Polegate welcomes regional North-German TV news journalist for special twinning and community filming visit

Polegate welcomed Alexa Felicitas von der Recke from RTL Nord to the town on Saturday 19 September for a special filming visit celebrating the town’s international twinning links, civic life, and local community.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase Polegate, highlight the importance of its international friendships and demonstrate the contribution that twinning can make to community connections, cultural exchange and understanding between towns and communities overseas.

Alexa’s visit began at the Polegate Council Chamber, where she was welcomed by Mayor Stephen Shing, Deputy Mayor Cllr Dan Dunbar, and Chair and Secretary of the Polegate Twinning Association, Dr Yusaf Samiullah.

Filming took place at the Council Chamber, focusing on Polegate’s civic life and its international twinning activities.

Following the filming at the Council Chamber, Alexa visited St Johns Church grounds, and two of the twinning road signs, including near the Polegate-Willingdon Windmill site. She was given a short tour round the streets of Polegate, including to the Community Centre and visited the Late Summer Fête in Polegate High Street, which took place from 2pm to 5pm.

With mild weather and a lively community atmosphere, the fête provided an ideal setting to capture footage of Polegate, residents, community activities, and the High Street.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Dan Dunbar also described the post 15-16 October 1987 great Storm events, because of which Appen sent five hundred replacement trees to Polegate as a gift. Polegate sent Appen a thank-you red telephone box, which is still in use today outside the Appen Council offices as a mini-library booth!

Mayor Stephen Shing said: “We were delighted to welcome Alexa to the Council Chamber and to Polegate for this special filming visit. Filming at the Council Chamber provided an opportunity to highlight Polegate’s civic life and international twinning activities.

I am pleased that the filming was successfully completed and that Alexa was able to experience both our civic setting and the warm atmosphere of our local fête. It was an excellent opportunity to showcase Polegate’s international twinning links and the friendships they help to create.”

The visit also provided an opportunity to highlight recent links and visits involving Appen, reflecting the continuing development of Polegate’s international connections.

The visit brought together Polegate’s civic and community life, while also celebrating the town’s international friendships and the connections created through its twinning activities.

Polegate looks forward to continuing to develop these relationships and creating further opportunities for residents and communities to engage with its international twinning partners.