Newbury Twin Town Association travels to Bagnols sur Cèze in the South of France to celebrate Newbury’s 50-year link to the town

Newbury celebrated its 50-year link to a French town with a trip across the Channel to meet our continental counterparts.

Newbury mayor Nigel Foot and mayoress Sarah Slack led a team of 20 people to the South of France on the May bank holiday weekend to mark half a century of Newbury twinning with Bagnols sur Cèze.

The Newbury Twin Town Association group visited local tourist destinations, enjoyed the best of the region’s food and spent time with their host families.

On Friday, May 3, the group were treated to a visit to the Cocalière Caves – more than a kilometre of stunning limestone stalactites and stalagmites reflected in underwater lakes – and a museum within a disused coal mine.

Saturday morning saw the official celebration of twinning at the town hall in Bagnols, followed by a visit to the well-stocked art gallery on the second floor which included works by Matisse, Rodin and Picasso.

Guests were taken by their host families to a variety of different spots in the afternoon, but everyone came together for a dinner dance in the evening.

The dance was also attended by guests from six other European towns; Eeklo in Belgium, Braunfels in Germany, Carcaixent in Spain and Feltre in Italy (all twinned with Newbury), as well as Kiskunfélegyháza in Hungary and Zamosc in Poland.

Newbury Twin Town Association chair Gillian Durrant said: “The weather was at its best on Sunday for a picnic in a meadow under a shaded arbour.

“The hosts brought delicious dishes for all to share, including a basket full of freshly picked cherries.

“As ever, there were heartfelt goodbyes on Sunday evening, prior to the early departure for a flight back to England.”

The Newbury Twin Town Association will be hosting more than 40 guests from its twin and associate towns in July, for the celebration of 60 years of twinning with Braunfels in Germany.

To find out more about the association, visit its website at http://www.newburytwintown.co.uk/