THE 10th anniversary celebrations of the Stocksmoor and Villages Twinning with Olgiate Molgora in Italy is testimony to the abiding friendship between these two communities.
Renewed contacts were made between friends during the recent ‘Twinning Week’ and new members from Italy were introduced to England for the first time.
The week was packed with interesting activities organised to reflect our cultural heritage and the group is grateful to the European Community for their support.
The Italians, as always, were very appreciative of the wide ranging programme and were not disappointed to sample once again two of their favourite activities, a trip to the seaside and eating fish and chips.
The guests arrived on Saturday July 19 and stayed with families across the area.
Included in the week-long itinerary were a civic reception with the Mayor of Kirklees Karam Hussain on Monday July 21, followed by a visit to a Sikh Temple. That evening they also enjoyed a musical evening in Shelley Village Hall.
After a ‘free day’ on the Tuesday, the Italians visited Grimsby and Hull on the Wednesday, then it was another free day with their host families.
On the Friday, there was a visit to the internationally acclaimed National Media Museum in Bradford and Little Germany.
A farewell dinner was held on the Friday evening at the Woodman Inn, Thunderbridge, before the guests flew out from Manchester Airport on the Saturday.
Even the weather – including the strong winds – was acceptable to the guests after the oppressive heat of Lombardy, northern Italy. A good time was had by all.
The two groups are now charged with arranging mutually convenient dates for the English party to travel over to Olgiate – in the Italian Alps, 35km north east of Milan near the border with Switzerland – next year.
