Llandudno has been twinned since 1988 with the town of Wormhout situated in Northern France.  The Town Council supports and arranges cultural visits between Llandudno and Wormhout each year, to allow interested members of the public to engage in fellowship and friendship with our French counterparts.

Exchange from Wormhout

Just over 50 people from Wormhout travel to Llandudno for a weekend of hospitality with host families who volunteer to accomodate the French families during their stay.  The visit usually takes place at Easter, although groups have also visited during the Extravaganza weekend.  A number of visits in and around Llandudno are arranged during the weekend to enable them to enjoy Llandudno and its surrounding area.  A Civic Reception is arranged to welcome our French guests including the Mayor of Wormhout and to thank the host families for their generosity in providing  free accommodation and meals for the French visitors.  A friendly sporting competition for football, badminton or other sports is often included in the weekend's itinerary.

Wormhout Football Trip

Usually occurring in May each year, a team of 22 boys together with their teachers, and representatives from the Town Council are invited to compete in the annual Wormhout International Junior Soccer Tournament.  The team travel to France for 4 days to compete in the competition.  Each school taking part as well as the participants contributes to the cost of the trip.  As well as taking part in the tournament, the boys are able to immerse themselves in he history of the town,  and have the chance to visit important surrounding sites such as Ypres or Dunkirk.  A work experience visit is normally arranged to allow the boys to experience some of the local manufacturing industries.  Past visits have included a local chocolate factory, coffee factory and cocoa cola. Accommodation is provided in the Wormhout Community Centre and all meals are included.   A sponsored toboggan is arranged each year with kind agreement of Llandudno Ski Centre to help those going on the trip to raise funds.

July Visit to Wormhout

Each July a visit to Wormhout is arranged to coincide with the Wormhout Carnival and Music Festival, with a group of 55 people from Llandudno including 20 young people from local youth organisations participating.  All participants contribute to the cost of the trip.  Accommodation is provided free of charge by the host families and the Wormhout Town Council.   The young people are invited by the French to take part in the festival during their stay.  Sporting fixtures are arranged with members of local clubs engaging their French counterparts in friendly tournaments.  Those on the visit are able to learn about the history of Wormhout, paying tribute to those who gave their lives during the second world war and in particular those who died during the Wormhout massacre in 1940.  Cultural visits to local places of interest are also arranged such as the medieval town of Bergues or the hill top town of  Cassel.

If you would like to become involved with the work of the Town Twinning Sub-Committee by hosting some French visitors and perhaps taking part in one of the annual trips, please contact the Town Council

The 2011 trip to Wormhout included a visit to Lille, the former home of Charles de Gaulle.  During the visit, The Mayor of Llandudno, Cllr Greg Robbins laid wreaths on behalf of the Town at the Wormhout war memorial and Wormhout cemetery and at La Plaine au Bois, the site of the Wormhout massacre, to commemorate those who gave their lives during the second world war.  He also took part in the Wormhout Civic Parade and church service with the Mayor of Wormhout, René Kerckhove.  The Linzi Grace dancers were the group of young people who participated in the visit this year and they performed various dance routines in the main square in Wormhout as part of the festival. 

July 2011 Visit to Wormhout

 War memorial Wormhout Cemetery                                      Charles De Gaulle's House, Lille

Pictured the Mayor of Llandudno, Cllr Greg Robbins           The Mayor of Llandudno taking part in
Mrs Debbie Robbins & the Mayor of Wormhout,                 the Civic Parade 
René Kerckhove 

                                                            The Mayor pictured at Plaine Au Bois