THE new chairman of Bromsgrove's twinning group will not be stuck for words when she talks to her opposite numbers in the town's links in Germany and France.

Linguist Rosalind Cooke, better known as Roz, of Manor Court Road, who runs her own technical translation agency, was chosen as the new chairman at Bromsgrove Twinning Association's annual general meeting at the Council House on Friday.

She replaces Ivor Stephenson, from Barnt Green, who stepped down after three years at the helm.

One of her aims, she said, will be to encourage young people and their parents to join the association to establish friendships abroad and learn the language.

And David Turner, a retired surveyor from Finstall, well-known in Bromsgrove as a former Court Leet Bailiff and organiser of the Elizabethan Street market for many years, becomes the association's third president. Mr Turner, who was vice president, replaces the late Joyce Brown, who died in February.

Mr Turner told the 60 or so members present it was a great honour to be chosen adding he realised he had hard acts to follow. On his proposal Mr Stephenson was elected vice president.

Later Roz, a former Bromsgrove district councillor, said: "I am honoured to be elected as the new chairman. I will not find it easy to follow in Ivor's footsteps. This is because of a particular warmth, energy and diplomacy he brought to the job of chairing a big committee.

"As I work full time I may not be able to put in as much hard work as Ivor, but what I can bring to the job is fluent French, good German, a lifelong commitment to internationalism and four year's experience as a district councillor."

Reflecting on the year's activities, Mr Stephenson said it had been hoped to formalise Bromsgrove's friendship link with St Sauveur Lendelin, in France.

But, he said, despite a cool response from the district council, the association will continue to press for the link to become official.

He paid a special tribute to two stalwart members, Betty Long and Barbara Grimes, who had stood down from the committee.

It was reported the association has a healthy bank balance and a membership of 150 against 80 in 2001.