LE COURRIER

Picard

May 15, 2000

EU: ONE THOUSAND YEARS FOR A FAMILY

Two hundred members of the thousand years old Saint Leger family met each other at Eu Saturday, May 13, 2000. Some came from Australia and South Africa.

Over two hundred persons of the de Saint Leger family came to celebrate the millenium of their family name at Eu. Some stayed over the weekend. Two hundred persons of all ages - there were many young ones and also children - came principally from Europe (France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland), and also from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and the United States. The de Saint Leger family is of Norman origin . Robert de Saint Leger went with the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror from Saint-Valery-sur-Somme to conquer England in 1066. With Robert, third Count of Eu, de Saint Leger will find glory on British soil as Francois Gouet, the mayor of Eu mentioned in the morning in the "Salle du Carrosse" (Hall of the Carriage) of the chateau of Eu. The mayor was delighted to receive within the walls of the royal town of Eu, the direct descendants of a man who fought and saw "the blood of these ferocious conquerors of the foggy North, these Vikings who, 150 years earlier, had created in the West and South of Europe and Asia, a new Empire." Adorned by his tricolored mayoral sash, symbol of the elected republican, Francois Gouet, mentioned the history of the Saint Leger family in front of the guests and of the Countess of Paris.

Earlier in the day, after the church service, the passage "Robert de Saint Leger" was inaugurated.

Internet Site

The mayor also reminded the guests that "By the side of the Norman beach, there are traces of the noble family of the de Saint Legers " such as Saint-Leger-aux-Bois and Saint-Leger-sur-Bresle.

On the occasion of the reunion at Eu of the Saint Leger descendants, the town of Eu and the Office of Tourism prepared many sightseeing tours for those who wanted to discover the region. The contacts with Saint-Leger-aux-Bois and Saint-Leger-sur Bresle were warmly received. For many, it was an opportunity to discover the Norman city, the littoral and the backdrop of the country.

To organize this grand and large reunion, the initiator of this project, Dominique de Saint Leger created an Internet site (www.desaintleger.com). With a brief historic account, a diaporama utilizing the latest technology , and emphasis on the sponsors who helped with this reunion, the site and the email addresses were very useful for contacts, informed us Dominique de Saint Leger.

A good number of the participants indicated that they will come back. That weekend, the town of Eu succeeded in reaching beyond the European frontiers.

Economic Side Effects

Ninety Saint Legers stayed on to discover the region. They passed two nights while some thirty of them stayed yet a day longer. All their shopping was done locally.

Delighted by the general reception, the participants discovered, they said, a town which conquered them and to which they will return.

To organize this reunion, seven hundred persons were contacted, mostly via the Internet. In addition to the presence of the descendants of the Saint Leger family from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., Ireland and Germany, the French branch was well represented. It came primarily from the South-East and also from the area Rhone-Alps.

D.D.