A GROUP of French visitors enjoyed a successful trip to their twin town in Dawlish.

It was the latest in a long-standing ‘entente cordiale’ between Dawlish and its twin town of Carhaix-Plouger in Brittany.

The towns have been partnered since 1977.

The French guests enjoyed a busy three days sight-seeing, catching with old friends and making new ones.

Their arrival was marked by a civic reception at the Manor House, hosted by Dawlish Town Council and Dawlish Twinning Association.

New Mayor, Cllr Anthony James welcomed the visitors, praising the long-standing partnership which, he said, ‘engendered a spirit of unity, mutual respect, and shared understanding between peoples’.

He presented Marie-Laure Cloarec, President of Carhaix Twinning, with the town’s gift to Carhaix: a framed photo of two of the town’s iconic Black Swans by Neil Salter of Coast Cams.

Annie Seznec of Carhaix Twinning presented gifts for Westcliff Primary Academy and Dawlish College from the counterparts at two Carhaix schools.

Students from Years 8 and 10 at Dawlish College then impressed guests with a welcome speech in French on the theme of friendship and a poem by Raoul Follereau about the power of a smile.

Mme Seznec said: ‘The poem was wonderful! I love the message.

‘My pupils used to learn it by heart at the start of the school year.’

A buffet lunch, prepared by members of Dawlish WI, gave a chance for Dawlish and French twinners to meet and catch up.

The visitors then had a chance to see the Dittos Trail tour.

Last year, the Dawlish gift to Carhaix was a specially-commissioned Ditto house.

The visitors spent the rest of their weekend with their respective hosts before meeting up for a celebration meal at Teignmouth Golf Club.

Anyone are interested in joining Dawlish Twinning Association, contact Alison Thomas: [email protected]; 07947 060130.