French visitors have wicket time in Shifnal
Young visitors from Shifnal's twin town in France have caught a taste of quintessentially British sport - after being roped in to a game of cricket.
A group of 24 youngsters, aged from 12 to 16, and three adult leaders from Machecoul have arrived for a week's visit to Shropshire.
They are led by Yoann Cercleron, and were officially welcomed to Shifnal by twinning chairman Gerald Nickless at the town's youth club.
"Afterwards the group were met by Mark Williams, leader of the Shifnal and Albrighton Say Yes Youth Group.
"The French and English young people then went to the grounds of Idsall School to play cricket," said Sue Podmore, of Shifnal Twinning Association.
"They mixed up the teams, learned to play and had fun - European cooperation!"
On Tuesday, August 23, the groups were spending the day together again with various activities in the town, and on Wednesday, August 24, were going together to Telford town park.
Because of the busy V Festival weekend in Shifnal area, the French visitors, who arrived last Thursday, have been staying at a campsite in Much Wenlock, having brought over their own tents.
They had a separate welcome earlier in Much Wenlock, given by Mayor and Mayoress, Graham and Christine Edgcumbe Venning, at the historic Guildhall.
The French party leave on Friday morning.
Say Yes is a Shifnal and Albrighton Christian Youth Project offering activities and events for local 11 to 18 year olds.
The groundwork for the trip had been laid at a twinning visit from Machecoul in April in which a youth leader from the French town was among the party, and the arrangements were made.
Machecoul is a town in the Loire region of France and was officially twinned with Shifnal on October 22, 1988.
