The Lymington & District Twinning Association
The LITA was originally formed in 1981. Through exchange visits, the Lymington & District International Twinning Association fosters friendships between the people of the Lymington area and those of each of our three twin towns (Vitré/France, Almansa/Spain, and Mosbach/Germany).  It supports community and civic links, and organises social events as well as French, Spanish and German Conversation Groups for its members.

Twinned Towns
Lymington is twinned with Almansa in Spain, Mosbach in Germany, and Vitré in France (see below for details and weblinks for the towns).

Twin-town Visits
To Vitré: 21-25 May 2010
From Mosbach: 22-26 April 2010
2011 - Our 30th Anniversary of Lymington & District's Town Twinning with Vitre, and festivities are being planned to celebrate this special event during a visit from our French twins, along with delegates from Almansa and Mosbach.
2011 - There will also be a visit from our Almansa friends (postponed from 2010).

LITA Contact Details
Tel: 01590 681746
Email
Website
LITA Newsletter Nov-2009 PDF (1.1 MB)
Feb 2010 Bulletin PDF (520 KB)
LITA Brochure PDF (2.3 MB)
Application for Membership Word Doc (24 KB)

Exchange Visits
We visit Vitré and Mosbach every two years, and in the intervening years they visit us. Exchanges with Almansa take place every two years. Forthcoming visits are publicised in our newsletters and on the website. 

Local people in our Twin Towns accommodate us as their guests when we visit, and we return the hospitality when they come to us. In this way, members can experience at first-hand life in another European household, and become familiar with their hosts’ lifestyle. Being unable to accommodate guest(s) in your own home does not rule out joining our trips abroad, as you can contribute towards the activities of LITA in other ways - for example, by helping out with social events.

We provide scope for people of all ages and backgrounds, individuals as well as families.  If you don’t speak the foreign language, you will be linked with a host/guest who speaks English. There is often a mix of English and the foreign langauge, helped along by sign language and a lot of laughter!  On every visit, organised (but optional) communal activities include a civic reception to welcome the visitors, one or more day outings to local tourist attraction(s), and an informal social evening with a meal. For the rest of the time, guests are entertained by their hosts.

Other Activities
We organise a wide variety of enjoyable social events during the year: some fund-raisers, some with entertainment, some linking with other community organisations. In this way, we function very much as a “club” as well as an association: members get to know each other and new friendships are forged through the pursuit of a shared interest.

Conversation Groups
For those wishing to improve their spoken French, Spanish or German, we run monthly conversation groups for members
Café, croissants et causette is enjoyed monthly at a local French bistro.
A Spanish Tertulia is held in the home of a member.
The German Stammtisch is held one evening a month at a local pub.
New for 2010 - Beginners’ French Class for LITA & BTA members In response to enquiries from several members, we have asked Caroline Warwick-Smith, a LITA member who teaches French professionally, if she would offer a Beginners Class. The emphasis would be on building conversational skills, but include necessary vocab and grammar tuition. The class can be for up to 8 people, and the cost reasonable (the more people, the less the cost); timing and frequency by mutual consent and to be held at Caroline?s house in Lymington. Those interested, please contact Caroline direct: 01590 689689 or carolineera@btopenworld.com

Membership
Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of the Association.
Annual Subscription: £15 individual; £25 couple/family. 
To apply for membership complete and return the application form, together with your membership subscription. 
Download Application for Membership Word Document (24 KB)

Affiliations
LITA undertakes its activities on behalf of the Lymington & Pennington Town Council, as well as on behalf of the community.  LITA is affiliated to the Lymington Community Association

Vitre
The best preserved medieval town in Brittany, Vitré is located 20 miles east of the capital Rennes.  Its imposing fortress-castle and ramparts, and its colourful half-timbered houses, hark back to the prosperous days of wool and cloth merchants.  Our link with Vitré was established in 1981.
website more pictures

Almansa
Located 50 miles inland from Alicante, Almansa nestles beneath a dramatic hilltop castle. The town is famous for its weeklong May Fiesta, featuring processions and re-enactments with Moors and Christians in spectacular costumes. We have been twinned with Almansa since 1993.  
website more pictures

Mosbach
Mosbach is in the Neckar Valley near Heidelburg, surrounded by a hilly, wooded landscape dotted with romantic castles. The pedestrianised medieval Old Town has many splendidly restored half-timbered houses, and interesting museums. Our twinning link with Mosbach dates back to 1998.  
website more pictures