Welcome to Sheringham Town - Twinning Association

SHERINGHAM & OTTERNDORF

History of the Sheringham - Otterndorf Twinning Association
Geschichte der Verbindung Twinning Sheringham - Otterndorf

The Sheringham - Otterndorf Twinning Association came into being following extensive enquiries by both Sheringham and Otterndorf Town Councils to find a suitable partner town with which to enter into a twinning partnership.

Having established the suitability of the two towns to twin, Sheringham Town Council called a series of public meetings and at the last of them on 9th March 1987, the Sheringham - Otterndorf Twinning Association was formally elected.

The Twinning document was formally signed by the representative of both towns at official ceremonies, first at Otterndorf on 25th October 1987 and then in Sheringham on 14th April 1988

The affairs of the Association are conducted by a Management Committee consisting of twelve members, of which eleven are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Twinning Association and the twelfth being the Chairman (now Mayor) at the time of the Sheringham Town Council.

From the outset the Association has enjoyed enthusiastic support from the local community. This has taken many forms, the most important, perhaps, being participation in fund raising activities organised by the Committee, hosting German guests on their visits to Sheringham, and making return visits to Otterndorf. During the past ten years many visits to and from Otterndorf have been arranged by individuals and families. School visits have also been an important feature

In October 1997 the 10th Anniversary of the Twinning partnership took place and to mark the occasion the Otterndorf Twinning Association invited the Sheringham Town Council and members of the Twinning Association Management Committee to take part in a week of events in Otterndorf from 6th to the 11th October.

In April 1998 a party from Otterndorf Twinning Association visited Sheringham to mark the signing of the Twinning Charter on 14th April 1998. Both these events were most successful and further strengthened the friendship and understanding between the people of the two towns.

As a memento of the 10th Anniversary, the Sheringham Association produced a limited edition of special commemorative tankards and plates (100 of each). Bearing pictures and crests of both towns, they cost £7.50 per item (£12.50 a set for Association members), and a number are still available to purchase at a reduced price of £5.00 per item.

An English translation of the official Otterndorf Town Guide is also available at a cost of £2.50

The last trip to Otterndorf from Sheringham was in May 2000 when Otterndorf celebrated the 600th anniversary of receiving its City Charter. Sixty-nine of Sheringham Associations members joined in the festivities, which included taking part in the Jubilee Parade with our own float which depicted the Sheringham Town Clock

Discussions have started on the proposed visit from Otterndorf in October 2001 to coincide with part of the celebration of Sheringham's 100 year anniversary of its Town Charter. It is also intended that a visit to Otterndorf shall take place in May 2002

Social events for Sheringham members take place regularly, details of which are published on the Events page of this site and in our printed periodic newsletter.

Leighton P Jones, Secretary.

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