Monmouth Town Council has awarded a generous grant to support the visit by residents of the French Twin Town Carbonne to Monmouth in May 2027.

Many Monmouth folk will have been touched by Monmouth-Carbonne Twinning activities over the past 51 years. Cultural and sporting exchanges, penpal arrangements between schools, and firm friendships between residents have made for lasting memories and enriched lives.

Friends, it is said, are those who are there when you need them most. Earlier this year following Monmouth’s devastating floods the Mayor of Carbonne’s office donated 2,000 Euros to the Monmouth Mayor’s flood relief fund and 1,500 Euros to Osbaston School’s flood recovery fund, with individual Carbonne citizens adding to this through generous personal contributions.

Every two years, one side of the twinning hosts the other, and in 2027 it will be Monmouth’s turn to invite. ‘The grant of £2,400 from the Town Council will mean that we can welcome our French guests next year in style, and show off the best that Monmouth has to offer,’ commented Marilyn Jones, Chair of the Twinning organisation. ‘We want to use this opportunity to say a big thank-you for Carbonne’s generosity following the floods. While we aim to keep costs to the minimum with households in Monmouth putting up Carbonne visitors in their own homes, the special events and activities we have planned do need this extra support from the council.’

While detailed plans are still in development, there are hear rumours of pétanque and croquet challenges, cultural visits - and a town banquet at Castle House!

Anyone with an interest in exploring the human side of French culture and language, and taking part in the activities planned for next May’s visit, is welcome to find out more from www.monmouthcarbonne.org.