TRAVELLING the world and spending time with friends are among some of life’s greatest pleasures.

It is no wonder then that the idea endorsed by former US President Jimmy Carter to bring together like-minded culture seekers has grown into a global network of hundreds of organisations striving for the same goals.

The Friendship Force, which promotes understanding, cultural education and citizen diplomacy, was launched four decades ago ahead of the president’s visit to the UK in his first year in the role.

In May, 1977, President Carter made a special trip to the North-East where he stopped off in Newcastle and introduced the pioneering concept to the region’s people. Just months later the international organisation’s first exchange - involving more than 700 eager new members - took place between Newcastle and Atlanta, Georgia.

People from both cities were given shelter by host families who shared their everyday experiences with this new kind of tourist.

Today (Monday, April 24) members from the region’s two remaining branches, County Durham and Cleveland, gathered to celebrate the anniversary.

Cynthia Scott, president of the County Durham group, which has been in operation for 31 ears, joined just over a decade ago.

“It’s a fantastic organisation,” said the 80-year-old. “I started this when my husband died and I was on my own. I went to Biarritz, in France, and was terrified. They (the couple) were just charming. When I said farewell we were in tears. Now we keep in touch.”

There are currently 28 members of the group which most recently hosted the Moscow division, and is set to welcome visitors from Sydney next.

On so-called inbound visits members of the Friendship Force take their foreign counterparts to Whitby, Raby Castle, Durham Cathedral and Town Hall and the Lake District. And for the next outbound visit the North-Easterners will be hosted in the home of the organisation’s HQ, Atlanta, and then Alabama.

Although members are mostly retired and between the ages of 60 and 97, the groups are seeking new recruits of all ages.

Among those attending the lunch at Woodham Golf and Country Club, Newton Aycliffe, was Newcastle cllr David Faulkner, who hopes to kick-start a similar initiative and one of the original members and current Cleveland member, Shirley Brown, of Hart, near Hartlepool.