‘Pave the way’ for future Burgess Hill twinning

Anne Jones wants to see the twinning develop, and she hopes for schools and drama companies to be paired.

During the celebrations the mayors of Schmallenberg, Germany, and Burgess Hill signed a Twinning Protocol for the next twenty five years.

Mayor Jones said: “We want to pave way for next 25 years, to keep us close. It’s very important, I hadn’t seen it like this before, I didn’t know a lot about it.

“Some people think it’s about having a jolly, but it can mean so much more. People can learn more about each other, I would love more children to have the opportunity to come.”

There was a large contingent of Burgess Hill performers on show throughout the celebrations during the annual Woche Festival, including the Mid Sussex Brass Band, the Sussex Supremes and other Burgess Hill bands, which the mayor described as ‘superb’.

She continued: “Oakmeeds have a relationship with Schmallenberg, some children go from one school in Germany to Burgess Hill and some of ours go to Germany.

“We have every reason to want to see this happen more, teachers are saying we would love to be twinned with the school, and theatre groups could do the same.

“Sharing and learning with the local people creates a greater understanding of each other.”

The festivities were also attended by Mayor of Wimereaux, a French town twinned with Schmallenburg for forty years.

“The mayor of Schmallenberg, Bernhard Halbe, gave a speech, it was so moving, it was all about our towns’ need to work together,” she added.

Mayor Jones visited the vice chairman of the twinning association’s 500 year old cottage, and viewed artifacts from 18 museums which gathered in the town centre.

She continued: “They take the twinning very seriously, it was so different this time compared to when I went before. They have a Burgess Hill platz.

“It’s very unique, and the beer was flowing as you can imagine!”

Mr David Farmer was presented a gift for his outstanding contribution to town twinning, especially his work with pupils during his time as a teacher at Oakmeeds Community College.

Mayor Jones added: “I would like to thank the photographer, Mr Paul Noble kindly provided the photographs for the Photo Wall, this was an impressive display. The photo of St Andrews Church was impressive, again boxes were used in a delightful way.

“Our art students from Oakmeeds Community College decorated the boxes that have been used for Burgess Hill’s display.”