Ron Smith - Reflections on Town Twinning

At their club meeting on Thursday 14^th, local member Ron Smith spoke of his 'Reflections on Town Twinning'. Following contact over the summer from another Borders town, Ron had been thinking back over his experiences in twinning and with school exchanges, from personal, educational and Council points of view. Examples were given of strong links which had been established between individual families but he spoke also of twinning's need for a broad base. He referred to the need for several 'points of contact', allowing different sectors of the community to become involved. The local Ex-Servicemen's Club had kept the link with Bailleul going for many years but changes in holiday patterns and the growth particularly of independent air and cruise travel has meant that coach travel to Bailleul has faded away. The original supporters of twinning are ageing and so he emphasised that the involvement of younger people is essential for the link with Bailleul to thrive. George Thorburn gave the Vote of Thanks.