The Sodbury and District Twinning Association was formed in 1979 after a local man working on the Concorde project in Melun, France found that some of his French colleagues wanted to twin with an English town.

He approached Sodbury Town Council and soon a charter between Sodbury Town and Dodington Parish Councils was signed with the Council for Cesson in France, which is just outside Melun.

Since then there have been many visits arranged in either direction by the Association.

As well as these ‘official’ trips, long term friendships between families have sprung up and more personal visits and shared holidays regularly take place.

Work experience visits have also been arranged for some of the young people on either side.

Arranged visits have settled down into a routine of one children’s trip each way each year and a single adult visit each year, alternating in direction.

In 2004 the Association celebrated its 25th anniversary with a very well attended adult trip to France.

In 2009 the celebrations to mark 30 years took place in Chipping Sodbury, with a series of events coinciding with the Sodbury Festival.

Currently the Association is looking to find new ways to maintain and increase interest in Twinning.

Get in touch

For further information about the Sodbury and District Twinning Association and its activities, please contact:

Secretary: Christine Howard - email or telephone 01454 882151

Treasurer: Jeff Flynn - email or telephone 01249 714068