Bexhill's Mayor welcomes French visitors in his native language

The long-weekend visit led by the Mayor of St Aubin de Medoc was a return for hospitality enjoyed on visit by Cllr Douart and colleagues to the town near Bordeaux in September.

The Tricolour flew outside the Town Hall alongside the flag of Bexhill's Charter Trustees this morning.

For Cllr Douart, the exchange '“ which was funded personally by the members taking part '“ has a special importance.

He told the Observer: "St Aubin de Medoc is where my parents retired to. My mother, my sister and brother-in-law still live there."

In a speech of welcome to his French guests, Cllr Douart spoke of his hope that from such self-funded exchanges a bond of friendship can be established between the two communities which might eventually lead to formal twinning.

He hopes to encourage an exchange between the young people of the two communities.

St Aubin de Medoc has a population of about 6,000 and is 15minutes' drive from Bordeaux.

The modern town has grown up around the high-tech aerospace industry.

Rother chief executive Derek Stevens, in his capacity as clerk to the Charter Trustees, gave a speech of welcome in French in the Town Hall council chamber which won him a round of applause.

The guests had been greeted by Bexhill's civic party in their robes of office with Town Hall keeper David Hartnoll in his robes bearing the Bexhill borough mace.

Mr Stevens explained how Bexhill was a borough from 1902 until 1974 when it was merged with Battle and Rye to form Rother.

He explained how the three towns retained their mayoralties and how Bexhill's borough traditions were upheld by its Charter Trustee '“ Bexhill councillors serving on Rother.

He also explained that at about 250, it had had the lowest staff ratio in the South East

since its inception and had the lowest Council Tax in the county.

The French visitors delighted in the Town Hall's history, picking out the names of their Bexhill hosts on the Mayoral honours board and examining the mace and the town's civic silver plate in its showcase.

In the council chamber, the French Mayor, M. Christophe Duprat, sat in the chairman's chair and gavel a playful tap with the gavel.

In addition to the Mayor, the French party comprised the mayoress, Mme Patricia Duprat, and councillors Germaine Lacost, Maryse Guilhern, Michel Patanchon, Bernard Barbeau, Serge Revolte and Jean-Marc Meyre.

In addition to the Mayor and his wife and Mayoress Maureen, Bexhill was represented by Deputy Mayor Cllr Bridget George, Cllr Deirdre Williams, Cllr Joy Hughes, Cllr Brian Kentfield and his wife Susan, Cllr Gillian Wheeler and former Town Mayor Stuart Earl.

The French visitors had arrived at Gatwick Airport on Thursday. They were accommodated at the Cooden Beach Hotel.

Their itinerary had a very British flavour. It included a steak and kidney dinner at The Waterfront club on Thursday, a visit to White's Brewery at Pebsham after Friday's Town Hall reception, a fish-and-chip lunch at The Swan at Dallington, a visit to Rudyard Kipling's old home, Bateman's at Burwash, and dinner at the Cooden Beach.

Saturday included a tour of Bexhill and a visit to the De La Warr Pavilion before visits to Winchelsea and Rye.