A SPECIAL relationship between Workington and it's twin town of Selm in Germany will be celebrated with the planting of a tree- marking 30 years of the partnership.

Workington District Twinning Association is pleased to announce that the twinning partnership between Workington and Selm in Germany is 30 years old this year.

 In order to celebrate this partnership 9 people from Selm are coming to Workington this weekend and will be attending the Party in The Park organised by Workington Town Council.

Most of the visitors are staying with families with whom they have built special relationships, some over many years.

 Barbara Cannon, Chair of Workington Twinning Association said, “As one of the founder members of the Twinning Association, and one of the first four people to visit Selm, I find it incredible that this partnership has endured in a way I could not have imagined in 1994. 

"There has been many hundreds of individuals, groups, schools and organisations that have visited Selm and an equal number who have come to Workington. 

"Some people have maintained very special friendships over those years and love to visit their friends. Even Covid did not spoil this relationship as we were able to keep in touch via zoom and social media channels."

The group are grateful for the support of the Town Council and all the organisations that are involved in the Association.

READ MORE: Where are Cumbria's twinned towns? (Everything you need to know) | News and Star

The Mayor of Workington, Cllr Neil Schofield, said’ “I would like to welcome our guests from Selm in this special year.  I was honoured to go to Selm in February with a group of twinning supporters. 

"We were all made very welcome and I enjoyed meeting with different people and organisations”.

Former Mayor, Peter Bales, signed the original charter in Selm in 1994 which committed the two towns to maintaining and strengthening the bonds of friendship between citizens and to promoting peace, developing links for young people, for culture, education, sport, business and social work. 

There will be a tree planting ceremony in the Park at 11.30am on Saturday, July 27.  The tree is a gift from Selm to the people of Workington and will be followed by a poem read by John Hastings who has updated a poem he wrote for the 20th Anniversary.

 John Hastings is well known in Workington for his poetry writing and he has enjoyed writing poems about the twin links.  John said, “I was inspired to write the original poem on the 25th Anniversary of Workington twinning with Selm. 

"I have tweaked the poem for the 30th with three verses in English and two in German."