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A special ceremony to mark the 30th Anniversary of the twinning link between Dumfries and Gifhorn in Germany is taking place this Sunday, 8 September at 2.30pm at the Plainstanes, Dumfries.
Members of the Nithsdale Twinning Association, Friends of Gifhorn, the council’s Nithsdale Area Committee and former Provosts of Dumfries along with other invited guests will be present to witness the signing of a charter, pledging to maintain and development the link.
Other features of the programme include pipers and the Dumfries Town Band, the raising of the Gifhorn flag on the Midsteeple and the attendance of fire officers from Dumfries and Gifhorn in uniform.
The four signatories of the charter are clear on the positive benefits for the twinning link, recognising achievements to-date and the opportunities for the future.
Provost of Dumfries Maureen Johnstone said: “I am delighted to host this event and be part of the anniversary celebrations. It is always a pleasure for the town of Dumfries to host our Gifhorn visitors and I urge as many people as possible to come and welcome them back once more with the spirit of Guid Nychburris sounding a clear welcome.”
Kenny Johnstone, Convener of the Nithsdale Twinning Association added: “I think one reason why the twinning has lasted so long is the warmth of the welcome that each of the towns gives their visitors. There is a great deal of kindness shown by the individuals and the organisations in both towns – people are invited into homes as well as the business element – and that has forged strong bonds.”
Ian Mitchell, Chair of the Friends of Gifhorn highlighted: “The link between Gifhorn and Dumfries in fact goes back a long, long way – Doonhamers fought alongside Gifhorn men at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. So, our 30 years of this phase is just the latest in a long and proud history. I have visited Gifhorn almost every year of our link and many groups and societies in Dumfries have been there too, which means we benefit from an international perspective on many issues.”
Stadt Gifhorn Burgermeister Matthias Nerlich commented: “We are delighted to be here to celebrate thirtieth anniversary of the twinning link with the town of Dumfries. Over these many years we have enjoyed exchanges of sports teams, cultural groups and young people. This has helped with our local economies and tourism as well as giving people an international perspective – and of course many friendships. We hope that this link will continue for many more years in the future.”
In addition to the four-strong Gifhorn civic delegation, there are eight fire officers on the visit. They will also take in a national dimension by visiting the Scottish Fire and Rescue facilities in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Scott Irving, Group Commander in Dumfries and Galloway explained the value of their involvement: “There are some similarities in our towns and so it is helpful to discuss different approaches to the same challenges, assess a wider range of equipment and hear about how training is delivered. All these things help us to deliver a better service and develop professionally, so there’s tangible benefits in maintaining the link.”
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