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.
