Ron Smith - Jumelage?
Thu, Nov 3rd 2016 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Local member gives a talk
President Jim Walker welcomed members to
last week's meeting of the Rotary Club when the speaker was member Ron
Smith. He called his talk "jumelage" which turned out to mean
town-twinning and he outlined Hawick's jumelaging with Bailleul in North-east
France. In the period after the Second World War working-class Britons
started to travel more to visit their friends in Europe and towns were
linked-up. In 1973 Hawick formed a twinning with Bailleul which had
certain similarities. The High School became involved and parties of
pupils went abroad to stay with families there and the deal was later
recipcrocated. This later extended to the parents of pupils and then the
general public and it became an affordable, pleasant way to experience
Continental life and many close and enduring friendships ensued and still
continue to this day. Through time interest waned as people travelled
further afield and the school became involved in other projects and recent
efforts have been made to resurrect the link. A new organisation Hawick
International Welcome Group has been formed and Bailleul visited to retain the
link. An International Day was held in Wilton Lodge Park in August this
year and was very popular with Europeans who have made their homes in Hawick and
elsewhere in the Borders. Questions arose and created further discussion
after which President Jim made the vote of thanks to Ron.
