RUE d'HEBDEN BRIDGE, ST POL

Wednesday, 5 September 2007

The two photos above were taken on Sunday at Hebden Bridge's twin town of St Pol. The photo shows Claude Rousset, deputy mayor of St Pol and Mike Elder, representing Hebden Royd Town Council, at the official naming of 'rue d'Hebden Bridge'.

The road is in the heart of St Pol, close to the church and town hall and next to Warstein Park (named after St Pol's and Hebden Bridge's German twin town).

The ceremony included short speeches from Claude Rousset and Mike Elder, as well as from the deputy mayor of Warstein, and culminated in a performance of the European anthem, Ode to Joy, played by St Pol's town band.

All three speakers at the ceremony stressed the importance of the town twinning relationship, as a way of building international friendship. St Pol includes a significant war cemetery of soldiers killed in the first world war, and the town itself was badly damaged in the second world war, mainly as a result of allied bombing of German positions.

The ceremony took place at the end of a short visit from fourteen members of Hebden Bridge International Group to St Pol, which included a trip to former European city of culture Lille and to the resort of St-Valéry.

See also

Hebweb news 2006:
Hebden Bridge's 25th Twin Town anniversary

Hebweb news 2005:
New Mayor: twin towns, passport to peace

St Pol sur Ternoise
Hebden Bridge's French twin town

Warstein
Hebden Bridge's German twin town