Billericay is to forge an innovative link with the medieval French town of Chauvigny.
A group of 19 dignitaries from Chauvigny - 30 miles east of Poitiers in central France - will visit Billericay to take part in the signing of the official twinning charter on Saturday, April 24.
It is hoped the arrangement, which will be confirmed at St Mary Magdalene Church in Great Burstead, will be a "facility for everybody in Billericay", according to Billericay Twinning Association spokesman David Clark.
While promoting personal friendships between residents of the two historic towns, it is hoped local schools and businesses will take advantage of the link.
Mr Clark said the twinning had come about after French student Elise Paret urged the Chauvigny Twinning Council to look into forging a link with Billericay after spending a year working at Buttsbury Junior School.
He said: "In February 2002, a group of eight Chauvinois came to Billericay and liked what they saw.
"Shortly after, Town Council chairman Trevor Stansfield and his wife Margaret made a return visit to Chauvigny and they were followed by an interested group of Billericay residents in October.
"They were most impressed by the town, its surrounding countryside and its people. The twinning committees of both towns held a meeting and decided to go ahead with the twinning."
Billericay is already twinned with Fishers, Indiana and Billerica in Massachusetts.
Published Tuesday March 23, 2004
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