Town Twinning - Wormhout

Llandudno has been twinned since 1988 with the town of Wormhout situated in Northern France.  The Twinning between the two towns was established to ensure that the events that occurred in 1940 in the lead up to the Dunkirk Evacuation during the Second World War are not forgotten, when German SS Soldiers captured up to 100 British soldiers, including men from Llandudno.  They were taken to a barn in La Plaine au Bois near the towns of Wormhout and Esquelbecq, where on 28th May 1940, 80 of them were massacred.

Today the site of the massacre is maintained as a memorial to those who were killed.  Llandudno Town Council contributes to the maintenance costs of the site. 

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.  Visits to Wormhout from Llandudno include a service at the memorial site as part of the programme in order to allow visitors to pay their respects.

Wormhout Football Trip

Usually occurring in May each year, a team of 20 pupils from local primary schools, with their teachers, are invited to compete in the annual Wormhout International Junior Soccer Tournament. As well as taking part in the tournament, the pupils are able to immerse themselves in the history of the town and the surrounding area.

This year’s visit coincided with the anniversary of the Wormhout massacre on 28th May, and the group took part in commemoration events during the visit. A commemoration service also took place in Llandudno on 28th May, attended by the families of those who lost their lives in the massacre.

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 participating. All participants contribute to the cost of the trip. Accommodation is provided by French host families and the Wormhout Town Council. 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.

During the 2023 visit, the Mayor of Llandudno, Cllr Greg J T Robbins, laid wreaths on behalf of the Town at the Wormhout war memorial, Wormhout cemetery and at La Plaine au Bois, to commemorate those who gave their lives during the Second World War. The Mayor also took part in the Wormhout Civic Parade.

During the weekend the group also visited Dunkirk including the Dunkirk War Museum which tells the story of the Battle of Dunkirk and Operation Dynamo in May to June 1940, the largest evacuation effort in military history.

This year the group was joined by dancers from Linzi Grace school of dance. and officers and cadets from the Army, Sea and Air Cadet forces.

Officers and cadets from the Army, Sea and Air Cadet Forces also took part in this year’s visit. They participated in the wreath laying ceremonies at La Plaine Au Bois and the Wormhout Cemetery as well as parading in the Wormhout Civic parade. . The group were also awarded the great honour of taking part in the sunset parade and ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

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