The Knights’ Tale
THE KNIGHT’S TALE
“Les Chevaliers” (The knights) is a charitable organisation, created and run by volunteers, which helps disadvantaged people in the community, particularly handicapped children. We raise funds by organising social events at the Kursaal, the civic centre of Dunkerque.
Started in 1984, LE BAL DES CHEVALIERS (the Knights’ Ball) and LE SALON DES ANTIQUAIRES (the antiques fair) have proved to be an enormous success.
This encouraged the chevaliers to create another event – LE SALON DU VIN ET DE LA BIERE (The Wine and Beer Fair).
The original organisers visited the principal wine fairs of the time, the independent wine growers fair and the French wine co-operatives’ fair, both held in Paris, in order to try and recruit possible exhibitors and to convince the town dignitaries of the merits of the fair.
The task was not easy. The wine growers considered that going to Dunkerque was like “going to Scandinavia”, especially as the Dunkerquois were known for their love of beer. And of course the Knights had to convince the good citizens of Dunkerque to leave their beers, come and visit the wine growers at the Kursaal and taste their wines.
The first event was held on the last weekend of October 1987.
60 exhibitors and 2000 people attended.
Today, the salon has become justly recognised as a major event, more than 220 exhibitors and over 45000 people are expected to visit during the four days of the salon, from France, Holland, Belgium and England.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
“LES CHEVALIERS DU XXème SIECLE” redistribute the profits of the salon each year in the form of donations, purchase of materials or presents to handicapped children and adults. This year the aim is to donate €110,000.00. (€10,000.00 for the BAL DES CHEVALIERS).
The institutions listed below are particularly followed:
- The Nursery and adolescents of Maritime Hospital (Vent En Poupe) and the Institute VANCAUWENBERGHE of ZUYDCOOTE
- The center la Dune aux Pins of GHYVELDE and La Méridienne of DUNKERQUE
- The Foyer des Salines of SAINT POL SUR MER (A.P.F)
- Other associations of the town dedicated specifically to children with disabilities or underprivileged. (Papillons Blancs, AFEJI)
- Les Restaurants du Cœur, organisations Louise Michel and SEDIRE, the House of Blinds, les Petits Frères des Pauvres, Val des Roses, Hestia, Van EEGHEM…
THE KNIGHTS
Office members
Mr. DEMORTIER Jean Pierre (President)
Mr. JACQUES Dominique (Vice-President)
Mr. NERRIERE Michel (Treasurer/Assistant treasurer)
Mr. LAGOUCHE Jean Pierre (Treasurer/Assistant treasurer)
Mr. GOTTRAND Grégory (Secretary)
Mr. DEBERDT Eric (Commissaire aux Dons)
Mr. PIERRE Antoine (Technical Manager)
Mr. MACZKA Christian (Commissaire Manif.)
Mr. MADEC Guy (Defender of Regulation/Secretary)
Actives Members
Mr. ACCOU Jean-Marie
Mr. BAUDEN Jean-Pierre
Mr. CIROT Luc
Mr. CROCKEY Patrick
Mr. DECOOL Olivier (Trainee)
Mr. DECROIX Laurent
Mr. DEKEYSER Philippe
Mr. DELATTRE Gaël
Mr. DEROO Nicolas
Mr. DEVOS Pierre
Mr. FATOU Emmanuel
Mr. GUILBERT Michel (Trainee)
Mr. JUNOT Dominique
Mr. LEFEYER Jean-Pierre
Mr. LESCIEUX Jean-Pierre
Mr. LIBERT Pierre-Marie
Mr. LUCZYSZYN Eric
Mr. MESSIAEN Alain
Mr. MONSIGNY Patrick
Mr. NASRI Philippe
Mr. PAPEGAY Michel
Mr. PIRIOU Jean-Marc
Mr. REVEILLON Michel
Mr. REYNAERT Patrice
Mr. SOLER Manuel
Mr. TARTART Olivier
Mr. VALET Jean-Claude
Mr. VANBAELINGHEM Jean-Marie
Honoraries members
Mr. RAOULT Frédéric
Mr. RICHARD Jean-Pierre