France/Flers celebrated the 50th anniversary of its twinning with the city of Warminster
On Friday, April 28, 2023, about forty British people from Warminster, a British town twinned with Flers, and their host families from Flers, were received in the hall of honor of the town hall by Yves Goasdoué, mayor of Flers, surrounded by four deputy mayors, three city councilors of the majority.
This friendly reunion was the occasion for the two cities to celebrate together the 50 years of their twinning. The mayor of Warminster was present for the first time in Flers.
Every year in May, exchanges take place between families from Flers and families from Warminster (Great Britain) and Wunstorf (Germany). Every other year, the English and German friends stay in Flers for a weekend.A reception of the delegations in the town hall of Flers makes it possible to honor these living twinnings which prove the good international relations in Europe.
On Friday, April 28, 2023, the delegation of Warminter was welcomed in the hall of honor by the mayor of Flers Yves Goasdoué, surrounded by several deputy mayors and city councilors of the majority.
The history of the Flers-Warminster twinning
The twinning between Flers and Warminster lasts since 1973. The idea of this twinning was born in 1970 during the ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. During this anniversary, veterans from Flers and veterans of the former 11th British Armored Division met to celebrate the liberation of Flers in August 1944. Friendship links were created with the common will to maintain this link between the two cities beyond patriotic ceremonies. In 1972, Flers welcomed the first delegation from Warminster, a town where many British soldiers of the 11th DBB had trained before landing in Normandy.
The twinning charter between Flers and Warminster was signed on May 13, 1973 by Emile Halbout and Mr. Middleton.
In this charter, the two cities committed themselves to develop relations between the populations, to encourage the study of French and English languages and cultures, to promote close links between the inhabitants in the fields of sports, associations, schools, and "to contribute to international understanding.
For Yves Goasdoué, mayor of Flers: "What built this twinning is the recognition of our liberators. We will continue to weave the links between peoples.
Remembering the British soldiers who died for France
The next morning, Saturday 29 April, the two delegations met at the Pont de Vère Memorial in Saint-Georges-des-Groseillers to remember the 284 British soldiers who died fighting in Normandy in 1944 to liberate France. The Pont de Vère Memorial is the only memorial erected in memory of the 800 British soldiers of the 11th DBB who died in the Second World War. 11 British soldiers died during the battle of the Pont de Vère and fought to liberate Fler
Join the twinning
The objective of the Flers-Warminster twinning committee is to integrate new families in the annual exchanges. The Flers-Warminster twinning committee has about 50 members. It is always possible to join. Contact: Joël Costard, president of the twinning: 07 82 39 14 54.
In Warminster they are about forty members.
Source: www.flers-agglo.fr
