25th anniversary of Eschwiler twinning - October 2010
25th anniversary of Eschwiler twinning - October 2010
Following on from a successful visit to Eschweiler in March at the start of this celebratory year, a party of 
60 Eschweiler twinners, including the Mayor Rudi Bertram, and his wife, together with a small group of friends from Wattrelos, visited the Borough on 1 October, for the weekend.
On Friday evening, the Eschweilers who were not being hosted by local twinners, were invited to a meal at a local pub. The Mayor of Eschweiler attended a civic reception at Gatton Park, hosted by Cllr David Pay, Mayor of Reigate and Banstead.
Boat ride on the Wey
On Saturday, the German twinners, accompanied by local twinners, visited Guildford Cathedral, the town, and took a boat ride on the River Wey. In the evening, 100 people - German, French and local twinners - enjoyed a buffet meal at the Redhill and Reigate Golf Club provided by the local winners. Music was provided by the Redhill Corps of Drums Quintet, who have a long association with Eschweiler and are founder members of Reigate & Banstead Twinning Association.
On Sunday, 3 October, to celebrate the 25 years of Twinning with Eschweiler, the Mayor, Cllr Pay, and the Leader of the Council, Mrs. J. Spiers, welcomed the Mayor of Eschweiler, Rudi Bertram and his wife, together with several councillors from both Boroughs, to the Town Hall in Reigate, as well as some Twinners from Reigate & Banstead, Eschweiler and our French links.
The Mayor, Cllr. Pay, Mayor Bertram and others, spoke of the great value that twinning brings to the citizens of both Reigate & Banstead and Eschweiler - and our other twinning links. He reiterated the strengths of twinning, building up relationships especially between schools, youth groups, sporting groups and cultural groups.
Ash tree
Mayor Bertram thanked Reigate and Banstead for its welcome, and presented the Borough with an ash tree, expressing the hope that as the tree grows, so the strength of the friendship between our towns will also grow.
The ceremony closed with the signing of the updated Twinning Agreement, by both Mayors.
Contact
The Twinning Association of Reigate and Banstead is a self-supporting group, open to all citizens and groups, anywhere within the Borough. If you would like information on any aspect of its activities, please contact Richard Cawtheray, Press Officer, on 01737 764974, or Janet Powell, Chairman of the
Eschweiler Group, on 01737 761903 or email powellspostbox@btinternet.com.
Last updated : 16/11/2010
