Swaffham Twinning Association History.

Twinning in Swaffham started when the Mayors of Swaffham and Couhé-Verac in France signed a twinning agreement in August 1967. Two months later, on October 1967, the Burgermeister of Hemmoor signed a twinning agreement with the Mayor of Couhé to twin their two towns.  The following year, in June 1968, a three way twinning partnership was set up when the Mayors of each of the towns of Swaffham, Couhé and Hemmoor signed documents to link the three towns together. Since that time civic ceremonies have been held in rotation in one of the three towns every two years to reaffirm the principles of twinning and bonds of friendship put in place in 1968.  In the years in between there have been informal visits with schools, the fire services, various clubs and families as well as many private contacts between old and new friends in all three towns. The Mayors and Town Clerks of each town, sometimes with other town councillors, attend the biennial civic visits.  Representatives of town organisations, including the twinning associations, are also able to attend and there is usually a maximum party size of 30 from each town

It is usual for visitors to stay with host families in their homes, but occasionally a host family will arrange, at their own expense, for their guests to stay in a local hotel. Such hospitality and generosity has often led to lasting friendships and involvement in family celebrations.

Civic occasions take place over a weekend and are usually marked by a formal ceremony on the Saturday in which the Mayors of each town renew the promises made all those years ago. In the evening there is a dinner, hosted by the town, followed by dancing and socialising into the small hours.  Trips to local places of interest are arranged and host families also take their guests out and about on private visits. When the civic visit is in Swaffham, the Twinning Association usually organises a trip for guests and hosts as well as a dinner and entertainment on the Sunday evening; guests and hosts are invited free of charge.

Swaffham Twinning Association runs a number of fund raising social events during the year to defray the costs of entertaining our visitors when they come to Swaffham, whether it be on a civic visit or an in-between informal visit.   If you would like to join the Association or attend any of our events then please see the appropriate page on this website or contact any committee member.