Weymouth’s twin town of Louviers has elected a new mayor. Francois-Xavier Priollaud, aged 38, was elected by the Municipal Council, following elections that resulted in the right wing alliance taking 25 of the 33 council seats. He succeeds 58 year old Franck Martin, who wore the tricolour mayoral sash for 19 years and visited Weymouth a number of times.
Coun. Ray Banham, Mayor ofWeymouth and Portland, has sent his congratulations to Francois-Xavier Priollaud on his election as Mayor of Louviers. Coun. Banham expressed the hope that Mr. Priollaud would head the delegation that arrives in Weymouth on6 June, but it now seems he is unable to join the party. One of the nine Deputy and Assistant Mayors is expected to travel to Weymouth.
The 37 strong delegation from Weymouth’s twin town of Louviers will be welcomed by Coun. Kate Wheller, who takes over as Mayor of Weymouth & Portland this month, at a D-Day anniversary evening planned for the Pavilion Ocean Room. The twinning dinneron Saturday 7 Junefalls the evening after The Queen and Prince Philip attend the 70th. anniversary celebrations of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Ocean Room will be decorated specially and the Highcliffe Charity Players will perform the cabaret with music and songs of the 1940s.
On the Sunday, the French delegation is being taken on an excursion around the Mendips, with a picnic lunch at Glastonbury Abbey.
As President of the Weymouth & Portland- Louviers Society, Coun. Ray Banham, Mayor of Weymouth & Portland chaired the annual meeting in January. “The twinning is excellent at creating good relationships,” commented the Mayor, “the friendship with Louviers has been very successful for over 50 years. The link is of economic value to Weymouth & Portland, as the Louviers members bring business to the town. The twinning is good for the borough, extending hands of friendship across the English Channel.”
Michel Hooper-Immins