The Hendreds Twinning Group (HTG) was established in late 1996, with the support of both East and West Hendred Parish Councils. The Committee made contact with Sarceaux, a village of similar size, on the outskirts of Argentan in Normandy.

Sarceaux - Town Hall

The first formal full scale exchange visit between the two communities was held in September 1997. The English version of the Twinning Charter was signed at a Celebration Dinner in Snells Hall, and Sarceaux was presented with a painting by a local artist (Beryl Maile) entitled 'Spirit of the White Horse'. In October 1997 40 members of the HTG returned to Sarceaux. The formal part of the visit included the signing of the French version of the Charter, and a presentation to Sarceaux of a photographic record of their visit to the Hendreds.

In May 1998 members of the HTG returned to Sarceaux, for an enjoyable weekend, which included visits to Hill 42 in the Falaise gap, to the Camembert Museum for a demonstration of cheese making, and a visit to a local Calvados Distillery and Museum.

Exchanges in 1999 included the French visiting the Hendreds in July , when activities included the Plough Fun-run, followed by a tour of the Cotswolds and visits to the Rutherford Laboratory. The return visit was held in October, when local attractions included a visit to a local cider and Calvados farm, a French chateau, and a trip to the ancient city of Domfort. On the return journey the group visited the main attractions in Caen, including the Abbaye des Dames and the Abbaye des Hommes.

The exchange in 2000 was held in early July with 35 French visiting the Hendreds. The main attraction was the visit to the Oxfordshire Special Millennium event in South Park Headington, with a procession including unique displays of historic features associated with Oxford, and culminating in a grand fireworks display. The visiting families were each presented with a Hendred Millennium china mug.

The visit to Sarceaux in July 2001 involved over 40 people from the Hendreds area. A copy of the ‘kissing gate’ in Snells was formally opened in memory of Claude Gravier who had been killed in a car crash earlier in that year. Visits included an antique car museum, Falaise Castle (birthplace of William the Conqueror) and a museum of working automata. There was also an excellent evening barbecue, and picnic lunch. On the return journey there was a visit to Honfleur.

In 2002 Sarceaux visited the Hendreds in July, following the village Golden Jubilee celebrations. Each French family received a Jubilee mug. It was also a celebration of the 5 th anniversary of twinning, so a special cake was cut at the evening barbecue, which included traditional games such as Aunt Sally and skittles. The main visit was to the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth, with an opportunity to see the Victory and other historic ships.

In 2003 The HTG visited Sarceaux, when the visits were to a nuclear research facility (GANIL), to a bell foundry at Villedieu and to Granville and its Aquarium. Presentations were also made of books from the two village schools to the Sarceaux headmaster. On the return journey the HTG members visited Honfleur.

 The exchange in 2000 was held in early July with 35 French visiting the Hendreds. The main attraction was the visit to the Oxfordshire Special Millennium event in South Park Headington, with a procession including unique displays of historic features associated with Oxford, culminating in a grand fireworks display. The visiting families were each presented with a Hendred Millennium china mug.

July 2004 saw 45 visitors from Sarceaux join in with their English host families for a week-end programme, which included a pig roast and traditional games on the Saturday evening. The main visit was to Warwick castle, to see the historic castle and its grounds and re-enactments of medieval activities in period costume.

Sporting exchanges between the two villages have included the Hendreds football team taking part in an annual local tournament in France, and special matches between the two teams, both in Sarceaux and the Hendreds. There is a regular programme of fund raising and social events between exchange visits.