Sixty years of twinning and civic events were celebrated at the first of a two part strengthening of friendship and ties.

A recent joint Great Yarmouth Civic and Twinning Association visit to Rambouillet in France, and members said: “Vive le Jumelage! Long live the Twinning! Our friendship links must not be affected by the recent Brexit decision from the EU referendum – it is above politics!”

The second part of the 60-year milestone will be in September when a party from Rambouillet will visit Yarmouth during the Out There Festival.

The Yarmouth group, by special request of their French friends, included 21 youngsters, aged from 11 to 15, from Dusmagrik Young People’s Theatre Company. And their 45-minute song and dance performance at the National Bergerie theatre, was much appreciated, especially with its nautical theme and song about “Wonderful Yarmouth”.

At the Gala Dinner on the final evening, the Dusmagrik youngsters again took to the stage for an impromptu Bollywood-style routine which almost set the room on fire with appreciative applause.

It helped make up for the Yarmouth party’s disappointment when a Street Music Festival was cancelled because of the need for police officers to be sent to Paris to help control the overly boisterous football fans.

During the visit, Yarmouth Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Bird unveiled the new Rambouillet town sign, which has the names of its five Twin Towns; followed by the signing of the twinning’s 60th anniversary document by Kate Watts, on behalf of GYBC’s chief executive – and witnessed by the two mayors of the twin towns.