Published: Monday, 10th November, 2008 08:30
Burgh visitors celebrate town twinning success
By Fiona Howard
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VISIT: Councillors Andrew Nisbet and Al Reay take a stroll down the Boulevard Helensburgh.
HELENSBURGH Town Twinning Association celebrated their 25th anniversary with a trip to Thouars last week.
And among the events organised during the visit to France was the unveiling of a new plaque to Margaret of Scotland who was buried in St Laon Abbey, Thouars.
Joining the party for the trip were councillors Andrew Nisbet and Al Reay who paid for their own tickets in order the help mark the anniversary.
Councillor Nisbet said: “It was a very pleasant visit and the welcome we received was excellent. The mayor of the town welcomed us and we were very impressed by the reception we were given.
“It is a lovely area of France and it is a credit to the Twinning Association that they have maintained such good friendly links all these years and we are looking forward to welcoming our French guests to Helensburgh next year.”
Councillor Reay added: “I was very impressed by the friendly and highly organised way we were looked after. They were very welcoming. This was the first time in 15 years that representatives of the council have visited Thouars and we presented an Argyll and Bute Council plaque to the mayor.
“It was an excellent welcome and an excellent visit and we are looking forward to seeing them in Helensburgh next year.”
Twinning Association chairman Margaret MacInnes took four dancers from her dance school to Thouars, where they gave a number of displays. But the highlight for the lucky four, Esme-Francis Barr, Rebecca Hughes, Donna Stevens and Sarah Lyall, was at the airport on the way home!
They bumped into Eastenders actor Sid Owen (Ricky Butcher) on his way back from a visit to his restaurant in Poitiers, and seized the opportunity to ask for his autograph and have their photo taken.
Mrs MacInnes said: “We were delighted that the two councillors were willing to come along and help us lift the profile of the Twinning Association and see the excellent hospitality we are given every time we visit Thouars.
“It was a fantastic trip and we are really looking forward to the visit by the Thouars folk next year.”
l Margaret of Scotland was born in 1424 in Perth and died on August 16, 1445 in Chalons Surmarne, Marne, France. She was a Princess of the Kingdom of Scotland and Dauphine of France by her marriage to the future Louis XI of France.
She was born to James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland, and was an older sister to James II of Scotland, but died childless and was buried on November 16, 1479 in St Laon Abbey, Thouars.
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