LOOE is preparing to raise the flag on 50 years of friendship with its French twin town Quiberon as the two communities come together for a special anniversary weekend.

A delegation from the Brittany town will visit Looe from October 9 to 11 to mark five decades of twinning, with a special flag-raising ceremony forming one of the highlights.

The ceremony will take place at 10am on Saturday, October 10, at Looe War Memorial, bringing together representatives of both towns, local organisations and members of the community.

Young people from Looe will raise the flags, while a special flag designed by students at Looe Community Academy for the anniversary will also be unveiled.

The weekend will see Looe welcome the Mayor of Quiberon, Patrick Le Roux, alongside a delegation from the town, with a packed programme planned to celebrate the long-standing relationship.

Events will include a civic lunch, cultural activities, heritage visits, harbour events and a formal signing ceremony reaffirming the partnership between the two communities.

Looe Mayor, Councillor Stephen Remington, said the anniversary was an opportunity not only to celebrate the past but also to build on the relationship for the future.

“We are delighted to be celebrating fifty years of twinning between Looe and Quiberon,” he said. “This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the many connections made by earlier generations, to revive the friendship, increase exchange visits and develop new partnerships for the future.”

The twinning has provided opportunities for residents, schools and community organisations on both sides of the Channel to meet, share their cultures and strengthen links between the two towns.

The 50th anniversary celebrations are intended to build on those connections, with organisers hoping the weekend will help encourage a new generation to become involved in the relationship.