I must reply to Alan Hill’s spiteful and unnecessary remarks regarding the grant application for Calne & District Twinning Association in the Gazette & Herald of October 3.

We are an association that is predominantly self-funding. We have applied for grants in the past in the same way that everyone else has.

I have no problem with the town council turning down our application in favour of other causes.

In the 10 years I have been associated with Calne Twinning we have never expected to be funded by the town council, but we have been very appreciative when it has done so.

Calne & District Twinning Association does a lot to promote and support Calne, both here and within our twinning partners. In June we had 76 visitors from Caln, Eningen and Charlieu.

I draw Alan Hill’s attention to the town criers’ competition held in Calne this June; if it hadn’t been for our twinning hosts and visitors absolutely no-one would have been out supporting the event.

It is a shame he feels so anti-Calne & District Twinning Association (indeed all twinning associations).

Our twinning partners have a much more long-term and philosophical/pragmatic approach to twinning and we have always been made most welcome by the mayors and equivalents – as indeed our own mayors have in return.

Perhaps Alan Hill should join us. He will then acquire some understanding of what twinning is about instead of making uninformed and prejudicial comments.

Christine Cooper, Chairperson, Calne & District Twinning Association.