A SUCCESSFUL visit to Okehampton?s twin town of Craon in France was marred by a lack of civic involvement, according to one member of the group. Twinning association member Stella Hudson said the Okehampton contingent had felt ?ashamed and angry? that their mayor had not attended on the thirtieth anniversary of the twinning. More than 50 people from the Okehampton area, including children and young people, visited Craon in Britanny from August 23 to 28. Craon is also twinned with a small town in Germany, and this year the mayor of Craon decided to bring his two twinning partners together. The Mayor of Buchenberg in Bavaria brought a band and a group in traditional costume who played Alpine horns for their hosts. The French ran trips for their visitors, to the nearby Airbus factory and the Second World War German submarine base at Saint Nazaire. Miss Hudson said: ?It was a pity that Okehampton did not participate in any way, apart from a gift to Craon, and a small reward for the Prix d?Okehampton for a horse race held on the Sunday. ?As a party we were very ashamed and angry that our mayor had decided to attend a local charity event, rather than the twinning visit. ?He could have met the mayors of Craon and Buchenberg, who have far more local government powers than the town council. This was true internationalism, and is very much relevant to the future. She added: ?There is much to learn from the development of social, economic, cultural and sporting activities in these towns, which is not particularly evident in Okehampton.? But Okehampton mayor Tony Leech said local causes would always be his top priority. ?I always said that I would look after the local charities first,? he said. ?As this was the last year for the Neal Cousins match I thought it was especially important.? Cllr Leech said he was pleased that young people from Okehampton had been among those who travelled to Craon. ?It?s extremely important that people of all countries talk to each other. That?s what twinning is all about.? Cllr Leech added that he would like to have the powers enjoyed by French mayors, which would allow Okehampton to ?forge it?s own destiny?.
