25th anniversary of Eshweiler twinning - March 2010
This page is about how the civic leaders of three communities joined forces to celebrate the town twinning Silver Jubilee between the Borough of Reigate & Banstead and Eschweiler, Germany, in March 2010.
Eschweiler has been twinned with Wattrelos in France for 35 years, and last year a Friendship Link was also forged between Wattrelos and the Borough of Reigate & Banstead.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Mayor Richard Mantle, Eschweiler Mayor Rudi Bertram and Wattrelos’ Mayor Dominic Baert all spoke in favour of the town twinning movement before signing an agreement on future cooperation.
"The ever-growing link with Eschweiler is a great success", said Richard Mantle. "It is important to keep exchange visits going, because they generate life-long friendships and cultural understanding." The 25-year association with Eschweiler had, he added, been a great success and he hoped the recently-concluded Friendship Agreement with Wattrelos, in France, would be the first of many. He said twinning had an important role to play in the development of the ever-growing European family, helping create respect for and understanding of others.
Peace, wealth and friendship
Rudi Bertram, the Mayor of Eschweiler, said that twinning "is the guarantor for peace, wealth and friendship in Europe. Our partnerships make the combined Europe become tangible for the people. They keep Europe alive and they are the foundation and the basis of European integration. They are the motors of unity and variety."
"Everyone is enriched by the differences between the cultures and lifestyles" said Dominic Baert, Mayor of Wattrelos. "Twinning is for everybody who wants to encourage tolerance, respect, fraternity and peace."
Local bands
Residents from Reigate & Banstead – including four councillors as well as members of the Twinning Association, travelled to Eschweiler for the formal celebrations on Saturday, March 27. They were accompanied by two local bands from the Surrey Yeomanry and the Redhill Corps of Drums who played at the formal proceedings in Eschweiler’s town hall as well as playing on a progress through the streets.
The formal ceremony was attended by 250 residents of the three towns. The Reigate party and their hosts celebrated the link at a dinner for 150.
School exchange
The weekend closely followed an exchange between Eschweiler pupils and pupils from Reigate Priory Junior School, and it was followed by a visit to St John’s Primary School, Redhill, by pupils from Wattrelos.
A group from Eschweiler will be coming to Reigate in October.
Pictured
- Reigate & Banstead Twinning Association Eschweiler Chairman Janet Powell, who organised the visit
- Wattrelos mayor Dominique Baert
- Eschweiler mayor Rudi Bertram
- Twinning Association Chair Penelope Horsfall
- Hartmut Frohlich, Chair of the Eschweiler Partnerschaftsverein
- Richard Mantle, mayor of Reigate & Banstead.
Contact
Janet Powell on 01737 761903 or email powellspostbox@btinternet.com.
Last updated : 03/11/2010
