Twinning

LLANDUDNO & WORMHOUT TOWN TWINNING

The Town Twinning Sub-Committee of Llandudno Town Council are pleased to support and arrange many cultural liaisons between Llandudno Town and the town of Wormhout inNorthern France.

A long associated history exists between the two towns and as many as three trips per year are arranged to allow interested members of the public to engage in fellowship and friendship with our French counterparts.

Easter exchange:

Wormhout town selects up to 60 people to travel to Llandudno for a weekend of hospitality extended by those engaged in the mutual free hosting arrangements and to enjoy our beautiful tourist town and its surrounding area.

A Civic Reception is normally arranged during the weekend where those hosts and their guests are officially thanked by the town for their generosity in providing free accommodation and meals for the French visitors, each playing host to guests throughout the weekend. Ordinarily a friendly sporting fixture is also arranged to allow competitions including archery, football and badminton.

Football Trip:

Usually occurring in April each year, a team of 24 boys together with tutors, coaches and representatives from the Town Council are invited to compete in the annual Wormhout International Junior Soccer Tournament. The teams travel to France for three days and each competing School and its participants are expected to contribute towards the cost of the trip. As well as the sporting nature of the trip, the youngsters are able to immerse themselves in the history of the town, paying tribute to those thaqt gave their lives in the second world war during the battle of Wormhout and the appalling Wormhout Massacre. Visitors also have the chance to enjoy important surrounding sites including educational, cultural and social trips to places like Ypres, Dunkirk and Pasciendaele. A work experience trip is normally arranged also to allow the visitors to experience some of the local manufacturing industries.

The Schools compete in a sponsored toboggan run (thanks to Llandudno Ski Slope) where the pupils raise there own funds towards trip.

July Trip:

On a more social level, another trip visits Wormhout to enjoy families hosting their Welsh counterparts, again through individual generosity. Also a local group of around 20 youngsters is also included from a chosen local youth organisation to contribute to the proceedings during the annual Wormhout Music Festival. The youngsters are again expected to contribute towards the cost of the trip, and all hospitality is provided free of charge by the French hosts and French Council. Sporting fixtures also feature with members of local clubs engaging their French counterparts in friendly tournaments.

Town Twinning allows a vital link with European Culture and is recognised nationally as a laudable activity which extends the mutual hand of friendship between many British Towns and their chosen counterparts abroad.

If you would like to become involved with the work of this Sub-Committee by hosting some French visitors and perhaps take part in one of the annual trips, please let us know by contacting the Council at towncouncil@llandudno.gov.uk or the usual postal address