The death has been announced in France of Graeme Pratt at the age of 81. 

Graeme was a key figure in the 60-year history of Romsey Twinning. While working locally at IBM in the late seventies Graeme became aware that the town’s partnership with Paimpol in Brittany, which had started officially in 1960, had become inactive and was in danger of ceasing altogether. 

It was largely thanks to his efforts that the twinning association was revived and its partnership with the French fishing port placed on a more solid foundation. Since then Romsey’s links with Paimpol have gone from strength to strength and continue to prosper today. 

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After serving as chairman of Romsey Twinning in the early 1980s Graeme and his wife Christine left Hampshire to live permanently near Paimpol, although they remained in contact with twinners in both towns. 

Jean-Luc Glory, president of the Paimpol twinning association, said that they would greatly miss ‘his friendship and his kindness’. 

Graeme is survived by Christine, their two daughters and six grandchildren.