Friday 16th January 2026: French Film Night with “En Fanfare”
The Chorleywood Film Club is back for its first screening of 2026 on 16th January with The Marching Band (En Fanfare, 2024, 103 mns, 15) – 2024 smash hit French comedy drama directed by Emmanuel Courcol, starring St Benjamin Lavernhe, Pierre Lottin and Sarah Suco. This is a joint initiative with Chorleywood’s Twinning Association and you will be entertained with a few French chansons performed live before the screening.
Thibaut is an internationally renowned conductor who travels the world. When he learns he was adopted, he discovers the existence of a younger brother, Jimmy, who works in a school cafeteria and plays the trombone in a small marching band. Everything seems to set them apart, except their love of music. Sensing his brother’s exceptional talent, Thibaut decides to remedy the injustice of fate. Jimmy begins to dream of a different life….
The screening takes place at the Chorleywood Memorial Hall. Doors open at 7.30pm and the film starts at 8pm. Tickets (adults £7; U18s: £5) are now available online, in person from the Chorleywood bookshop and on the door, subject to availability.
Language: French with English subtitles
Adult tickets (£7)
Under 18s tickets (£5)
Tuesday 2nd December 2025: Christmas supper
We would like to arrange a Christmas dinner for members and this year have decided to use the restaurant at West Herts college, where the catering students prepare and serve the food. In collaboration with the Rickmansworth U3A group, some of our members participated in a French-themed dinner at the college a few years ago which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.
We have reserved 20 places for Tuesday 2nd December commencing at 6.30pm for a 3-course Christmas menu with mulled wine and the price will be £27 per person. We can extend this number but first we need to establish how many of our members are interested.
Therefore, please can you email Richard Foster (richard.foster31@btinternet.com), copy in Kathy Walton (kathy.miller@btinternet.com), if you would like to go stating numbers and any dietary requirements. Although it’s some way off we do need to confirm numbers to West Herts asap since they get booked up very quickly.
Sunday 12th October 2025, 4pm: French Film afternoon
Back by popular demand!
- Arrive 4pm
- Film: “Etre et Avoir” (Nicolas Philibert’s acclaimed education documentary – trailer below);
- Tea/coffee and biscuits beforehand (any fancy teas, please bring);
- 10 spaces – first come, first served
If you’d like to attend please email Caroline at the following: twinning@tumblewood.co.uk
Sunday 21st September 2025, 2.30pm: Family walk combined with a Treasure Hunt on Chorleywood Common (clues in French!)
We had a well-attended outdoor event on Sunday afternoon 21st September 2:30 pm:- Family walk combined with a Treasure Hunt on Chorleywood Common (clues in French!).
Friends and family were welcome and groups were encouraged to participate. Several bilingual families took part. The weather was ideal for the hunt: sun, sun and more sun! We all met at the Chorleywood Golf Club car park and as soon as the whistle blew, all groups started racing across the Common. The clues (all in French) had been expertly composed by Anne and Caroline and hidden in jam jars in various child-friendly places on the Common. The hunt was supposed to last between 1 1/2 and 2 hours but the participants’ enthusiasm was such that the first group arrived at the final meeting point about 45 mns after the start. The children in the first four groups to reach the meeting point were given beautiful Oxford University mugs by the Twinning Association and most of us then went to the Rose and Crown for drinks afterwards.
Yearly (July): Chorleywood Village Days
Like every year, the Chorleywood Twinning Association had a stall at the Chorleywood Village Day 2024 on Saturday 13th July. We will be back in 2025 and please come and chat to us about our exchange visits, and give us your suggestions about events you’d like us to organize…
CANCELLED – Saturday 27th July – Family Treasure Hunt and Bring-Your-Own-Picnic on Chorleywood Common
Unfortunately we have made the decision to cancel the Treasure Hunt on Saturday 27th July. Thank you for your understanding.
Yearly (Late August): Annual Pétanque
We are grateful to two of our members who continue to host this annual event on their gravel drive. Budding pétanque players play in a knock out format until the grand final produces a champion team! No Pétanque afternoon would be complete without a glass or two of Domaine les Caizergues wine supplied by two of our members. After the games, everyone enjoys some ‘bring and share’ culinary offerings to which members contribute. This year’s Pétanque afternoon will take place on Neil and Joss’s large gravel driveway on Sunday 25th August from 2pm (2.30pm start).
We anticipate 2-3 hours of playing time in an informal team format and similar to before, the games will be accompanied by a few drinks and light snacks. Petanque sets will be provided for the games. All members plus their family and friends are invited and the price will be £5 per adult (payable to: A/C name: Chorleywood Twinning Association Sort Code: 40-45-27 A/C no: 12245906 (children are free). To limit the charge, we once again are asking attendees to bring alone a plate of food for sharing e.g. cheeses, baguettes, quiches, charcuterie, salads, light deserts/cakes etc. plus any drinks that take your fancy, other than wine. We will provide a few bottles of French wine so that everyone can have a glass if they wish (wine glasses will be provided). If you would like to join us a for a few hours playing or just watching, then please contact Richard (richard.foster31@btinternet.com) with the following information:
- if you can attend and numbers;
- advising what you can offer to bring and share in the way of food/drink
The other potential factor is the weather so in the event of adverse conditions we may have to postpone/cancel at short notice.
Sunday 22nd September 2024 – Film Evening
We plan to hold another film evening on Sunday 22nd September commencing at 3.30pm where we will show a French film (to be decided). One of our members in Chorleywood has kindly offered to host this. Do come along for a relaxed afternoon of tea and cake and film watching. There are 10 spaces available, so please email or phone Caroline if you wish to attend (twinning@tumblewood.co.uk). Once you have confirmed you will be given details of the venue.
Yearly: Parish Council Quiz
CTA have a table of 8 people for this annual quiz at the Memorial Hall which benefits local associations and charities. It’s always a great evening, whilst at the same time raising funds for the Association.
Chorleywood Parish Council will be holding its annual Charity Quiz Night, Auction & Supper on Saturday 23 November 2024 at The War Memorial Hall. The association have requested a table for this popular event and the format will be similar to previous years including the quiz, a short auction of promises, a selection of cheeses/patés with French Bread, fruit, & nibbles. Finish at approx. 11pm. The price will be £16 per head. We can have a maximum of 8 persons on the table so please email richard.foster31@btinternet.com if you would like to come.
June 2023: Paris in a Jazz Age, Watford Pumphouse
An enjoyable evening of jazz in cafe style seating at the Watford Pumphouse, where the atmosphere of a Parisian jazz club had been recreated by Airlie Scott and her band The Hot Jazz Vagabonds who entertained us with French chanson and American songbook numbers.
September 2022 and October 2023: Music Evenings at Chorleywood Golf Club
Entertained by musicians from a local band together with renditions of classic French songs courtesy of one of our members. Fantastic music, great venue and good food.
Chorleywood Twinning Association 