Language Department at Bishop Rawstorne, under the auspices of the PTA, had invited parents of pupils taking part in the exchange with Azay to join with some teachers in a five day visit to the French town to stay in the homes of their 'opposite numbers'. Sixteen adults, led by the late Jean Kenny, made the trip and experienced for the first time the wonderfully warm welcome extended by the Ridellois (the residents of Azay Ie Rideau) to all visitors, and especially those from the Croston area.
The return visit by the French pushed numbers up to around forty, for whom hosts were found from the original group that went to Azay, and from among supporters of the exchange idea who were not necessarily involved with the school, nor with Croston.
So began the Azay Adult Exchange run by Graham White who had taken on the organizing from the school and the PTA and, on the French side, by Bernard Viau.
Following a suggestion made by Bernard, the committee of the Azay Adult Exchange agreed to pursue the possibility of Croston becoming formally twinned with Azay Ie Rideau and this, with the full support of Croston Parish Council, came to fruition in October 1989 when the Twinning Accord was signed in France, by Councillor Catherine Dalton from Croston and by Azay Mayor, Gaston Michin.
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A copy of The Twinning Accord document, in French and English, will soon be included on this web site). In general the Accord binds the two communities to the furtherance of understanding, friendly relationships and cultural communication between them, and this ethos has been upheld through a variety of contacts ever since
It was signed a second time, this time at Bishop Rawstorne High School by Parish Council Chairman, Douglas Macmillan and Azay Deputy Mayor, Jean, Marquis de Chenerille
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Subsequently, further Twinning Accords have been signed between Croston and Cheille, Rivarennes, Villaines les Rochers and Thilouze, all villages near to Azay, and also between Azay and Heskin.
The processes involved in the formalities of twinning, thus transformed the Adult Exchange into the Croston/Azay Ie Rideau Twinning Association, with constitution, audited accounts, AGM and so on as specified by the rules governing such organizations. After twelve years with the Adult Exchange and as Chairman of the Twinning Association, Graham White became Honorary President in 1998.
David Parker, elected 1997, and Keith Roberts, elected 1998, presided over the Association until 2000 when Duncan Williams was elected, and still is, Chairman. A full list of officers appears elsewhere on this site.
As well as the regular exchanges of between forty and sixty people per trip, the Twinning Association has arranged accommodation and found temporary work placements for individual school leavers. Sports teams, fishermen, hunters, musicians and dancers have all visited Croston and reciprocal visits from Croston to Azay have left their impressions on our twin town.
Azay le Rideau is a lovely place, with a beautiful chateau, charming people, fine food and wines, all set in the scenic splendour of the Loire Valley, once the playground of French royalty. Why not try it for yourselves and see!
The Croston/ Azay Ie Rideau Twinning Association continues to run exchange visits and special interest trips to France as well as a very successful local boules league and an annual fair in July on Croston village green. Over the years the Association has received many gifts from the people of the Azay area and some of these are on display or permanent loan to Bishop Rawstorne Language College. They may also be displayed occasionally around the village and at the Croston Old School heritage centre.
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