Published at 13:36, Thursday, 07 August 2008

AN ICON of the British way of life is being sought by Hexham’s French twin town Noyon.

Call for help: Corinne Cailleux finds a red telephone box in Hexham.

The president of the town twinning association in Noyon, Jacques du Franssu, wants to place a red phone box in the centre of the Rondpoint d’Hexham, the town’s main roundabout.

The roundabout was re-named the Rondpoint d’Hexham in 2002 as a celebration of the 10-year twinning anniversary and it sports emblems of Noyon and Hexham in a floral display.

However, Mr du Franssu would like to place a red phone box in between the emblems and asked his colleague Corinne Cailleux, currently on holiday in Hexham, to source the item.

Corinne, who is a member of the Noyon town twinning association, said: “We are looking for a symbol that is uniquely English that people will look at as they use the roundabout and be reminded of our English twin town.”

If the association cannot locate a phone box its next option is to look for a tradition pill-box style red post box.

Another of Corinne’s tasks has been to photograph Hexham and the surrounding region.

She explained: “The photos are for our website. We want to show people the views and sights of our twin town.”

If anyone can help with the phone box quest, or would like to join the town twinning association ready for the French visit at Easter, they can contact Ruth Bramfitt, chairman of the Hexham branch, on (01434) 633014.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk