Ernie and Doreen Gadsby, who were members of the former Twinning Committee, accompanied Parish Council Chairman Peter McGowan and his wife Deirdre, on a recent trip to Grenay in France. An invitation had been received from Grenay’s Mayor, Christian Champire, to attend the official opening of their Square of Friendship. The visitors were made very welcome and were treated to an action packed weekend of visits to local places of interest including WW1 cemeteries, a mining museum and the walls of Arras, against which partisans were executed by the Germans in WW2. This visit after a lapse of many years, heralds a re-opening of the ‘special relationship’ between Ruddington and Grenay, and in August 2013 a group of young people from Grenay will be visiting Ruddington following a trip to Ballyshannon in Northern Ireland, their other twin town. Although only staying for one night, the Parish Council hopes it will be possible to provide some interesting activities to make their visit a memorable one. 
(By Peter McGowan)
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Pictures:
Above – the opening ceremony.
Left – Doreen & Ernie Gadsby receiving gifts during their visit.