Mayor of Ellesmere Port Welcomes Twin Town Delegation Ahead of 60th Anniversary Celebrations

Earlier this month, the Mayor of Ellesmere Port, Councillor Katie Kendrick OBE, was delighted to welcome guests from the twin town of Reutlingen, including Oberbürgermeister Thomas Keck (Lord Mayor Keck) and fellow councillors.

The visit comes as the two towns approach a significant milestone, with 24 May 2026 marking the 60th anniversary of the formal twinning agreement, first sealed on 24 May 1966.

Speaking about the visit, the Mayor Katie Kendrick OBE said: 

"It was a great honour to welcome Lord Mayor Keck as we celebrate 60 years of friendship between Ellesmere Port and Reutlingen, first formalised on 24 May 1966.  This milestone reflects a partnership that has grown into a genuine and lasting friendship, built on shared values, mutual respect, and generations of personal connections through exchanges, visits, and cultural links.

"Over the years, the connection between Ellesmere Port and Reutlingen has brought generations of residents together through school exchanges, community visits, and cultural events. Many lifelong friendships have been forged, and these personal connections remain at the very heart of what town twinning represents."

The recent visit offered a valuable opportunity to showcase the very best of Ellesmere Port. Guests enjoyed a varied programme, including a visit to one of the Mayor’s chosen charities, Men in Sheds, a warm welcome from Little Sutton Bowling Club where they took part in a game of bowls, a visit to the Redrow Housing development and an informative tour of Hooton Hangars. The delegation also attended the Mayor’s Community Charity Ball, meeting many of the town’s outstanding community groups and volunteers.

During the Mayor’s Community Charity Ball, a certificate was formally signed to mark the 60th anniversary of the twinning agreement - an important and symbolic moment celebrating six decades of friendship and cooperation between Ellesmere Port and Reutlingen.

Reflecting on the importance of the visit, the Mayor added: “This visit is a powerful reminder of the importance of international friendship, particularly in challenging times. It shows how local communities can lead by example—choosing cooperation over division, dialogue over distance, and friendship over formality.

As we mark this 60th anniversary, we do so with pride in what has been achieved together and with confidence in what lies ahead.”

The Mayor also paid tribute to those who have played a key role in sustaining the partnership, thanking the Friendship Group Reutlingen–Ellesmere Port - especially Toni Cioma and Fritz Schäfer - for their extraordinary dedication. Their commitment has ensured the partnership continues to grow and thrive.

To commemorate this successful and enduring partnership, Oberbürgermeister Keck presented Ellesmere Port with a friendship tree, which will be planted in the heart of the town.

Oberbürgermeister Keck said:

“The tree is intended to symbolise the strong bond that has existed between Ellesmere Port and Reutlingen for six decades and reflects the shared hope that our twinning will continue to grow and flourish for many years to come, just like the tree itself.

"This friendship tree is a powerful symbol of everything our twinning represents—growth, resilience and a shared future. As it takes root here in Ellesmere Port, so too will the enduring friendship between our communities continue to thrive.

"Long live the Anglo-German friendship and long live our town twinning.”

The delegation also gifted a beautiful commemorative plaque, which will be installed alongside the tree as a lasting reminder of this significant anniversary.

Pictured - The group celebrate the approaching 60 year anniversary of the twinning agreement.