My town is twinned with various towns...

[ZedBloke]

Oddly enough they all seem to be in holiday destinations! Can anyone explain the purpose of these Twinnings beyond the common "Councillors junket" theory?

[ichkeria]

One of the most bizarre twinning arrangements, possibly in the world, must be "genteel" Cheltenham Spa with Russian mafia hotspot and top Kremlin holiday playground Sochi :-)

[albaqwerty]

My favourite is Dull twinned with Boring.

[bookbinder]

I used to live in an industrial town (in northern England), which was twinned with an industrial town in northern Germany, certainly no holiday destinations, neither of them! My wife and I joined the twinning association, because we were interested in how ordinary people lived their lives, and the Germans were similarly interested in us. We would organise a group and go over there by coach, and stay in the German members' homes once a year. The following year the German group came over here and stayed with us. The original arrangement was started simply on a "would like to get to know you" basis, and "councillors' junket" it was certainly not, although I have heard of towns in which the twinning arrangements are conducted on a strictly civic level. My wife and I are not now involved with twinning, but we have maintained contact with the friends that we made in Germany. I can recommend it as a way of seeing how people in another country live.

[ichkeria]

For several years I was involved with twinning in my home town, usually as a sort of guide/interpreter. The town we were twinned with in France could by no stretch of the imagination be described as a typical holiday destination, and generations of school children and students, myself included, benefitted.
On the other hand the councillors did enjoy their trips as well :-)

[Gromit]

My spidey sense is tingling...

Could it be the latest incarnation of R1Geezer?

[kinell]

Sheerness in Kent.......of the 'tightly knitted ' population.....

Welcome to The Isle of Sheppey..Twinned with The Isle of Sheppey