Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, welcomed local delegates from Basildon’s
twinned town in Heiligenhaus, Germany to Parliament last week.
The party from Germany
included the Heiligenhaus Deputy Mayor, Heinz Peter Schreven, leader of the
ruling CDU group on the town’s Council, Cllr Thorsten Thus, and Cllr Ralf
Herre.
The local MP gave the
guests a tour of the Palace of Westminster and discussed with them various ways
in which the ties between the two towns can be strengthened. He later
commented: “It was fantastic to have delegates from Basildon’s twinned town
come to visit. It symbolises the friendship of our two towns and indeed our two
nations.”
Basildon is also twinned
with Ville de Meaux in France in a tradition stretching back almost a century
in the UK, symbolising a post-war spirit of reconciliation. Now the
twinning acts as a source of enrichment with school trips, exchanges, and
leisure and sporting activities between Basildon and its twinned towns.
The local MP added: “Among
many other things we discussed a project currently being organised to mark the
100th anniversary of the First World War next year which will create
ever stronger ties between Basildon, Heiligenhaus, and Ville de Meaux.”
“This is extremely
exciting for Basildon and I look forward to telling everyone more about it in
the near future.”
