Since 1971 Dronfield has been twinned with Sindelfingen situated in the State of Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, and each June a representative from the Town Council attends the annual International Street Festival in Sindelfingen, which takes place over three days. Many community organisations within the town also undertake their own twinning events throughout the year. Dronfield's Henry Fanshawe School also run an exchange trip with the secondary school in Sindelfingen.
Dronfield Town Twinning Federation meet regularly to discuss the association between the two towns. This year, Cllr Pam Jones and her husband William crossed over to Germany for the annual visit and reported back on the time spent there.
"In June, my husband William and I travelled to Dronfield’s twin town Sindelfingen in Germany to represent Dronfield Town Council at the annual Strassenfest. The political debate this year focussed on Diversity in our community. We shared with the Mayor of Sindelfingen, Dr Bernd Vohringer, and representatives of the other 8 towns twinned with Sindelfingen how we are a very diverse community with so many groups and clubs established in our town. We also discussed how the young adults in our senior school of Henry Fanshawe have lessons and discussions on diversity in all its forms to help them in their everyday life.
Dr Vohringer is retiring this year after 24 years as Mayor of Sindelfingen. A video is being compiled from all 9 towns twinned with Sindelfingen. I have wished him well from the people of Dronfield in a video cameo taken in Sindelfingen park."
One of the groups from Dronfield who take part in the Strassenfest each year is Dronfield Town Twinning who had a very successful stall at the street festival promoting Dronfield selling produce from around Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Also at the stall a Euro was charged for anyone who wished to take a photo with a life sized cut out of King Charles or a Guardsman. The proceeds of £50 was donated to the Ashgate Hospice.
Providing the music at the opening evening event and performing on the various stages over the three days were the Dronfield + Barlow Singers with choir leader Karen Cook. They were brilliant and certainly had the crowds gathering to listen and join in the singing.
If you would like to know more about, or would like to join Dronfield Town Twinning please contact Lindsey Barron on 07952 563447.
