One of the great success stories of community involvement in recent times has been the twinning of Bourne with Doudeville in France twenty-five years ago. 

During that time, the inhabitants of these two small towns on either side of the English Channel have fraternised and become close friends, learned about each others lives and families, hopes and fears, and in doing so have discovered that people are more or less the same the world over, separated only by differences in language.  

Twinning burgeoned after the Second World War of 1939-45 and became the catalyst for the peoples of many nations to befriend others around the world and to become familiar with their way of life, their customs and their heritage.

The object of this international arrangement was to enable two towns in different countries, usually similar in some way, such as size or industrial make-up, to become formally associated by engaging in reciprocal cultural visits to ensure that their ties become closer as the years progressed. Bourne came late to twinning and it was only in 1989 that links were established with Doudeville, more of a large village than a town, and situated about thirty miles inland from Dieppe in Normandy.

It began with an exchange visit between the Robert Manning School (now the Bourne Academy) and the senior school in Doudeville. Then in October 1989, a coach took visitors from Bourne to the French town where the twinning agreement was signed on parchment by the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Mrs Mary Parker (1926-2004), and the Mayor of Doudeville, M Raymond Laroche, and the two civic leaders became firm friends for many years to come.  

Copies of the twinning document were retained in the archives of both towns as a reminder of the standards they set and the values they intended to observe in helping contribute to the peace, harmony and prosperity of a united Europe.

Bourne Twinning Association which was formed to organise the link, eventually had 80 members and the tenth anniversary was marked at the end of May 1999 with a trip across the English Channel for a long weekend with members bearing gifts for their hosts to celebrate the occasion, a glass paperweight for each of the 28 hosting families and a magnificent rose bowl for the civic collection in Doudeville Town Hall, all engraved by the Hanthorpe artist Terry Barnatt.  

The rose bowl was covered with scenes of the Red Hall, the Abbey Church, Baldock's Mill and local wildlife including a deer and a pheasant. Thirty-eight members of the association who made the trip arrived in Doudeville to find a red carpet rolled out in their honour and the town festooned with flags and coloured balloons.  

They were royally entertained by the welcoming party who kept the champagne flowing throughout their stay and during the celebrations when the town band played and the Mayor of Doudeville, M Louison Tartarin, signed friendship documents with Councillor Mrs Marjorie Clark (1919-2007), who was then the Mayor of Bourne (pictured above).  

Further exchanges marked the millennium year 2000 when French families came to Bourne and were presented with a tapestry to hang in the town hall at Doudeville. It was designed by Bill Normington, a good friend of the association, and worked by others with nimble fingers, consisting of twelve squares showing important buildings in Bourne and the town's coat of arms. 

The association celebrated its 20th anniversary with a long weekend visit by coach to Doudeville, once again taking gifts for their hosts, this time a large framed mirror to hang in the newly refurbished town hall and bearing the coat of arms of both towns together with the dates 1989-2009.

These activities were all the more commendable when you realise that the association was entirely independent and received no public money and was responsible for its own fund raising with events throughout the year that not only came up with the required cash but also kept the members keen and enthusiastic about their Gallic friends. The English are reputed to have a reluctance to learn foreign languages but this did not present a social obstacle during the many exchange visits.  

The association was always on the lookout for new recruits, whether they were singles, couples or families, but many were not sure whether they would enjoy it and were reluctant to take that first step towards membership. Former secretary and stalwart member Mrs Betty James was always ready to dispel any doubts. “We tried to find people who enjoyed France and the French way of life”, she said, “families with children who were learning French at school and those who fancied taking it up as a hobby, people who loved their food, retired people who had time to pursue their dreams and those folk who just liked a bit of fun in their lives. To summarise, anyone and everyone was welcome, newcomers to the town particularly because twinning was a wonderful way of getting to know people and they would not feel newcomers for very much longer.” 

Betty was always quick to dispel any misgivings people may have had about a possible language barrier. "These problems just did not exist“, she said. “Somehow, we all managed to understand each other, often resulting in hilarious situations with lots of laughter. Our association was just like one big happy family and although fund raising was an ongoing necessity, these enjoyable get-togethers ensured that members on both sides of the Channel keep in regular contact to ensure that the twinning flame continued to burn brightly in Bourne.” 

Now it has ended. Times have changed, communications through international travel and the Internet have made contact easier while economic conditions have added to the problems of many families and swapping visits no longer has the same appeal.  

The Bourne Twinning Association has therefore decided to close and its funds have been distributed to various local charities although the town will continue to maintain links with Doudeville but on a more informal basis although it is certain that the entente cordiale established between families on both sides of the channel will never be lost.