French connections

IF YOU were living in Southampton around 1,000 years ago, you would have spoken French.

In the aftermath of the Norman conquest, the settlement was already a thriving port.

French was not only the official language for residents but it was also the acknowledged language of commerce.

Over the centuries England's relationship with our neighbours across the Channel has enjoyed some notable highs.

In terms of sheer showing-off, the famous meeting between Henry VIII and the French King Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520 is hard to top.

The monarchs met, feasted, jousted and danced their way round a town of huge tents decorated with jewels and golden thread near Calais.

Each was keen to outdo the other with the magnificence of his court, while they dithered about whether or not to gang up diplomatically on the rest of Europe.

It was an amazing three-week-long party but no alliance resulted - unless you count the fact that this was probably where Henry first clapped eyes on his second wife Anne Boleyn.

Then there have been low points in Anglo-French relations and, yes, even wars between the two countries.

However, let's quickly move on from then to 1973 when Southampton became officially twinned with Le Havre.

Both are large Channel ports which were badly bombed during the Second World War - but have since risen from the ashes to become major economic forces again.

The twinning phenomenon sprang up after the peace broke out, as a way of building bridges between Holland, France, Germany and Britain.

The Declaration of Friendship was signed here by the two mayors, Alderman Michael Pettet and M. Andre Duromea at the Civic Centre, hard on the heels of a similar event in Le Havre.

At the time of the signing Alderman Pettet told the French delegation the twinning ceremony was the most important meeting ever held in the Southampton Council Chamber.

Four action groups were formed to promote arts and education, travel and social, business and commercial, and sporting activities between the two cities.

Over the years that followed there was a flurry of visits and life long friendships were formed.

And 25 years later the twinning project was still going so strong that a celebration ball was held at Southampton Guildhall, attended by nearly 100 French visitors.

One of those to form close links through the Twinning Society was Councillor Derek Burke who still sees the family he met through annual journeys to Le Havre.

Today the formal civic involvement with the city has ended and the mayors no longer hobnob on a regular basis.

However, the society remains busy with social gatherings - in fact one is planned for the end of this month.

Totton's twinning venture with Le Loroux Bottereau, on the banks of the River Loire, was officially formed in 1981 and still thrives today.

Over 50 French guests spent Easter here, eating, drinking - and playing skittles.

Pam Hibbert, 55, who has been a member for 20 years, said: "It gives you an insight into how other people live at the grass-roots level. You get a completely different view from what you get on holiday. They're just the same as us."

But not according to Southampton resident Alexandre Hamelin who, as his name suggests, is as French as the new grand slam winners.

The twinkly-eyed Parisian says the British are more insular yet straight forward than his fellow countrymen.

Alexandre and his assistants run the French Desk at the Chamber of Commerce.

For the demise of civic links with Le Havre did not spell the end of Southampton looking south for economic links.

In fact, quite the reverse.

As the international barriers within Europe dissolve the 36-year-old is busy organising corporate events to ease the path for French businesses to establish themselves in Southampton - and vice versa.

This activity alone boosts the local economy especially, it would seem, if you happen to be a Hampshire interpreter as the bill for these services can top £6,000 for just one event.

Alexandre says the British economy is currently stronger than the French, but doesn't have the same levels of latent wealth.

"I have a considerable knowledge of how things work from both sides. There are no barriers now."

Except possibly the grand slam issue...