Introduction

Welcome to the official Witney & District Twinning Association web site. We hope that you will enjoy your visit to our site.

For more than 40 years, Witney has enjoyed a special relationship with Le Touquet-Paris-Plage in France, becoming twinned in 1980. In 1990, that circle of friendship expanded when Witney was twinned with Unterhaching in Germany.

In Witney the square outside Waitrose was named Le Touquet square in 2010 to celebrate 30 years of twinning and the park and play area at the top of Marriots Walk is named Unterhaching park.

Witney Twinning Association works with Witney Town Council to keep our twinning links strong and meaningful. At the heart of the Association are two simple but powerful aims:

• To promote and foster friendship and understanding between our twin towns
• To broaden mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, ducational, and commercial activities shared between our communities

Last year we had a weekend of celebrations with our French and German friends to mark the anniversaries of our twinning.

Witney Town Council arranged for a formal signing and renewing of our vows of friendship and co-operation, and visits to the Blanket Hall, Museum and Fire station were arranged. The visit coincided with Witney Beer Festival - particularly enjoyed by our German friends. Unterhaching is close to Munich with its famous beer festival.

Also last year, the Youth Council of Le Touquet along with its Mayor visited and met with Witney Youth Council. The visit was a great success with a Town Hall reception, link ins with local schools and local visits - and friendships continue on.

Each year representatives of Unterhaching and Le Touquet visit on Remembrance weekend and lay wreaths at our Remembrance Day service on Church Green. Representatives from the Town Council and Twinning Association have also visited for remembrance commemorations in Germany and France.

Town twinning developed in Europe after the Second World War to foster links and friendships between communities to prevent future conflicts. These principles remain just as relevant today and through the friendships and exchanges enjoyed over the years, we have found the truth of the words of the late Jo Cox that; "We have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."

If you would like to be a part of building links with the peoples of Le Touquet and Unterhaching it would be good to hear from you.

You don't need to speak fluent French or German to get involved. Nor do you need to be a seasoned traveller. What matters most is an interest in meeting people, learning about different cultures and being part of a welcoming community.

New members are always welcome, bringing fresh ideas, enthusiasm and helping to ensure that these valuable friendships and connections continue to flourish for future generations.

We are also keen to hear from local community groups keen to build links with similar groups in our twin towns.

Association Officers
Co Chairs - David Bates (david@witneytwinning.com) and
John Thornton (johnthornton1973@gmail.com)
Secretary - tbc
French Rep - tbc
Treasurer - please contact David Bates with any queries regarding the Treasury
German Rep - John Thornton
Website & IT - Mark Pengelly
Committee Members - Mike Breakell, Andy Wolf
Honorary Members - Owen Collins, Rachel Crouch