50th Anniversary Twinning Preparations Coming on Apace
PR 151
22 March 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Great Yarmouth and Rambouillet Twinning Committee organising the 50
th anniversary has learned that there will be at least 70 visitors from the French town, when Great Yarmouth hosts the celebrations in April.
The guests arrive to a civic greeting on Wednesday April 19, which will be followed by three days of entertainment including a 1950s style tea dance, the official opening of the Easter Fair, and a public re-signing of a Twinning Charter.
The finale of the celebrations will be a concert in St Nicholas Church which will see entertainment provided by locals groups - including Wrentham Brass, youth theatre Dusmagrik, Great Yarmouth Operatic Society, recorder group Anglia Consort and a recital by Flegg High School pianist Edward Bates.
The theme of the concert, which begins at 7pm, is Friendship over the last 50 years. Tickets can be obtained on the door, £3 for adults and children free, or by calling the Mayor’s Secretary Laura Goodman on 01493 846125.
A limited edition tankard is to go on sale during the visit. Designed by Ernie Childs at Great Yarmouth Potteries it is to be unveiled on Friday 21 and will cost £30.
Rumoured to reflect both towns and the 50
th anniversary, orders have already been placed by collectors. It will be on sale for one day only at Palmers on Saturday 22, and after that available from members of the Twinning Committee.
“Ernie Childs has also been at work designing a bronze plate which we would like to present to the people of Rambouillet when we visit the town in September,” said Chairperson of the Committee, Hilary Evans.
“If people would like to make a contribution we will enter all donations into a book which will be presented at the same time as the plate.
“The visit has caught the imagination of many people. We have managed to find homes to welcome most of our French friends into, from people who live in or have associations with Great Yarmouth.
“But we could still do with a few more please. It isn’t essential to live in the town, families from Norwich and Bungay will be hosting some of the visitors. If anyone wants to donate to the plate, can offer accommodation or wants to know more about the Great Yarmouth and Rambouillet Twinning Committee they are welcome to call me on 01493 393416 or email
hilaryevans.294@virgin.net.”
The towns became ‘twins’ in 1956 to enable citizens to understand one another’s culture better.
Early trips were mainly by school children but, in 1961, The Friends of Rambouillet was formed to promote visits by people of all ages.
Now known as the Great Yarmouth and Rambouillet Twinning Committee members arrange bi-annual trips to France, with visitors coming to Great Yarmouth in the alternating year.
Significant events over the years include nine marriages which came through the twinning of the towns. People have found employment on both sides of the Channel, and in April four students from a business college in Rambouillet will be gaining work experience in Great Yarmouth.
Two will be working at the College, one at James Paget Hospital and the fourth for the Borough Council.
For further information call Great Yarmouth and Rambouillet Twinning Committee member Hilary Evans on 01493 393416, or Mayor’s Secretary Laura Goodman on 01493 846125.Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513