TASBURGH, NoRfolk, ENGlANd

As quoted from the” History of Tasburgh”,the first human beings to leave their mark on Tasburgh were fur clad Mesolithic hunter bands sometime between 8500 BC and 4500 BC.They were followed by farmers in 4000 BC with evidence found in Lower Tasburgh and Church Hill. In the Bronze Age Tasburgh stretched up as far as Upper Tasburgh to Henry Preston Road.In AD60, Tasburgh was firmly established on the map with the revolt against the Romans under the leadership of Queen Boudicca, and is now recognised as part of the ‘Boudicca’s Way’ walk.

Today Tasburgh is a large village with well over a 1000residents and has become more of a dormitory settlement for a much wider area, particularly Norwich/Diss.

lINdEN, lUBBEEk, BElGIUM

The origins of Linden are very unclear. It is however, known that the area was inhabited in very early ages, proved by findings of flint implements and Roman pottery etc.It is known that the territory of Linden existed before 1156 but it wasn’t an autonomous entity. It was covered in woods, fields and grasslands belonging to local Lords.In the Middle Ages the local occupation was agriculture and Linden was a small sparsely populated village.

In 1578 Linden was ransacked and set on fire. It took nearly 30 years to rebuild.In 1750 Linden had 150 habitants which over the next 30 years doubled. At the same time the new road connecting Leuven and Diest put Linden on the map.In 1823 there were 718 inhabitants living in 143 houses due to the local Baron allowing peasants to build on his land.In 1830 the Dutch were driven out and Belgium gained its independence. Linden then became a fully autonomous and self sufficient village. In 1860 a school was built.The economy remained mainly agricultural with craftsmen mixing in with the population, e.g. blacksmiths, carpenters, masons etc.

25 YEARS of EURolINk

How did this international link begin?

The Burnett’s and the De-Weerdt’s, all very good friends decided to put forward the idea of a cross- channel link. This would then develop into a village/town twinning with Linden.

The idea became a reality in Spring 1989 when the first group consisting of:Ken Ransome, Roger Burnett, Steve Beckett and Gayle MacDonaldwent from Tasburgh to meet with a group from Linden consisting of:Roger Saenen, Louis WillekensJules De Bent, Walter D’Haen, Peter Van Guyenbrugge, Willy De Weerdt and Miss Gerda BerghenThis was the birth of an idea which was to succeed beyond our wildest dreams.

Following this initial visit, arrangements were made for a larger group of 19 to visit in September 1989. In May 1990 the main group then visited Linden. During this year, not only did Tasburgh visit Linden, but Linden also made the return visit to Tasburgh. It was to be the first of many reciprocal visits. This coming together, is even more remarkable, because Linden, until that time, had only twinned with other Lindens.

The Burgermaster (centre), with the Mayors of the other four lindens

Tasburgh and linden representatives together for the formal twinning in July 1990

Alois & Mit Berghman-CornelisJules & Suzanne De Bent-StasBert & Mia Decneut-SchmidtWalter & Irène D’Haen-BeeckmanWilly & Hilde De Weerdt-De RooverLeon & Jacqueline Dewolf-Van Den EyndeGuy & Mia Leeten-Kauffman

Stefan & Chris Michaux-ZeegersAndre & Kristine MontaldFloribert & Nanine Oyen-Van BrusselRik & Lea Quintens-BuckinxChris & Chris Roegiers-AnrijsLuc & Hilda Schepers-Van BuytenJos & Gilly Swinnen-Nelissen

Jos & Chris Van Eylen-DepartJacques & Marie-Ann Van Outryve-PerquyYvan & Charlotte Vanthomme-BrouckeEmiel & Monique Vanzulpere-D’HulsterJos & Betty Wauters-ClarijsLouis & Anna Willekens-HendrickxLudo & Rita Zeegers-Michaux

Ken & Sylvia AlcockChris & Gayle Austin, Bob & Ann Barnes, Steve & Janice BeckettTim & June BraddockRoger & Helen BurnettJohn & Pat CrowleyFrieda FelthamMalcolm & Linda GraverNeville GreenRichard & Jackie Green

Alan & Joyce HarbordBrian & Carole HillRalph & Julie HuntAlan & Sue JonesCharlie MacDonaldAndy & Sue McRobertsGeoff & Angela MerchantDave & Pam MooreJohn & Margaret Nash

Richard & Karen OldmanKen & Billie RansomeKeith & Gill ReadBill RosePaul & Kathy SankeyMike & Jean ShurleyJohn & Daphne SimmondsIan & Viv TaylorJohn & Judy Varley

BElGIAN

EURolINk MEMBERS oVER THE TWENTY-fIVE YEARS

ENGlISH

fRIENdS No loNGER WITH US, BUT STIll IN oUR MEMoRIES

Ken Ransome

Pam Moore Sharon Moore Daphne Simmonds Tim Braddock

Billie Ransome Mia Decneut Anneleen Quintens

1989 - 19 visited on 1 September - Tour of Leuven, Reception at Linden Parish Hall and tractor ride1990 - Hoegaarden Brewery and Waterloo - Bressingham and Rainthorpe Hall The Official Twinning Ceremony took place at Linden. Linden Greets Linden (Belgium, Austria, Germany, France, Holland and Tasburgh) 1991 - Brussels and Brugge, meal at Holst Kasteel Thorpe Quay River Trip, tour round Norwich and Bar-B-Q at Village Hall Visit of the Landelijke Gilde of Linden to Tasburgh English Evening visited by Helen, Roger and Paul Burnett1992 - Inauguration of Tasburgh Village Sign in Linden - Linden greets Linden Leuven Sandringham and Norfolk Coast tour.1993 - Tractor Ride with garden reception chez Mit & Al, evening Play, with buffet meal in Linden Parish Hall English Evening visited by the Becketts, Alan Jones and Paul Sankey1994 - Banham Zoo and Cider House, Disco and Bar-B-Q, Players presented Hi de Hi show Linden greets Linden - A Youth Gathering1995 - Disco in Parish Hall1996 - Dunwich Walk with Fish and Chips, evening Barn Dance1997 - African Museum, evening Disco and Bar-B-Q in Linden Parish Hall1998 - Little stroll and Bramerton Woods End for lunch, Safari Supper in evening1999 - Botanical Gardens in Brussels and games evening in Linden Parish Hall2000 - Sheringham Park, Steam Train ride and evening at Rainthorpe Hall with presentation of Millenium glasses2001 - Technopolis, meal in Linden Parish Hall2002 - Shawsgate Vineyard, Framlingham Castle, Cheese and Wine evening chez Janice & Steve2003 - Leuven and meal in Linden Parish Hall with Live entertainment (Mr John)2004 - Norwich guided tour with lunch in Cathedral Refectory, evening at home chez Sue & Alan - bring a plate2005 - Tour of Mechelen, Bar-B-Q in evening2006 - Fish and Chips, Ceilidh with live band2007 - Japanese Garden, Hasselt and meal2008 - Sandringham House and Gardens, buffet evening chez Sue and Alan2009 - Presentation at Gemeentehuis of photos and scroll to commemorate the 20th Anniversary, guided tour of Lier2010 - Aylsham to Wroxham by train and then a 1½ hr riverboat cruise, Safari Supper in evening2011 - Tongeren with quiz, road train ride, and meal2012 - Bressingham and Hardwick Airfield with Players performing “‘allo ‘allo”2013 - Brewery Tour and talk with samples of a very unusual tasting beer. Horse and covered wagon ride, meal at Smithy and tour of paper-making watermill, afternoon tea of a local delicacy with another unusual beer! The 3rd Tasburgh plaque was formally handed over

EVENTS (see photographs within booklet)

Pushing the bus – English people know how to make other nationalities laugh whilst on a long journey! We were all seen bailing out and pushing the bus from dock to ferry and then ferry to dock on our way to visit Linden! The problem was eventually resolved, with the aid of a broom handle

Kate Varley fell into an inspection pit. The doctor who treated Kate was later seen in the entertainment provided dressed in a white sheet and laurel wreath! (Macbeth)

Luke’s house fire and rebuild – very unfortunately in 1991 Luke and Hilda lost their home in a terrible house fire. Thankfully no one was physically hurt. Eurolink members and friends supported them with their care and consideration, along with the replacement of some photographs for their albums!

Felixstowe to Zeebrugge - First major group visit, children in play area and adults played Trivial Pursuit, Pass the Pig etc. in Lounge

Navigation to Linden via the Brussels Ring is sometimes difficult for the English visitors!

Dutch classes – in order to make a big effort to understand, some of the British contingency decided to undertake Dutch classes with a teacher and the book

SPECIAl MEMoRIES

This is a message from the two of us,The ones at the sharp end, the front of the bus,To offer our thanks for your gifts so sweet.But please remember we shared your treat.

For us the weekend was a great time too,The company fine, the weather all blue,Problems we’d had were forgotten and past,When thankfully we got to Linden at last.

What lovely people we met over there,Ready to welcome, their homes to share,A weekend of laughter and bottles of beer,Of starting the bus and raising a cheer.

Remember Waterloo, the Lion on a mound,The exhibition building with picture all round,The ancient old bus with sick starter motor,The whack with the broom-handle to free the motor.

Will the kissing dance catch on over here?Or was it just caused by the strong Belgian beer.Some were reluctant to leave the floor,Geoff will remember that night for sure!

Richard’s speech in rhyme we enjoyed at the dance,So we thought this gives us an excellent chanceTo write our gratitude as a poem too,And express in verse our letter to you.

The pleasure will be ours if you ever agree,To let us again take you over the sea,A much better bus next time we’d hope for,Whenever you’re ready to do it once more!

ITEMS of INTEREST & CElEBRATIoNNewspaper cuttings etc

The Vistors book presented by Walter D’Haen from Linden Eurolink Committee & also the ‘Official Chain’The Tasburgh Eurolink

“Offical” Chain handed over in 1993 together with the spanner purchased at Dover to repair the windscreen wipers on the coach to get us home

1989 - First visit with a tour of Leuven & Reception at Linden Parish Hall

1990 - The first outward journey of the full Tasburgh Eurolink

1990 - Hoegaarden Brewery & Waterloo, Belgium - Bressingham & Rainthorpe Hall, Norfolk

1991 - An English Evening Brussels & Brugge, Belgium - River trip & Bar-B-Q, Norfolk

1992 - Handing over Plaque No.1, a visit to Leuven, Belgium - Sandringham, Norfolk

1993 - Tractor Ride with garden reception, evening Play with buffet meal

1994 - Banham Zoo, Hi-de-Hi show & Bar-B-Q

1994 - Linden greets Linden Youth Gathering

In 1994, Tim Braddock took a party of four Tasbugh boys to Belgium to join with the group of ‘Five Lindens’ for a ‘Youth Gathering’. They were Daniel Green, Simon Graver, Paul Beckett and Gareth Llewellyn.Sadly Gareth and Tim are no longer with us.

1996 - Dunwich walk & Barn Dance at Tasburgh

1995 - Disco in Parish Hall, Linden

1997 - African Museum, Brussels

1998 - Lunch at Bramerton Woods End & Safari supper

1999 - Botanical Gardens, Brussels & Games Evening at Linden Parish Hall

2000 - Sheringham Park, Poppy Line train, presentation of Millennium mug

2001 - Technopolis & meal in Linden Parish Hall

2002 - Framlingham Castle

2003 - Leuven, a meal at the Parish Hall, Linden with ‘Mr. John’

2004 - Norwich guided tour, lunch in Cathedral & ‘an evening at home’

2005 - Mechelen & an evening Bar-B-Q at Linden Parish Hall

2006 - Fish & chips & a Ceilidh with a live band

2007 - Japanese Garden, Hasselt & the handing over of Plaque No.2

2008 - Sandringham House visit

2009 - 20th Anniversary celebration at Gemeentehuis & tour of Lier

2010 - Aylsham to Wroxham by train & boat, an evening Safari Supper

2011 - Tongeren tour, quiz, train & dinner

2012 - Bressingham, Hardwick Airfield & ‘allo ‘allo

2013 - Brewery tour, horse & wagon ride, papermill tour & meals..... & Plaque No. 3

EXAMPlES of SoME of lINdEN’S ARTISTIC TAlENTS

Whilst the compilers have endeavoured to use photographs that show the greatest number of past and present members of Eurolink as possible, that aim is constrained by the images available to them. It is not their intention to overlook anybody, and sincerely apologise to anyone who is not mentioned or shown within this document. Although every effort has been made to verify the information within the booklet, they ask to be excused for any errors.

We have tried to remind everybody of events that we have all enjoyed, and to celebrate the tremendous achievements of the past 25 years.

Gratitude is expressed to all those who have contributed images, documents and information.

This booklet is based on an idea from Judy Varley, who with Linda Graver, was involved in bringing it to fruition.

Tasburgh has used various methods of fund-raising most of which have been very successful. These include Hyper-market trips, Raffles, Auction of Promises, Disco’s, Barn Dances, Wine Tastings, Safari Suppers and a Bonus Ball scheme based on the National Lottery.

fUNd RAISING

Tramps &

Tarts disco

Henley Regatta

disco

designed & produced by Tasburgh Eurolink