THE French Ambassador, His Excellency Monsieur Jean-Pierre Jouyet – along with the French Defence Attaché, Contre Amiral Luc Pagét – visited the former wartime home of the French heavy bomber squadrons of the Royal Air Force.

M Jouyet had been keen to visit the French Memorial at Elvington, near York, and sit in the Halifax four-engined bomber in French Air Force colours, reminiscent of those which flew from Elvington prior to D-Day in June 1944.

He laid a wreath at the Allied Air Forces Memorial before meeting the Rt Hon Lord Mayor, Cllr Keith Orrell, and other civic and public leaders at York Mansion House.

Afterwards, M Jouyet visited York Minster where he was welcomed by the Acting Dean, Rev Peter Moger and shown the French Air Force Memorial, unveiled in 2011.

He later visited Imphall Barracks within the city, which has a French commander – Brig Général Hervé Bizeul.

The event was organised by Ian Reed, museum director, who said, “It is a recognition of The City of York’s close ties with France that the Ambassador has chosen to pay a visit to the city within his first year in office, for which we thank him sincerely.

“This is the third French Ambassador to formally visit York in the last four years.”