Ipswich mayor in Arras, town's French twin, for anniversary

Mayor of Ipswich, councillor John Cook travelled to the town for the first time since he has been the town's first citizen, accompanied by his wife, Adele. 

He met with two members of the Ipswich-Arras association and his French counterpart, Frederic Leturque. 

According to Mr Cook, the ties linking the two towns are worth preserving. 

Cllr John Cook, right, with his wife Elaine, second right, and Betty, a French woman with Scottish parents who works for the town of Arras and is mayor of a nearby French village. (Image: John Cook)

"These links are important,” he said. “With Arras, although the twinning is celebrating 30 years, the association between our two towns goes back to the First World War. 

“There were lots of troops from the Suffolk regiment who were based in Arras during the First World War. 

“That’s one of the reasons it was such an attractive place to have the twinning with.” 

The Battle of Arras took place there from April 9 to May 16 in 1917. Around 300,000 troops from both sides were killed, including 67 men from Ipswich. 

Mr Cook continued “We had a ceremony with myself and the mayor of Arras.” He said that there were also representatives from Arras’ other twin towns, from Oudenaarde in Belgium and Bathala in Portugal. 

“There was quite a delegation. 

“We formally signed a recommitment to the relationship between our towns, and we also had a tour of the town and city.” 

Cllr Cook said that there was a delegation of mayors from the many twin towns of Arras from around the world. (Image: John Cook)

Cllr Cook said that the towns renewed their commitment to their shared bond. (Image: John Cook)

This, he said, proved an interesting experience. 

“What I found particularly moving was moving the Carrière Wellington, or Wellington tunnels, which are under Arras,” he explained. 

“They started out as medieval chalk workings, but because Arras was on the front line during the First World War facing heavy shelling, local inhabitants started going into these chalk mines to get away from danger.” 

The tunnels were reopened during the Second World War, when they served as air raid shelters. They were sealed again until 1990, when Arras Town Council raised the funds to convert a section of the tunnels into a museum. 

The tunnels have since been turned into a museum. 

Mr Cook said that he would recommend Arras as a place to visit to Ipswich residents who find themselves in France. 

“It’s a place to go, particularly if you had family involvement in the war as I had, which made it quite poignant.”