Strengthening bonds: Celebrating 65 years of friendship with Konstanz and Fontainebleau

I’ve just returned from a memorable visit to our twinned city of Konstanz in southern Germany. The trip was generously funded by the City of Konstanz, who hosted me as their guest – a trip that reaffirmed the deep friendship between our communities and highlighted the value of international cooperation.

It was a particular pleasure to be asked to attend, as this year marks the 65th anniversary of the bonds of friendship between Richmond and our twinned towns of Konstanz and Fontainebleau, an anniversary which we will mark in grand fashion during our Reaffirmation Celebration in June this year.

I was pleased to join nine Year 12 students from Orleans Park School, who are studying German at A-Level, along with their teachers, as well as Alan Mockford, Chairman of the Richmond in Europe Association. Together, we represented Richmond upon Thames across a packed programme of events celebrating cultural exchange, youth engagement and our shared values.

Workshops, panel discussions and community visits tackled some of the major challenges we face today – climate action, democratic participation and global solidarity among them.

One of the most inspiring moments was seeing young people from both Richmond and Konstanz take the lead in shaping the future of our partnership. 

We were warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Konstanz, Uli Burchardt, along with councillors and officers from Konstanz City Council. It was also a pleasure to meet representatives from several of Konstanz’s other twinned and partner towns: Fontainebleau (France), Tábor (Czech Republic), Lodi (Italy), Berdychiv (Ukraine), and colleagues from the Anthracite Region Centre for Independent Living in the United States. 

This trip served as a powerful reminder that town twinning is about far more than formalities and civic ceremonies. At its heart, it’s about building friendships, fostering understanding and connecting people – particularly young people – to a broader European and global community rooted in respect and cooperation.

The warmth of our reception in Konstanz reflected the strength of our historic ties, and I’m looking forward to seeing those bonds grow even stronger in the years ahead. 

Here in Richmond upon Thames, our commitment to twinning continues with the upcoming Twinning Reaffirmation Weekend from 6 to 8 June 2025. A full programme of events will celebrate our international partnerships, with festivities continuing through to the end of July. 

If you haven’t taken part yet, now’s the perfect time to get involved. 

You can view the full event schedule and digital event map on the VisitRichmond website, or pick up a printed copy at the Civic Centre (York House), the VisitRichmond kiosk at Richmond Station, or any of our 11 local libraries.

Let’s celebrate our place in a wider world, together.

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