Last updated at 12:52, Friday, 26 October 2012

Big celebrations are planned for Cockermouth’s 30th anniversary twinning celebration with the French town of Marvejols next October.

The 29th twinning visit will take place next week when 48 people from Cockermouth’s twin town come to spend a week.

They will attend a civic reception in the Town Hall and an anniversary celebration at the Hundith Hill Hotel on Wednesday.

A special event is being planned for October next year when it is hoped that as many people from Cockermouth will travel over to France for the 30th anniversary of the successful link-up.

Sheila Brown, town clerk and secretary of the twinning committee, said: “The people from Marvejols are putting a lot of money towards making next year’s celebration extra special.

“They are keeping the exact details under wraps but they have said that one of the highlights of the trip will be a presentation of a photographic montage which will feature pictures of everything that has gone on over the past 30 years.”

Mrs Brown wanted to make it clear that the trip was open to anyone wanting to attend.

She hoped that as many people as possible would travel to France next year to make the anniversary celebrations an event to remember.

She was proud that the links between the two towns remained strong after 30 years.

She said: “It is a fantastic achievement given the awards we have collected along the way, including the Europe prize which we got in 2000 which is very prestigious as it usually big international cities that get it.

“The twinning links are as strong as ever despite them waning in other areas, and we have five or six exchanges a year in addition to the main twinning visit.

“It has been a massive benefit to the town and you just have to look at how good the secondary and primary schools are doing in French to see that.”

Anyone wishing to take part in the trip to Marvejols next October can contact Mrs Brown on 01900 821869.

First published at 11:49, Friday, 26 October 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk