This is the second of two pages of Travellers' Tales
Entente distinctly cordial for Sutton business
WATERLOO station was barely aired when a party of south London early birds arrived. They were there to catch the Eurostar at the start of a mini trade mission to the City of Gagny, in the eastern suburbs of Paris.
This was Sutton's first commercial visit to its French twin town, organised with the help of South London Export Club - in particular, its chairman Bryan Treherne, who travelled with the party.
There followed an 18-hour day that was, by common consent, busy but enjoyable and highly instructive.
The Sutton delegation got to know a lot about the business climate in Gagny and found that both places have a great deal in common, even if the French city has only about one-fifth the population of the English borough.
Both are overshadowed by the centres of their respective capitals, with many of their residents choosing to commute out of the area to work, attracted by higher wages and better prospects.
They are also both dominated by larger suburban neighbours - Sutton by Croydon and Kingston, and Gagny by Euro Disney.
The Sutton delegation received a warm welcome from the Mayor of Gagny, followed by a networking lunch, a formal presentation and a coach tour of the town.
Both the French and the English are looking forward to their next meeting and the prospect of being able to find joint solutions to their common economic problems.
VOILA: Michel Teulet, Executive Mayor of Gagny (left), makes a point to Paul Cawthorne, chairman of Sutton Chamber of Commerce, during the networking lunch - picture by Gareth Curtis.
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WATERLOO station was barely aired when a party of south London early birds arrived. They were there to catch the Eurostar at the start of a mini trade mission to the City of Gagny, in the eastern suburbs of Paris.