IT WAS a sad farewell to the long-standing chairman of one of Romsey’s community groups.

More than 30 members of Romsey Twinning gathered for retiring chairman Mike Bull’s final meeting, including the association’s president, and Romsey Town Mayor Cllr Ian Hibberd.

Presenting his final report as chairman, Mike thanked everyone for their help and support in the course of his 13 years in post.

He believed that as he stepped down he was leaving an association that was in good health. At the same time he was aware of the many challenges facing the traditional twinning model in the modern world, especially from the rapid growth in new forms of communication.

In spite of the diversity of new media he believed that there remained a place still for old-fashioned face-to-face contact and it was his hope that Romsey Twinning would be able to develop new direct links with its twin towns on the continent in addition to the regular exchange visits.

A good example of this had been this summer’s hugely successful visit by TAE Teatro, a theatre company from Treviglio who had delighted the crowds at Beggars’ Fair with their stilt-walking.

The company, whose visit was jointly sponsored by Romsey Twinning and RAODS, had also given performances in the Abbey and at the Plaza Theatre as part of the Arts Festival and led a mask-making workshop at Speaking Space.

The new chairman, Roland Matthews, paid tribute to his predecessor and thanked him for his hard work and enthusiastic leadership over a long tenure. He also thanked Mike’s wife Jane for all she had done as secretary, a post she had stood down from last year.

A new secretary, Judy Phillips, was elected at the meeting and Roland looked forward to a happy collaboration.

Presentations were made to Mike and Jane who then had the additional surprise of receiving live video messages of thanks and good wishes from Mike’s opposite numbers in the three twin towns in France, Germany and Italy.