BRTA seek to strengthen ties with Saint-Maur-Des-Fosses

Raymond Hagger • February 26, 2023

and update on Interpretation Board

Your committee have resolved to set up a working party to looking into ways to strengthen our relationship with Saint-Maur-Des-Fosses and get Town Twinning back on track following the dissolution of the French Exchange Group.  We have many challenges not least fund raising have we had to start from scratch.


We have however made great progress in a short terms and have currently got six people who have agreed to sit on the working party three of have lived or had a home in France and are French Speakers.  Thanks to David Roach; John Russell; Maralyn Green, Joelle Marsh, Laraine Nash & Helen Thompson.


As regards the Interpretation Board the text and photographs have been agreed and we are seeking ex Mayors Stephen Goodheart's input as he visited and met with the Mayor of Saint-Maur-Des-Fosses last year.  Victoria Owens (nee Hilditch) of Vimco Marketing is all lined up to undertake the design and has introduced us to some printers.  The board itself is being supplied by the Bognor Regis Arts & Heritage Trust who have also agreed to pay the cost of the Artwork & Printing.  Installation will be undertaken by the Bognor Regis Town Force and the cost of installation is kindly being funded by the Town Council


Ray Hagger wishes to thank Heather Perrot and Maralyn Green for all their hard work in this regard.



By Maralyn Green March 1, 2026
At the Regis School of Music, members of the Bognor Regis Town Twinning Association gathered for their AGM and to listen to the Association’s achievements over the past year. Mrs Heather Perrott, Chairman, led the AGM and praised the success of the Town Twinning Association in 2025. The social programme had been much enjoyed comprising rambles, a boules tournament, a quiz evening, luncheons, games evenings, talks, coffee mornings, and the ever popular Beaujolais Bistro, which sold out all 52 places quickly. A second Murder Mystery Evening was as successful as the first when members dressed up as the 14 suspects, whilst the rest of the guests tried to figure out who was the dastardly Murderer. At the Morning of Christmas Cheer, Father Christmas arrived with two rather adult-sized elves and quizzed guests as to the names of all his reindeer. Members were amused by his stories whilst partaking of the mulled wine, spiced apple punch and generous buffet available In May, visitors from our French twin town of St-Maur-des-Fossés, located near Paris, came to Bognor for several days, staying with members of the Twinning Association. A guided walking tour of Bognor, finishing in the Bognor museum, was arranged as well as visits to Petworth House, West Dean and Chichester. In June members of the Association visited Weil am Rhein, in the vineyard region of Southern Germany, and were treated to several days of visits to Switzerland and France, as well as the Black Forest. Members stayed with friends, old and new, and enjoyed evening receptions laid on by the Town Hall and also by the Weil am Rhein Association. Mrs Perrott was unanimously approved by the AGM as the new Chairman for 2026. Mr Patrick Hastings was welcomed as the new President of the Association. Mr Hastings has been a long-term active member, who was Chairman back in 1987 when Bognor initially twinned with Weil am Rhein.
By Raymond Hagger September 22, 2025
Town Twinning: What went wrong
By Maralyn Green September 1, 2025
And the winners are....