I DON'T have the foggiest idea what benefit is gained from British towns being twinned with those from the Continent - except for occasional civic beanfeasts to be enjoyed by visiting delegations on a 'home and away' basis.

But at least the tenuous connection between St Helens and its Stuttgart twin had a valuable social benefit for Linda Garner of Rainhill.

Linda, from Warrington Road, writes to point out that the inter-town link was forged 50 years ago.

"I was lucky to be involved in one of the exchange groups visiting Stuttgart in the early 1960s," she adds, "we had a wonderful holiday and in the following year the German group came to stay in St Helens. "Margeret , my chosen German friend, continues to correspond with me after 37 years, and ten years ago she, plus her family, came to England to spend two wonderful weeks with myself and family."

The two now exchange holidays every two years. "I've just returned from a visit to Scotland with Margeret and Jurgen, followed by their three days in Rainhill."

What Linda (nee Hogg) would now love to know is whether any other members of her 1960s visiting group are still in touch with German friends after that lapse of more than three-and-a-half decades?

She forwarded a shot of the 16-strong group from the summer of 1962, but unfortunately it was a photostat rather than original copy and was not suitable for newspaper reproduction.

However, Linda would love to hear from any of the old gang with a view to a possible reunion.

SHE can be contacted on 0151 426 6797.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.