Last Sunday, I enjoyed a wonderful service and commemoration of 50 years of twinning with Château Gontier, alongside many visitors who came over from France to celebrate with us, including their deputy mayor.
As we looked back on these five decades, we reflected on the countless exchanges that have enriched our towns. We’ve seen young people discover new cultures through school visits, musicians share stages, and sports clubs compete in friendly matches. We’ve celebrated together, learned from one another, and supported each other through good times and challenging ones. It is this human connection, built person by person and family by family, that makes twinning so much more than a document. It is a living, breathing promise of friendship and cooperation.
At one of my recent meetings, I was asked the question, “How and why has Frome changed so much in the last ten to fifteen years?”
It made me reflect on all the ways in which life in Frome has evolved during this time. It’s a vastly different place from when I moved here in 1964.
In those days, jobs were easy to come by, we were relatively well off, housing wasn’t an issue, industry factories were the major employers, the cattle market was in the centre of town, Frome revelled in Cheese Show Day in the Old Showfield and all factories, schools and businesses closed for the day to support it. We were a little more parochial in those days – close-knit as a community but wary of anyone new arriving from outside.
So, what has changed?
Frome was renowned for its heavy industry. The likes of J W Singer & Son, Butler & Tanner, Cuprinol, Beswicks, Notts Industries, Wellington Weston, Allied Carpets, Express Dairies, to name but a few. These industries have now declined but unlike many towns in the North and The Midlands, we have seen strong growth in local service and creative industries, which has helped our economy remain resilient.
Our high street is made up of mainly independent shops, which seem to survive better than large retail chains, and they offer a much more personal service.
Frome has gained a reputation as a ‘cool’ town and a desirable place to live. It has been featured in publications like The Times and The Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in the UK. This has contributed to a rise in tourism, with Frome being promoted as a perfect destination for weekend breaks. In essence, Frome has transformed from a town with a declining industrial base into a vibrant, community-led hub known for its independent spirit and its music and arts scene.
This shift has brought new opportunities and a positive reputation; however, the influx of new people seeking to live here has brought both pros and cons. Newcomers have contributed to a different dynamic and changes to our culture, justifying new and exciting restaurants, new businesses and a vibrant cultural scene. This large migration has, however, also had a negative impact on our town, with house prices becoming far less accessible to an average local resident.
I have witnessed an amazing change since I first arrived and for the most part, it’s all supported healthy growth and makes Frome an interesting and exciting place to live.
It doesn’t take away from the fact that we’re living in turbulent times, both nationally and globally. Frome is still facing a wicked cost of living crisis, a housing crisis and being impacted by an environmental crisis. I’m aware we still have many areas of deprivation in Frome, but as a strong community, offering huge support where it’s most needed, we should be proud of Fair Frome, the Community Fridge, the Welcome Hub, The Good Heart, and many other groups offering free food and advice within so many local community groups.
Frome is an extraordinary town, with a character all its own: an inclusive, welcoming, and strong community, a passion for supporting local businesses, a desire to break the mould and create our own future and sometimes even a defiant approach to the status quo. I’m all for it and long may it continue!
ANITA COLLIER
