We love Le Havre

It was 30 years ago and the whiff of French culture and cuisine blew into Southampton from the city's continental neighbour, Le Havre on the other side of the Channel.

In those days the entente could not have been more cordiale as, after much discussion, the two great ports signed a Declaration of Friendship to officially twin.

They were heady days when Southampton people were anxious to experience the pavement cafes and good living in France and their Le Havre counterparts keen to cross the Channel to enjoy English pubs and shopping in Marks & Spencer.

This year, three decades later, that association still exists although it has evolved and changed over time and in September the anniversary of the link will be celebrated in a series of events in Southampton.

Today the idea of twinning has radically altered and the city, with the help of European Union funding, is now busy establishing a different style of overseas partnerships.

This new generation of twinnings concentrates on specific projects with the associates sharing common expertise and knowledge to produce understanding and developments that will benefit all those who have taken part in the enterprise.

For example, Southampton is now reaching out towards cities that include Bremen in Germany, Bilbao in Spain, Cherbourg in France, Patras in Greece, the Italian city of Trieste and the French shipbuilding centre of Saint Nazaire.

Although none of these centres that all rely, to a greater or lesser degree, on port trade and shipping, will be officially twinned with Southampton, they are all working together on a major scheme to develop a way to measure, manage and evaluate the economic importance of the docks to the home cities.

In another separate move Southampton has established strong links with its 'Sister City' and another port, this time Qingdao in China.

Since 1997 there have been a number of high level visits between the two cities involving representatives from local government, commerce and business support agencies which have resulted in a range of trade benefits.

Exchanges have also taken place between teaching and health authority staff as well as cultural organisations such as the Southampton Youth Orchestra.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the Southampton and Le Havre twinning is that it has survived and still remains an active organisation aimed at strengthening the understanding between the two cities and its peoples.

Born of a great burst of enthusiasm in 1973, the twinning to this day carries on the ideal of bringing the communities and their culture together - although the initial suggestion of establishing a formal and thriving commercial and business network covering Southampton and Le Havre has not been so successful.

The strength of the twinning today lies in the number of families and community organisations that continue to regularly meet up with their opposite numbers on either side of the Channel.

Southampton's marriage to Le Havre was no shotgun wedding but came at the end of a marathon courtship and an unofficial engagement that lasted more than 20 years.

In the late 1940s it was realised in Southampton and Le Havre that their geographical position and wartime experiences would make the two ports perfect partners.

Unfortunately, despite many official and private visits, the two cities did not tie the knot and the years went by until December 1972 when Southampton City Council, after many long discussions, voted for the twinning.

In October of the following year Southampton's then mayor, Alderman Michael Pettet, went to Le Havre for the first of a two-part ceremony and signed documents that officially sealed the association.

The following weekend a French delegation was at the Civic Centre in Southampton to hear the mayor say the meeting was the most important that had ever been held in the Council Chamber.

One of those founding members of the twinning association was Joan Mercer from Sholing, Southampton, who only last weekend was still keeping the cross-Channel spirit alive with another one of her regular visits to Le Havre.

With her husband Donald, Mrs Mercer, a retired nursery assistant who worked in special education, went to stay at the Le Havre home of their friends Madame and Monsieur Lepientre.

"We have about 60 Southampton members in the twinning association these days and there is a similar number of people involved in Le Havre,'' said Mrs Mercer.

"Things have changed a great deal over the years. But it's right that things move on and the association is versatile and strong enough to take on these changes. I think the ties between Southampton and Le Havre are very healthy.

"We normally see our French friends twice a year.

"The association always tries to pair similar families and even if neither can speak each other's language there is never any real problems. I speak a little French and can get by - it's all part of the fun.''

And this historic connection will be marked when a party from Le Havre will be in Southampton for a civic reception and a dinner and dance in September.

Vive la camarderie!

Twin peak

Southampton has received a pat on the back from the government as part of the celebrations to mark 30 years of being linked to Le Havre.

Dennis MacShane, the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commnwealth Office has sent a special letter to June Bridle, the leader of Southampton City Council.

"I write to congratulate Southampton City Council on the 30th anniversary of the twinning link with Le Havre, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Union,'' said Mr MacShane.

"As a member of the EU, it is important for the UK to be able to contribute to, and benefit from, a strong and successful Union. In order to achieve this, relationships need to be established not only between national governments, but with all spheres of society, and twinning has played a vital role in bringing communities together and involving people at grass roots level.

"Twinning partnerships have enabled people in this country to learn about the culture and contemporary lifestyles of their European neighbours, promoting a more cohesive and stable union. Twinning has led to the exchange of expertise and skills and to increasing knowledge and understanding.

"I wish to commend Southampton City Council for the effort and commitment over the last 30 years, and to offer my best wishes for the continued success of the twinning partnership.''