The Society was delighted to welcome a group of visitors from its partner town twinning organisation in Aachen, Germany, accompanied by Mrs Hilde Scheidt, Deputy Mayor of the city. The visitors stayed in local homes and this greatly adds to the experience they and their hosts enjoy during their time in Halifax. The Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Dot Foster, held a reception in the Town Hall after which a busy week of events and visits was enjoyed and friendships renewed and created. The longer trips were to Richmond in North Yorkshire, where thunderstorms were narrowly avoided, and Whitby where there was a colourful procession of local authority mayors in celebration of Yorkshire Day.
Our visitors were also taken on tours of the Piece Hall, the Minster, Woolshops, Bankfield Museum and the Industrial Museum and were impressed by the improvements in the town centre since their last visit two years ago. Meals and the opportunity to socialise were enjoyed at Siddal ARLC, the Maurice Jagger Centre and the Caygill Rooms restaurant in the Piece Hall. The Farewell Dinner was joined by special guests and former members of the Society to celebrate 70 years of friendship between Halifax and Aachen and forty years of town twinning. In a fitting ceremony both Mayors signed a charter in support of the continued friendship between citizens and organisations in the two towns.
People from this area have been getting to know Aachen, the city and the people, for 70 years. If you want to get involved please contact the Secretary via the Contact us page on this web-site.
Geoff Barnes
Vice Chair and Publications Officer
