The Friends of Tourcoing visit France

The Friends of Tourcoing visit France

The members of Friends of Tourcoing - a local social community group, have returned from a fabulous visit to the town of Tourcoing in Northern France.

The twinning group stayed with their French hosts during the biannual visit at the end of May.

During the four-day holiday members enjoyed a civic reception at Tourcoing Town Hall, with a lovely meal and dancing, an evening which was enhanced this year by the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress, Ian and Christine Duckworth, plus Councillor Surinder Biant and his wife Councillor Cecile Biant, also on their first visit.

The itinerary also included a day out for sight-seeing in Arras and a visit to the Wellington Quarry — la Carrière Wellington, Arras, which was both poignant and interesting to experience.

Individual family trips also took place with visits to locations such as Brugge, Lille, Roubaix and Vimy.

A spokesperson said: "The families very much enjoyed meeting up with their French family hosts for partying and relaxation, often over a glass of wine and food in the sunshine.

"Les Amis de Rochdale provided a great deal of pleasure to our Rochdale residents who will reciprocate when they host their French friends next year in April 2018."

Whilst in Tourcoing, a wreath was laid at Tourcoing Cemetery by Ryan Bromfield and Marie Christine LeJeune, Chairpersons of both associations, to commemorate the people who died during the First World War. This was also attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale and the Mayor of Tourcoing.

Friends of Tourcoing are taking part in Milnrow Carnival and Heywood Carnival this year to promote Town Twinning.