20th anniversary of Eschweiler anniversary
This section provides information about celebrations to mark the 20th year of town twinning between Reigate & Banstead and Eschweiler in Germany in 2005.
In 2005 Eschweiler celebrated 20 years of town twinning with Reigate & Banstead.
September 2005
A group from Eschweiler, together with representatives from our French twin town of Brunoy, visted Reigate and Banstead on the weekend of 9 September and there was an anniversary concert at the Harlequin.
The visit also included the exchange of commemorative documents to mark the special occasion, signed by the Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Cllr Frances Dixon and Mayor of Eschweiler Herr Rudi Bertram.
Celebrations in Germany
Earlier in the year the Mayor Cllr Dixon led a group from the Town Twinning Association who visited Eschweiler, near Aachen in Germany, for the celebrations.
They were joined by a delegation from Wattrelos, Eschweiler's French twin town. Local bands Dixieland Stompers, Swinglo and Surrey Yeomanry were especially invited by Eschweiler to play during the weekend, the highlight of which was an free open-air concert in the Marketplace by British and German bands.
Eschweiler's Mayor and Cllr Dixon signed an affirmation of friendship at the official ceremony at the Town Hall, followed by the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on a local stone, pictured below.
Janet Powell, Eschweiler Link Chairman, said: "Our group from Town Twinning comprised many people who have been associated with Eschweiler over the years.
"We have done a lot of fundraising for the anniversary events this year and it's great to get everyone together again!"
If you or your group have had contact with Eschweiler in the past and would like to renew old acquaintences, or would like to make a new contact there, please get in touch with Janet on 01737 761903.
How the towns came to be twinned
The twinning association's President, Honorary Alderman Tom Curtis and his late wife, Nancy, had noticed that many towns had boundary signs indicating twinning relationships with overseas towns.
They wondered why the Borough, close to Gatwick Airport with resultant international links, had no twin towns.
In 1980 during his inaugural speech as newly elected mayor, Tom raised the issue of the desirability of a twinning link being formed. This led to publicity in the press and Tom called a public meeting.
A resident of the borough, who had previously lived in Eschweiler, near Aachen, Germany knew that they were looking for a British twin town.
As a result of this connection an approach was received from Eschweiler - this came at just the right time as the prospect of town twinning had already been well received. The relative proximity of the Borough was an important attraction.
In 1981, with the very active involvement of Maurice Adams, Tom’s successor as Mayor, visits by car were exchanged between Reigate and Banstead and Eschweiler, with larger numbers exchanging visits the following year.
The town twinning association was formed to promote a twinning link with Eschweiler and to provide for the possibility of twinning links with other towns.
By 1984 it was becoming clear that the twinning link was well founded and the formal link between the two towns was established in 1985.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is not responsible for the content of external sites.
