It was 50 years ago this week that Salford picked its first ever twin town.
On Sunday 15 May 1966 city planners signed the historic deal with the now 138,000-population Clermont-Ferrand in central France.
The university city was thought the ideal choice – thanks to the involvement and enthusiasm of Salford councillor Jack Goldberg.
This Second World War former soldier believed in the’ European democracy’ based on friendship between people.
Today schoolchildren exchange between the two cities and there is regular contact between the two councils.
Read: Check mates say bonjour and welcome to Salford
And there’s even a city centre cafe on Rue Bansac in Clermont Ferrand called ‘Le Salford’!
As soon as Goldberg was elected councillor in 1956 he looked for a European town to be twinned with as he felt Salford was behind the times.
Goldberg began correspondence with the French Mayor, Mr Gabriel Montpied.
After their first meeting failed in 1962 in the Council of European Municipalities in Vienna, they agreed formally to a meeting and met again in 1966.
The delegation arrived at Manchester Ringway Airport for a three-day fact-finding mision and were shown the delights of Salford.
Readers of a certain age may recall the floral displays on the Crescent, Salford, often depicting the coat of arms of Salford, however for this occasion the coat of arms of Clermont-Ferrand was proudly displayed.
The guests were presented with copies of the Salford Official Guide, also albums of photographs of Salford courtesy of the Salford City Reporter.
The famous artist Harold Riley presented them with a drawn Salford scene, the Mayor Alderman Bertha Davis presented them with a shield bearing the coat of arms of Salford whilst Alderman Loftus presented them with a model of a Salford bus.
After a reception dinner they retired to their headquarters at The Midland Hotel, Manchester, I should imagine if it was today they would no doubt be staying at the 5* Lowry Hotel in Salford.
Their itinerary took them to such locations as the Salford Technical College, Trinity Estate, Broughton Baths, the halls of residence for the new Salford University, Oaklands Open Air School, Cresecent Police Station, Sutton Flats and Cusson’s soap works.
There was time for fun and games with a visit to Buile Hill Park where Salford Police put on a display of motorbikes, cars and a dog handler with an alasation apprehending a ‘villain’.
This was followed by a barbeque and barn dance with all proceeds going to the Mayor’s Charity appeal.
Their tour finished with a trip to Tatton Park followed by dinner at the George Hotel, Knutsford.
Incidentally, Lünen in Germany was twinned with the former borough of Swinton and Pendlebury from 1966, the link arose from wartime friendship struck up by Mr Les Suggett and a German prisoner of war.
Saint-Ouen was originally twinned with Worsley in 1961, whilst Narbonne was originally twinned with Eccles in 1957.
The town twinning celebrations will go ahead later on this year on the weekend of Friday June 24 – Monday 27 when student from Clermont- Ferrand and Lunen will be competing in a chess tournament with Salford students.
