Fifty years to the day since its first voyage (and fifty years plus one since the UK joined the common market), Brittany Ferries is celebrating. The company which operates from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth is bringing more than 120 representatives of twinning associations in Brittany to meet their counterparts in Cornwall, Devon and Wales for a reception and dinner on board flagship Pont-Aven in Plymouth. The voyage starts from Roscoff in Brittany this morning at 09:00 UK time.

“Today is all about celebrating what we have done for 50 years,” said Christophe Mathieu, Brittany Ferries CEO. “We want to reinvigorate the entente cordiale among people who are closer to each other politically and culturally than they are to centres of power in Paris and London. We are proud to have served the regions of northwest France and southwest England, bringing people together for 50 years, and we look forward to continuing this beautiful adventure together.”

Entertainment on board has come courtesy of Breton band Dremmwel. Their gentle tunes have been used as wake-up music in cabins for decades.  In total Brittany Ferries estimates Dremmwel have provided the soundtrack to the start of 24 million holidays in Brittany, Normandy and northern Spain.