Two decades of friendship between Sudbury and its twin town in Denmark shone bright last weekend, in a ‘powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities open their doors’.
The Sudbury Town Twinning Association (STTA) welcomed a congregation from Fredensborg – which it has been officially twinned with since 2007 – from Thursday to Monday.
It is one of three towns that has a formal twinning partnership with Sudbury, along with Clermont, in France, and Höxter, in Germany.
The Sudbury Town Twinning Association, and Sudbury mayor Adrian Stohr, welcomed guests from Fredensborg in Denmark for a special visit. Picture: Contributed.
The Danish guests, who included first-time and previous visitors to Sudbury, were treated to a variety of outings across the area, while staying with local families.
This included a tour of Lavenham and its heritage on Friday, led by guide Angie Tillett, and a trip to Ickworth House on Saturday.
The main event was a celebratory dinner held at Newton Green Golf Club on Sunday, attended by Sudbury mayor Adrian Stohr, who formally welcomed the Fredensborg group to the town.
Following the event, Mr Stohr said it had been a pleasure to meet the guests and their organiser, Ulla Weyman, and hear about the ‘wonderful connections’ built over two decades.
He paid tribute to the work of the STTA for creating ‘something truly special and something our town should be immensely proud of’.
“What struck me throughout the evening was the genuine friendship that exists between our communities,” Mr Stohr said.
“These relationships have been built through shared experiences, visits, conversations and a willingness to learn from one another.
“It is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities open their doors and embrace international friendship.
“As mayor, I firmly believe that we do not always celebrate ourselves enough.
“Sudbury is a town rich in history, culture, business, community spirit and opportunity. Initiatives such as town twinning allow us to showcase all that we have to offer while learning from others in return.
“These exchanges strengthen friendships, support local businesses, encourage tourism and place our town firmly on the map, as a welcoming and outward-looking community.
“I expressed my gratitude to everyone involved in making the visit possible, including the association, volunteers, host families, councillors and community groups, whose commitment and hospitality strengthen these important relationships.
“The friendship between Sudbury and Fredensborg is a shining example of community spirit in action.
“It demonstrates how local people can create meaningful relationships that stand the test of time and bring lasting benefits to everyone involved.”
To find out more about the STTA, visit sudburytowntwinning.onesuffolk.net.
Sandy Burbidge, STTA secretary, said it had been a very enjoyable weekend.
“Ulla Weyman thanked the mayor for the 20 years of friendship between the residents of Fredensborg and Sudbury, and invited members of Sudbury Town Twinning Association to Denmark in June next year,” she said.
“The final outing on Monday, to conclude the weekend, was a guided visit to Golden Wood, the community woodland with wonderful views over the wildflower meadow from the Hauswin mound.”