Bridgnorth schoolchildren create banners for twin town

School pupils from across a town have painted banners to be displayed in a French community as part of its Twinning Association.

St Leonards CofE Primary School in Bridgnorth with banners. At the top L-R: Lailah 10, Dylan Alldis (Staff), Ava 10. Front : Myah 5, Jasmine 5, Henri 5, Lola 5, Jake 4, Alfie 4, Kaitlyn 5, Libby-Mae 4..

Bright and colourful displays have been created by youngsters from four schools around Bridgnorth and will be hung around the streets of Thiers as part of their annual Ville Haute en Couleurs.

The schools involved are Bridgnorth Endowed School, St Leonard's Primary School, Highley Primary School and Oldbury Wells School, with the latter taking part for the first time.

Students from Highley Primary School taking part in the twinning event

It comes after the Bridgnorth & District Twinning Association saw its event with the town of Schrobenhausen, Germany, cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Mike Proudman, chairman of the twinning association, said: "For the past five years Bridgnorth schools, together with the Bridgnorth & District Arts Association have taken part in Thiers' annual Ville Haute en Couleurs, when colourful banners painted by artists of all ages are displayed in the streets of the town centre from June until October.

"This year four schools have participated with a choice of a theme of either Make Your Palette Dance or Children of the World.

Oldbury Wells School headteacher Lee Tristham with students who took part in the town twinning event

"Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, The Bridgnorth & District Arts Association were unable to take part this year."

Former town councillor Sarah Stevens said: “This is my first full year on the Twinning Committee and I’m really pleased to have been involved in helping with the organisation of this superb tradition.

"The many schools who’ve taken part have truly captured the spirit of the festival themes and we are delighted to welcome the contribution of Oldbury Wells School for the first time.”

LAST COPYRIGHT SHROPSHIRE STAR STEVE LEATH 18/05/2021..Pic in Bridgnorth, od Lindy Macdonald (President of Bridgnorth & District Twin Association), story on the twinning with Thiers and Schrobenhausen and banners that have been made to be diaplayed there..

Bridgnorth’s twinning links with the town of Thiers commenced 43 years ago when the Twinning Charter between the two towns was signed by the towns' mayor and town clerk.

This charter set out the main principle of friendship between residents of Bridgnorth and Thiers. Over the years there have been visits and links between schools, sporting clubs, arts associations, and commercial and trade organisations, with many Bridgnorth residents making a long-lasting friendship when hosted by a French family.

LAST COPYRIGHT SHROPSHIRE STAR STEVE LEATH 18/05/2021..Pic in Bridgnorth, at St Leonards C of E Primary School, they have made Town Twinning Banners. At the top L-R: Lailah 10, Dylan Alldis (Staff), Ava 10. Front : Myah 5, Jasmine 5, Henri 5, Lola 5, Jake 4, Alfie 4, Kaitlyn 5, Libby-Mae 4..

The last pre-Covid visit was by a group of 28 Bridgnorth residents to Thiers in 2019 for their Pamparina Music Festival. These festivals are organised in each twin town every three years. The 2020 Festival was supposed to be organised by Schrobenhausen, but they had to cancel because of Covid restrictions. They have also cancelled the rescheduled event that had been set for this year.

Next year Bridgnorth's twinning association will be celebrating 30 years of friendship with Schrobenhausen when the festival takes place in Bridgnorth, with visitors expected from Thiers and Schrobenhausen.

These tri-annual festivals provide an organised opportunity for visits between the three towns.