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The City of Chichester has always had strong international links
many of which were established during the Second World War when
the City was surrounded by airfields from which airmen of many nationalities
flew.
It was also the headquarters for General Eisenhower before D-Day.
In the post-war years some links were formalised with the establishment
of town twinning.
The ideals of twinning are expressed in the charter signed with
Chartres in 1959 and held in the Council House to promote and maintain
friendly relations, and to encourage economic, cultural and social
exchanges that may draw the citizens of Chichester and Chartres
closer together’
Chartres The cities
of Chichester and Chartres have much in common, both being set within
a farming belt, similar distances from their capital cities, and
most notably, possessing between them two of the most beautiful
cathedrals in Northern Europe. For fifty years many exchanges between
the two cities have taken place in many different fields of activity.
The most regular has been between Chichester’s ‘Association
of Friends of Chartres’ and their counterpart the ‘Association
des amis des jumelages de Chartres’ but many other sporting
and cultural exchanges take place.
 Ravenna
The walled City of Ravenna in Italy, had been twinned
with Chartres since 1957, but only became twinned with Chichester
in 1996. Both Cities have much in common, with histories going back
to the Roman Empire, and being walled towns. Working with its Italian
counterpart ‘Amici di Chichester’ and the Chichester
City Council the twinning ‘Association of Friends of Ravenna’
supports the sporting and cultural exchanges that take place.
For more information on twinning, contact the City Council.
www.chichestercity.gov.uk Tel: 01243 788502
Friendship Towns Over
the years Chichester has had links with many other cities but these
have been of an informal nature. In 2006 the City Council declared
its intention that these links should be recognised by the designation
‘Friendship Towns’ and drew up a Declaration of Intent.
The key element is that the City Council would act as a focal point
and gateway for towns seeking to develop links with the City through
education, culture, commerce, holiday and recreational activities.
The first friendship agreement was signed in 2006 with the City
of Kursk in the Russian Federation.
Another friendship link has been developed with Valletta in Malta.
Walled Towns Friendship Circle
Since 1991 Chichester City has been a member of the International
Walled Towns Friendship Circle consisting of c.150 towns and provides
a conduit for the discussion of issues of common concerns.
www.walledtowns.com
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