On a glorious sunny weekend the ties of friendship between the communities of Bude and Stratton and surrounding area and Ergué Gabéric in Brittany culminated in an action packed cultural ex­change weekend arr­anged by the Bude and Stratton Twinning Association (BSTA).

Partly because it was the 30th anniversary of the twinning, 52 visitors from France needed to be accommodated in homes for the weekend so very many thanks went from the twinning committee to all hosts.

Most of the French visitors arrived by coach and car at 8.30am on Friday, May 29 and the runners arrived at 3.15pm after completing the Plymouth to Bude leg of the run.

At 1.30pm on Friday, a reception for the visitors was held at Bude Castle. The Mayor of Bude and Stratton, Peter Moores and the '1st Adjoint au Maire' (Deputy Mayor of Ergué), M Jean René Blaise exchanged gifts to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the twinning between the two communities. Alain Le Berre and Francoise Blaise from Ergué dressed in traditional Breton costume for the occasion.

In the evening the Twinning Association had arranged a dinner and Nos Lowen (a Cornish dance night) at the Bullers Arms, Marhamchurch. The food was excellent. The music was provided by Dalla, a traditional Cornish band. A number of social dances, including the North Cornwall Furry Dance and serpent dances were expertly led by Carmen Hunt culminating in the Step Dance challenge, a scoot dance incorporating the Boscastle Break Down.

Jean Marc Gueguen, one of the French visitors, spontaneously played Breton music on the accordion to a traditional Breton circular dance. Summer Bolitho sang, unaccompanied, 'Maggie May' as a tribute to her grandfather, John Bolitho, as well as a ballad in Cornish, which was appreciated by all who attended.

Saturday was a more relaxed day with informal visits to Norton Barton Farm to see Sue Proudfoot's new cheese-making operation and a lunch session at the Tree Inn, Stratton with music provided by 'Black Galleon' and hospitality provided by Bob and Emma. As it happened the popular Bude Folk Festival became incorporated as a group of Border Morris dancers gave an impromptu display in the courtyard of The Tree.

On Sunday, the Twinning Association arranged visits to the Wheal Martyn Clay Museum and Country Park, and the Kingsley Village Shopping Centre. The Wheal Martyn visit in particular was very well received as the organisers provided a leaflet in French describing the clay extraction process and also provided knowledgeable guides at 11am and 2pm to cater for the large numbers. The café provided delicious Cornish pasties for all 50 French visitors to round off a real 'Cornish' weekend!