Torpoint and B�nodet

Torpoint in Cornwall has been twinned with B�nodet in Brittany for almost 25 years. Veronica Bright, twinning committee member, tells us more.

Cornwall and Cornouaille – two regions with a history which met in the 5th century when Celts from Britain crossed the Channel to escape Anglo-Saxon invaders. Torpoint and B�nodet – two towns drawn together by their proximity to the sea and their position on the mouth of a river. In 1987 both were ready to embark on the adventure that is twinning.

What do we love best about being twinned with B�nodet? Showing our visitors some of the beautiful and interesting places in the West Country – memories include inhaling salty air on boat trips; photographing steam trains through clouds of smoke; waiting for butterflies to hatch at a butterfly farm (or at least hoping one of the chrysalises in the row would give a wriggle); walking in the footsteps of the past at historic houses; sharing our strange words for plants and flowers in some of Cornwall’s stunning gardens (rose tr�mi�re, coquelicot, pissenlit, would you believe? Much more fun than “dandelion”!)  We love our trips in and around B�nodet too – from an elegant lunch at a ch�teau to a more down to earth rendezvous with the horses at a stud farm.

Soir�es are always fun, and some of our best get-togethers have been when we’ve entertained each other with sketches and songs (all quite professionally delivered, I assure you!). Without a doubt the cr�me de la cr�me of these occasions was the time the French men adapted black binliners into Breton ladies’ dresses, donned tall head-gear, and performed � la Moulin Rouge!

Even when an exchange isn’t imminent, the fun goes on at our monthly fundraising social events that take us from Burns night through to the Christmas party. In summer our keen boules players meet weekly and our skilful team has been county champions several times.    

2012 marks the twenty fifth year of our association, and we plan to celebrate our friendship and mutual understanding. Long live Breton cr�pes and Cornish cream teas!