A DELEGATION from Monmouth travelled to France last weekend to mark 40 years of the town's twinning with Carbonne.

Travelling on the 40th anniversary of the inaugural event, which coincided with Prince Charles' visit to Monmouth in July 1975, from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th July, the party of 32 twinning enthusiasts celebrated the milestone with friends in Carbonne.

During the weekend, old friendships were renewed and new ones made. The Mayor of Carbonne Bernard Bros welcomed the group at the Mairie and spoke movingly of the support and enthusiasm that the previous Mayor, Guy Hellé, gave over more than 30 years to the twinning of the two towns.

Guy was an honorary citizen of Monmouth and the document conferring this honour has been installed by the new mayor in the Carbonne council chamber.

M. Bros hopes to visit Monmouth very soon, accompanied by his deputy, Ali Benafra.

On Friday 17th July, the Monmouth visitors had a fascinating visit to the national bell museum at Isle Jourdain, while on the next day, the group were in the Pyrenees visiting a traditional pottery.

This was followed by lunch at the Hospice de France in the Pyrenees, which was a safe house for fighters moving between France and Spain in both the Spanish civil war and the Second World War. The day ended with a guided tour of the thermal spa at Bagnères-de-Luchon.

On Sunday, the anniversary celebrations culminated in a celebration lunch at the salle de fêtes and the presentation of a specially commissioned plate in Martres-Tolosane pottery (pictured), a thoughtful counterpart to the soup tureen presented to Monmouth on the first visit in 1975. Each member of the Monmouth delegation was presented with a small version of the plate.

Christian Lacombe, president of the Carbonne twinning committee, thanked everyone for making the visit such a success.

In his reply, Mike Hargaden, spoke movingly of the friendship which the link fosters between the peoples of Europe, especially during these difficult times for the European Union.

At the end of the official part of the proceedings, Christian Lacombe, on behalf of the Mayor of Carbonne, welcomed Mike Hargaden, the current president of the Monmouth twinning committee as an honorary citizen of Carbonne in recognition of his commitment to the twinning movement.

The strong links between the citizens of Monmouth and Carbonne over the past 40 years have had a very positive impact on both towns.

There have been cultural visits, school exchanges, football and rugby tours, a conference on volunteering involving Carbonne's other twin towns and the Spanish twin town of neighbouring Rieux, as well as regular visits in both directions organised by the two twinning committees.

To find out more about the twinning association, contact the twinning secretary Marilyn Jones on [email protected]">[email protected]