History of Association

The village of Launton,Oxfordshire (population about 1200) twinned with the commune of Gavray, Manche (population about 2,000) in 1986. The two communities are very different. Launton is a village: Gavray is a small market town serving a large rural area. Launton has two pubs, a few shops and a primary school. Gavray has a High School a long street of shops and a market place, bars and cafes and an industrial zone. Strong ties have developed between the inhabitants of the two places.
The twinning charters were signed during the visits between the two communities. Launton’s copies are in the Parish Hall and set out the aims of the twinning:
To foster and develop mutual understanding and respect between the people of Launton and Gavray
To encourage and assist youth and adult organisations, clubs, groups and all classes of persons in Launton and Gavray to communicate and exchange visits with each other thereby developing human and cultural relations and establishing a firm foundation for future understanding respect and friendship between the people of Launton and Gavray for all time.
Gavray is about 60 miles (96km.) south of Cherbourg, in the south west of the Cotentin peninsular. It is about 12 miles (19km.) from the sea at Granville-sur-Mer. The tourist centre of Mont St.Michel is 30 miles (48km.) to the south west, and the D-Day beaches are about 40 miles (64km.) to the north east.
The nearest city is Caen, and Gavray is only about an hour's drive from Bayeaux and the famous tapestry.