Towns’ link reaffirmed

A twinning charter signed in Newark 25 years ago as the final stage in the official link between the town and Emmendingen in Germany was signed again on Sunday to reaffirm the commitment.

It was signed by the Mayor of Newark, Mrs Rita Crowe, who is also chairman of Newark Twinning Association, and by the Oberburgermeister of Emmendingen, Mr Stefan Schlatterer.

The charter was signed for the first time by his father, the late Mr Hans-Peter Schlatterer, who was oberburgermeister at the time, and by a former Mayor of Newark, Mr Roland Cope.

Mr Cope was at Sunday’s ceremony as was the Deputy Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts, who was also deputy mayor at the first ceremony.

That ceremony was carried out in the grounds of Newark Castle on a wet April Sunday.

As a memory of that occasion the German visitors presented umbrellas as presents, as well as wine and an oak seat with the town’s logo at each end.

Guests included former Newark town clerk Mr Mike Wilson, who was among those who helped to set up the link between the towns.

The ceremony, held during a lunch in Newark Town Hall ballroom, followed a service at the parish church by the Rector of Newark, the Rev Vivian Enever.

Mrs Crowe said it was good to see so many people who had been associated with twinning since the start and were still active within the association, but said they should also remember those no longer with them.

She said it was vital that young people, particularly those aged 18 to 30, became involved with twinning if the link was to survive.

Mr Schlatterer agreed and said a youth twinning association had been set up in Emmendingen and they were looking for Newark young people to join.

The 90 visitors from Germany included members of Voice, an Emmendingen Choir. There were also visitors from Newark’s Polish twin-town Sandomeirz.

A white metal sculpture by the late Ernst Thomann, of Emmendingen, has been on display in the art gallery of Newark Town Hall as part of the anniversary celebrations.

The sculpture, The Meeting, which shows two heads pointing towards each other, was a present to Newark from Emmendingen.

Photographs of other pieces of his work were sent to Newark by his son, photographer Peter Thomann, who was among those to visit at the weekend. During his stay he visited the gallery.

There was a standing ovation for former Mayor of Newark Mr Roland Cope on Sunday when it was announced that he had been made the first honorary president of Newark Twinning Association.

Mr Cope, of Windsor Road, was mayor and chairman of Newark Twinning Association when the twinning charter between Newark and Emmendingen was signed 25 years ago.

The Mayor of Newark, Mrs Rita Crowe, said they wanted to mark all the hard work he had done for the twinning link over many years.