You will be emailed details of how to pay by cheque or by Bank transfer, when reserving your tickets.
French Film Afternoon – 21 January 2026
Category Archives: photo
What a Success!
Our Whist and French supper evening proved a great success. We were served a choice of homemade french courgette soup or butternut squash soup with fresh baguettes, cheese and pate.
This was followed by a game of Military whist, where after each game players moved round allowing for conversation in between each game.
The games where quick to play and players lost their countries flag if the lost. One couple where the out right winners, having gained the most amount of flags.
There were substantial raffle prizes including a bottle of whisky. Altogether the evening raised £450 towards our expenses when Les Amicale visit next year.
French Supper & whist evening
email: friendsofnevers@gmail.com for more details
AGM & Quiz March 2025
Farewell Andrea
On Friday the 7th of March we held our AGM. Sadly Andrea resigned as chairperson. A significant event as she had been the first chairperson when the Friends of nevers had started official exchanges with people in Nevers in 1984. After a break she returned as chairperson in 2019. Since Covid, Andrea has helped us organise a Murder Mystery in a French Chateau. Our Jazz Cafe soiree, including a little skit with Rene. The fifthieth Anniversary which included a barn dance enjoyed by all and a visit to Oxford. Andrea told us about some of the highlights of her membership, and was given a small gift as a token of the Societies appreciation. After the AGM some of our members paid tribute to Andrea in a song. After the AGM we had a bring and share supper and a quiz.
AGM & QUIZ NIGHT – 7th March
Come and join us to
have your say at our Annual General Meeting,
share a Potluck dinner
before putting your little grey cells to the test
in our friendly General Quiz
Friday 7 March 2025 at 7.00pm*
St Mary’s Church Hall, 1 Sherwood Avenue, St Albans, AL4 9QA
£10 for members / £12 for non-members
*AGM will start at 7.00pm/ Social Evening will start at ± 7.45pm
To book your place(s), email bernadette.chezelle@gmail.com by
5 March, indicating your name, how many tickets you require and
your method of payment. It would be helpful if you could also mention whether you will be bringing a savoury or a sweet dish to share.
Parking information
Please check the local parking restrictions. Avoid the
free parking at the Quadrant car park (maximum stay 3 hours).
There is an unrestricted car park near the Baptist Free Church on
Sherwood Avenue AL4 9QL.
Jazz Soiree Social evening
Our Jazz Soiree on Friday 22nd November went with a swing thanks to the BSV Jazz Band. The french cafe feel was enhanced by the decorations and prescence of some charactures from the 1980’s sit com ‘Allo ‘Allo. Guests enjoyed a supper of a mixture of french cheeses and characuterie, accompanied by french bread and some salad. The Jazz band helped to provide a convival atmosphere and included some french classics such as Je ne regrette rien in their repetoire. The consumption of wine from the bar may have helped encourage some members to dance.A good time was had by all, as you can see below.
50 years of Fun & Friendship – Celebrated in St. Albans
A weekend to remember
The Friends of Nevers celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the twinning with Nevers in June. The long weekend was packed full of activities for the 20 visitors from Nevers.
The weekend started with a reception at the civic centre. This included a speech by our chairperson Andrea Berry who looked back at the different activities and changes that have taken place (including of course the challenges of Brexit and Covid). Andrea had the distinction of being the first chairperson of the Friends of nevers, which gave her a unique perspective. Claudine Boussard, the president of the Amicale replied on behalf of the Nevers visitors.
The council had the flags of the two countries on display along with the gifts recieved over the years. There was also a display of photographs and newspaper cuttings to remind us of previous events.
In the evening we also had a Barn dance with a fish and chip supper. The Brookfield Band and caller gave us a wonderful evening to remember with everyone joining in the dancing.
On the Saturday our visitors had the opportunity to find out more about the history of St. Albans with a tour of the women connected to St. Albans Abbey. In the afternoon there was a very entertaining tour of the Roman Museum and St. Michaels church and village given by John Morewood.
Sunday morning saw 45 of us gathering in St Albans bright and early for our day in Oxford. This included the opportunity for a brief look at the Ashmolean Museum before starting on a tour of the Oxford colleges – there was a choice of a French or English tour. This culminated in the Botanical gardens where we had had a picnic lunch. During the afternoon some people attempted to punt on the river others prefered to continue to absorb the sights of Oxford.
After a busy day we ended with a relaxing drink and meal at the Trout inn, before the coach ride home.
Who will be King?
A review of our January social evening.
Throughout January in France you will often see for sale the Galette des Rois. This delicious dessert is traditionally eaten on January 6th (Epipheny) to selebrate the arrival of the 3 kings in Bethleham. It normally contains a feve – traditionally a bean but nowadays a small figurine. Whoever gets the piece with the feve in is crowned King for the evening. The crown is normally given when a galette is brought.
A collection of feves that could be hidden in the galette.
At our social evening on 29 January we were entertained by Bernadette, a member of our committee, who demonstrated how to make a Galette des Rois. In addition she told us about the fascinating history of the galette that dates back to Roman times.
The galette was served as a dessert after an extensive bring and share supper, which included salads, couscous, pizza and cheese. Guests recieved a complimentry glass of kir.
After the supper, guests took part in a fun quiz with questions around the french kings. The evening was finished off with a raffle. A good time was had by all. The money raised will go towards subsidising the visit to St Albans in June by Les Amicales from Nevers, when we will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the twinning with Nevers.
Wine tasting evening a success
We enjoyed a great evening last Saturday 23 September. Flagship wines provided us with 6 red and white wines from the Loire region. Julia gave us an informative talk about the wines. and a selection of cheeses, charcuterie and olives helped us to appreciate their flavours. Nearly 40 people attended.
COME TO OUR LOIRE VINEYARD
Saturday February 11th 2023 at 7pm
AND HELP US SOLVE OUR
MURDER MYSTERY
Friends of Nevers AGM and Entertainment
A FISH AND CHIP SUPPER*
will follow the AGM at 7.45pm
Followed by a murder Mystery for you to solve.
*Please advise if you require the vegetarian halloumi option.
There will also be a RAFFLE, so bring some cash for tickets.
St. Mary’s Church Hall, Sherwood Road,
St Albans, AL4 9QA
Please check the local parking restrictions. 3 hours only 24/7 at Quadrant car park
To book tickets please email mkoprow10@gmail.com
Friends of Nevers 