ALMOST 100 people have ventured from Haddington to France to mark a link between two towns stretching back 50 years.

Haddington and Aubigny sur Nere were officially twinned in 1965, with residents of each town visiting the other on a regular basis.

The most recent visit, earlier this month, saw the Haddington Pipe Band and the Haddington Twinning Association head to the town, which is near Auxerre, for the annual Franco-Ecossaises festival.

The travelling party was the biggest to head across the English Channel since the official link was created.

Frank Elliott, chairman of the twinning association, said: “Everybody enjoyed themselves and we were well received.

“It is an amazing town and there were kilts and tartan everywhere.” Mr Elliott described the occasion as “a pretty important year”, with representatives from Aubigny set to arrive in Haddington next month.

Speaking about the trip to the French town, he said: “It went very well; it was very hot.

“It was more than 30 degrees but it all went well.

“We were accompanied by Haddington Pipe Band and we had something like 24 people from the twinning association.

“They were hosted by families and we had a very good welcome when we got there with a flag raising of the Saltire and some speeches.” The group visited Sully Chateau, as well as open air meals, a ceilidh in the square, fireworks and a meal for about 200 people.

Fraser Wilkinson, the band’s pipe major, was another who made the trip.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant.

“A lot of youngsters and members were going over for the first time and they have made a lot of connections and friendships.

“Going from experience, these connections and friendships are unbreakable.

“This is maybe my fifth or sixth time going across and there are still familiar faces there.” The pipe band played a number of times during the week-long trip, including on Bastille Day, the French national day on July 14.

Ward councillor John McMillan, the local authority’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, was another who visited the French town.

He said: “It went really, really well.

“As always, the band performed magnificently, particularly given the heat.

“They marched down the high street and round the town on both Saturday and Sunday and played at various spots.

“They were in brilliant form and captured everyone’s attention.”