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How Weymouth and Portland Twinning Society started, as remembered by Don & Anneliese Johnson
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In 1980 as members of the Weymouth Louviers Society we set off on our annual visit to our French Twin Town Louviers to our friends we had met on previous visits. The visit this time was to be life changing for us.
At a social evening we met a small group from Holzwickede who were visiting from Germany. We got talking and all agreed it would be nice if we could visit each other for twinning especially when they heard that Annelese was chairman of a Deutsche Klub in Weymouth. On returning to Weymouth, Anneliese had a letter from Jochan Hake who was chairman of the Holzwickede Twinship. He hoped we might get together some time. |
Weymouth Deutsche Klub, who were a social club, not for twinning, agreed to invite anyone who wanted to visit from Holzwickede to visit for the Louvier society l0th. Anniversary in March 1982, and this was accepted and a group of four including Marie-Luise Wehlack made the journey and a very enjoyable time was had by all. Anneliese made an appointment with the Council of Weymouth to enquire how they felt about twinning with Holzwickede. lt was apparent that at that time they wanted no official connection nor did they want any visits to incur any cost to the council.
However another letter from Johchan Hake arrived asking for someone from Weymouth to host a public meeting in Holzwickede to give details about our town. Don and Anneliese volunteered to drive over and so in May 1982 they set off in their car, loaded with leaflets and brochures and a very large publicity film loaned from Harvey Bailey (Weymouth Publicity Department and worth £10,000) and drove to Germany, where they gave a talk in front of officials and 75 members of the public of Holzwickede. So well did they perform that Holzwickede said they would officially approach Weymouth with a view to twinning.
However another letter from Johchan Hake arrived asking for someone from Weymouth to host a public meeting in Holzwickede to give details about our town. Don and Anneliese volunteered to drive over and so in May 1982 they set off in their car, loaded with leaflets and brochures and a very large publicity film loaned from Harvey Bailey (Weymouth Publicity Department and worth £10,000) and drove to Germany, where they gave a talk in front of officials and 75 members of the public of Holzwickede. So well did they perform that Holzwickede said they would officially approach Weymouth with a view to twinning.
In 1984 Don and Anneliese rang Marie-Luise and collected enough friends to fill two cars and made their own twinning visit. However things were beginning to move in a slow way and in 1985 the Council agreed to start a society and in January 1986 an inaugural meeting was held and Les Ames was appointed Chairman of The Weymouth & Portland Holzwickede Twinning Society. 49 people attended and Don Johnson was made Treasurer. Work began to form a constitution and to getting the charter signed. Holzwickede Officials came over and signed in September 1986 and Weymouth Officials visited Holzwickede and signed in April 1987.
Anneliese Johnson organised many social events and gradually we, as a Society became solvent and were able not only to visit but entertain our guests from Holzwickede.
After 25 years of unstinting effort for the Society; Don and Anneliese had one of their proudest moments when they were presented with a special award given to town citizens who Weymouth Council recognise as having worked tirelessly in forging links with Europe. It was special for Don & Anneliese knowing that the two nations could live together in great Friendship. This was what Twinning was about and long may it continue.
Following the changes in West Dorset parliamentary boundaries Weymouth no longer was a Borough Council but now was a Town Council.
Portland Town Council no longer wished to be Twinned with Holzwickede and an updated charter was signed with Weymouth in 28 September 2020.
Portland Town Council no longer wished to be Twinned with Holzwickede and an updated charter was signed with Weymouth in 28 September 2020.
