Cookham residents reconnect with French twin village for first time since pandemic

Residents made their way to Cookham’s twin village of Saint-Benoit in France over half term.

A total of 18 members of Cookham Twinning visited the twinned village near Poitiers.

Cookham has been twinned with Saint-Benoit since 1994, but this was the first visit since 2019 because of Covid restrictions.

From October 21 to 24, the Cookham Twinning group was welcomed with a reception at the Mairie, (town hall), hosted by the Mayor of Saint-Benoit.

The Cookham visitors presented the mayor with English and French copies of ‘The Wind in the Willows’, and it was explained that this book was inspired by the Thames at Cookham.

The next day included a visit to the ‘Jardin de Cookham’, and visitors and hosts met for lunch before attending a cello recital in an abbey church.

The group visited the medieval town of Chauvigny the following day and also toured the Macaroon Museum in Montmorillon, where the group tasted samples.

Chair of Cookham Twinning Keith Le Page said: “The final evening was spent together with more good food and wine, with songs from a local guitarist and occasional vocal accompaniment from the Mayor.

“On Tuesday [24], the group said their farewells, and everyone now looks forward to the visit of Saint-Benoit to Cookham next October.”