Anne Terlez, the newly elected First Deputy Mayor of Weymouth’s twin town of Louviers, will lead the 45-strong delegation from Normandy which arrives in Weymouth on Friday evening [6 June.] She will be welcomed by the new Mayor of Weymouth & Portland, Coun. Kate Wheller, at the Civic Reception and Twinning Dinner on Saturday [7 June] at the Pavilion’s Ocean Room.
The theme of the Twinning Dinner, to be attended by around 100 French and English members, will be a commemoration of the 70th. anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Ocean Room will be decorated specially and the Highcliffe Charity Players will perform the music and songs of the 1940s.
The previous day [6 June,] The Queen, Prince Philip and French PresidentFrancois Hollandewill lead the D-Day anniversary celebrations at Sword Beach, where British soldiers landed on 6 June 1944 and on subsequent days, including some from Dorset.
Anne Terlez, an occupational therapist, was appointed First Deputy Mayor in March by Louviers’ new Mayor Francois-Xavier Priollaud. Aged 38, he was elected by the municipal council, following elections that resulted in his right wing alliance taking 25 of the 33 council seats. Monsieur Priollaud succeeded 58 year old Franck Martin, who wore the tricolour mayoral sash for 19 years and visited Weymouth a number of times. Anne Terlez is the most senior of the nine new Deputy and Assistant Mayors. She is also the briefholder for social and housing issues.
On Sunday [8 June,] the French delegation is being taken on an excursion around the Mendips, with a picnic lunch planned at Glastonbury Abbey. They leave for Franceon Monday morning. The twinning link between Weymouth and Louviers began in 1958, 56 years ago.
Michel Hooper-Immins
