South Ayrshire Council News

Provost Winifred Sloan with the visitors from St Germain-en-Laye.

South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan welcomed a group of visitors from St Germain-en-Laye to the County Buildings and gave them a tour of the building as part of their 26th anniversary celebrations.

Provost Sloan said: "Ayr and St Germain-en-Laye were officially twinned in 1984. During the last 26 years strong ties have been established and we have been able to learn more about each other's cultures. Our visitors thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the County Buildings and I enjoyed explaining the history of the building and that it is a fully operational Council headquarters.

"The French visitors had expressed an interest in football, and the possibility of a biannual football match between the two towns. Members of the Council's Sports Development team were on hand to talk to the visitors about the possibility of this. Whilst visiting it was evident that rugby also featured highly on their programme so a visit with Ayr Rugby Association was arranged for them by the Council, which was very successful"

Councillor Ann Galbraith, who is a long standing member of Ayr Town Twinning has a very close association with St Germaine and accompanied some of the visitors on a trip down Loch Catrine. Both Provost Sloan and Councillor Galbraith look forward to the first football or rugby fixture between the two towns.