Category: Warminster – Flers Twinning Association

Special Gift Celebrates 50 Years Of Twinning ~ Warminster And Flers

Monday 24th April 2023

The Mayor of Warminster is to present a beautiful stain glass decoration that combines the United Kingdom Flag with the French Tricolour to the town of Flers to celebrate 50 years of twinning.

Warminster has been twinned with the town of Flers in Normandy, France, since 1973. Visits have been made each year alternately between the two towns and strong friendships have been formed between host families.

To celebrate 50 years of twinning, a special commemorative stain glass decoration was commissioned.

Annie Mulholland who designed and made the piece said: “It was my great pleasure to be asked by Warminster Town Council to design and make the gift to celebrate the 50 years of the twinned towns Warminster in England and Flers in France. As I was making this glass panel in the Louis Comfort Tiffany method of copper foil I was reminded how there has always been a connection between the North of France and England within the tradition of stained glass. From medieval times people came from the Low countries to England with their skills in traditional methods of stained glass and really enhanced our teams of stained glass designers and painters. 50 years is a significant amount of time being half a century to be twinned towns and we can celebrate not just today but the historical aspect and shared interests.”

Annie was Prestige South West Stained Glass Designer of the Year 2020/2021 & 2021/2022.

This year’s twinning visit is scheduled to set off in a coach on Friday 28th April. On arrival in Flers, the guests from Warminster will be welcomed at a Civic Reception. All the Warminster visitors will stay in the homes of French Host Families. On Saturday and Sunday trips and events have been organised by the French Twinning Committee, with the grand finale of a celebratory dinner.

The town twinning movement took off very soon after 1945, with the passionate support of mayors and citizens who vowed that Europe should never again be torn apart by war. Most of the initial twinnings were between towns from European countries that had, till recently, been divided by war. Over the years twinning widened to cover the rest of the World.

Councillor Chris Robbins, Mayor of Warminster said: “It will be and honour and a pleasure to make this presentation to the people of Flers.”

If you would like to learn more about Annie Mulholland Stained Glass her website is anniemulholland.com. If you would like to know more about Twinning find Warminster Flers Twinning Association on Facebook.

Warminster-Flers Twinning Association 2009-2010

Saturday 12th June 2010

Warminster – Flers. The Twinning Today

Several organisations in Warminster now have links with Flers.

Warminster folk have learned or improved their French.

Warminster-Flers Twinning Association itself currently has almost 50 members. The Town Council and Lions are currently group members; others who have participated in exchange visits include the Firemen, Choirs, Rotary Club, Round Table, Anglers and Kingdown School.

Many long-standing and true friendships have been forged over the years, many through the contact with their Flers counterparts – on the other hand, some get by happily with sign language!

Warminster-Flers Association
Established by Charter 1973.

The Twinning began as an idea born in France. The town of Flers in Normandy was liberated by the British 11th Armoured Division in August 1944.

Towards the end of the 1960s, Jean Brisset and Father Amiard, both of Flers, confirmed this by making inquiries in London. Eventually some British Old Comrades Association members with connections with the 11th Armoured Division were invited by the Ancient Combattants of Flers (a serviceman’s association) to join in the celebrations to commemorate the 1945 victory. These were held in Flers during the weekend 8-10 May 1970.

It was a general wish that the British links with Flers should be strengthened, and because Warminster had past connections with the 11th Armoured Division, an invitation was sent to Warminster Town Council to visit Flers to discuss ‘twinning’ the two towns. This meeting took place in March 1972. After a town meeting in Warminster and a visit by the Flerians later in the year, the idea began to take shape. So it was that on the 13th of May 1973 the Twinning Charter was signed in Flers and on the 1st of July of that year the ceremony was repeated in Warminster.

The Association has a President, Edward Moore, assisted by a committee which regularly meets. With regard to the exchange visits, the arrangement is that one year we travel to Flers by coach and cars for a weekend, usually around the end of April or beginning of May. The following year the Flerians come to us and so on. The Association raises its funds by means of a subscription fee, and social events. This money covers the costs of the French guests’ entertainment at the social function organised for them during the weekend when they visit Warminster.

Apart from that, the rest of the weekend is free for you and your French friends to relax together, and perhaps visit one of the local places of interest.

The Association of our two towns has existed now for thirty-four years; it has been an extremely happy union – and we hope that you will consider joining us.

The annual subscription at present is £10 per person or £15 per family.

Activities include:
> Exchange Visits.
> Family Friendships.
> Social Events – Soirees.
> Anglo-French Understanding.

When the Warminster-Flers Twinning Association was inaugurated, its aims were laid down as follows:-

1 To provide the basis of personal friendships between individuals and families in the two towns and districts, and to encourage exchange visits.

2 To foster close ties between schools, societies, companies and other organised groups in the two towns and their districts in order to increase opportunities for participation in the fields of education, culture, sports and pastimes, commerce, tourism and other mutual interests.

3 To encourage the study of the French and English languages as a means of improving communication between people.

Executive And Committee Members 2009-2010
President: Edward Moore.
Vice President: Jeff Allen.
Chairman: Trish Barker.
Secretary: Heather Yates.
Associate Secretary: Anthony Johnson.
Treasurer: Nick Yates.
Membership And Accommodation Sec.: Judy Beer.
Newsletter Editor And Press Officer: Judy Beer.
Committee Members:
Christine Bartholomew.
Pat Firth.
Ingrid Marsden.

If you are interested in joining the Twinning Association please contact one of the following:
Heather Yates, Secretary, 01985 213530.
Accommodation, Judy Beer, 01985 216629.
Chairman, Trish Barker: 01985 219479.