French visitors take a tour of Horsham and reaffirm European links

Bonhomie abounded when representatives from Horsham’s French twin town - Saint-Maxent L’Ecole - visited Horsham.
By Sarah Page
Published 16th Nov 2021, 12:29 BST
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The French delegates - Saint-Maixent L’Ecole mayor Monsieur Sephane Baudry and secretary of the twinning association Madame Karine Bris - were given a tour of the town.

They stopped off at The Pavilions in the Park Leisure Centre, the Capitol, Horsham Museum and Art Gallery, St Mary’s Church in the Causeway and the council’s offices at Parkside where they met the council’s senior leadership team.

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Horsham District Council chairman David Skipp, who welcomed the French representatives, said: “This was the first visit from our French town twinned colleagues for some time and represents a significant reaffirmation of our links after a period of restrictions on travel and commerce.

Mayor of Saint-Maixent L’Ecole, Monsieur Stephane Baudry and Horsham District Council chairman David Skipp exchange giftsMayor of Saint-Maixent L’Ecole, Monsieur Stephane Baudry and Horsham District Council chairman David Skipp exchange gifts
Mayor of Saint-Maixent L’Ecole, Monsieur Stephane Baudry and Horsham District Council chairman David Skipp exchange gifts

“It was a pleasure to host them. There was a strong sense of ‘bonhomie’ and mutual respect and understanding throughout their visit.”

Saint-Maixent L’Ecole is a much smaller town than Horsham with a population of around 7,000.

But, like Horsham, it has a long history and faces similar challenges to rural communities in the UK, with younger residents moving towards larger towns.