FORMER mayors, community figures and the leader of the council came together to welcome guests from the Nicaraguan town of Ocotal.

The event was part of a programme marking 25 years of twinning between Swindon and Ocotal, a relationship which continues to go from strength to strength.

Two dancers from the region, Dr Jorge Calderon and Maria Jose Guerra Figuera are currently visiting Swindon – they performed at the council event on Friday, again at Lower Shaw Farm on Sunday and tonight they will take part in a Spanish themed evening at the Arts Centre in Old Town.

Bruce Clark, chairman of Swindon Ocotal Link, said: “It was a really good event, there were a lot of people there and everyone enjoyed themselves.

“Our visiting dancers performed a number of dances with others and the mayor made a presentation of a plaque depicting the crest of Swindon and the crest of Ocotal.”

Discussing the wider context of the celebrations, Mr Clark added: “We’re celebrating 25 years of twinning between the two towns which has been very successful - 120 people have travelled between Ocotal and Swindon, we’ve had three youth trips involving over 40 young people and we’ve also had five large group visits to Ocotal.”

The relationship between the two towns first started in 1986, following contact by the Swindon Central American Study Group and the Mayor of Ocotal, Felipe Barreda.

This contact led to the formation of the Thamesdown Nicaragua Link Association, which later became Swindon Ocotal Link and in 1990 the twinning was formalised.

In addition to a sharing of cultural awareness and information, Swindon has been able to support a number of important projects in Ocotal over the years.

In 1995, a link was established between the hospitals in Ocotal and Swindon and a funding stream set up to allow for support for health care through hospitals, clinics, family doctors and specialists.

The old people’s home in Ocotal is the last independent one of its kind in Nicaragua, donations from Swindon are used mainly for supplementary food and medicines, as well as items such as a sewing machine and shoes for residents.

Donations through Swindon Ocotal Link also help to support 25 primary and secondary school students each year – they receive bursaries worth $100 a year which is used for buying uniforms, shoes, rucksacks and books.

Three university students also receive $240 a year.

Perhaps the biggest test came in 1998 in the form of Hurricane Mitch, which killed 3,800 people in Nicaragua alone causing $1 billion of devastation.

The people of Swindon were able to generate seven tonnes and £27,000 of aid for Ocotal, flown in on a Hercules from RAF Lyneham.

Further events are planned to mark 25 years of the special relationship between the two towns, a group trip is also set to be announced soon which will be a self-funded opportunity for people to go and see Ocotal for themselves.