MALVERN’s twinning partnership with French spa town Bagnères-de Bigorre became official over the weekend.
The Mayors of Malvern (Julian I’Anson) and Bagnères-de Bigorre (Jean-Bernard Sempastous) signed a Twinning Agreement on the first day of Malvern’s new Water Festival to cement what is hoped will be a strong and lasting bond between the two towns.
Bagnères-de-Bigorre is located in the Hautes-Pyrénées and is part of the country’s national spa town network, attracting more than 8,500 visitors each year.
Mr Sempastous was accompanied by his wife Gabrielle, Deputy Mayor Stéphane Barthe and Adrien Dalles, chair of the Bagnères-Malvern twinning association.
The signing was timed to coincide with the Malvern Spa Association Well Dressing weekend, which this year had the theme of ‘Friendship/L’Amitié’.
Mr Sempastous and special guests were given a tour of the dressed wells during the morning and awarded a new prize, the Prix de l’Eau, to the Evendine Spring.
As part of the twinning agreement, Malvern’s Friday Beer Company is developing a new continental-style lager to be distributed in Bagnères-de-Bigorre as well as in its usual markets in the UK.
The Friday Beer Company also produced celebration bottles of an English ale which was available for purchase in Rosebank Gardens during the day alongside bread and other produce from Malvern’s Le Delice.
Graham Dimmock, chair of the Malvern-Bagnères Twinning Association, said: “We are delighted with the warm reception that our visitors have received during the weekend.
“All of the businesses involved have been fantastic and we hope we have demonstrated just a few of the economic benefits which can arise from a well focussed twinning.
“Friday Beer engaged with us at a fairly early stage in our development and we are delighted that they now have the opportunity to add value to their business through the links which we have established. We would like to hear from any local businesses that feel they can also benefit from what has been established.”
The weekend was entirely funded by individual members of the Twinning Association and contributions from guests.
