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Background Information

Surrey Heath is twinned with Sucy-en-Brie, a town ten miles east of Paris, France and Bietigheim-Bissingen, a town 15 miles from Stuttgart, Germany. The Borough also enjoys a link of friendship with Kirchberg, in Alsace, in the east of France.

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Visit the Sucy-en-Brie website Opens in a new window

The former Urban District Council of Frimley and Camberley (now Surrey Heath Borough Council) initiated twinning with Sucy-en-Brie, who were already twinned with Bietigheim-Bissingen in 1969.

In April 1969 the official twinning ceremony, linked with a special meeting of the Council, took place in the Civic Hall (now The Camberley Theatre) in Camberley.   Leading the French delegation was the Mayor of Sucy, M. Jean-Marie Poirier, accompanied by M. Jean Fischer, then Secretary-General and Dr Lancret, one of Sucy's Vice-Mayors.  Another guest at the ceremony that day was Herr Karl Mai, then Oberburgermeister of Bietigheim.

Among the events that day was the renaming of Border Avenue in Camberley to "Avenue Sucy" and the opening of a block of one-bedroom flats for elderly people in the Avenue.  At the special meeting of the Council and official twinning ceremony an illuminated engrossment was signed by the then Chairman of Frimley and Camberley UDC, Mr Robert Parsons, and the then Chief Executive and Town Clerk, Mr Derek Horn.

A return visit to Sucy-en-Brie was arranged and took place in September 1970 where documents were signed by the then Chairman of Frimley and Camberley UDC, Mr Ewen Stephens.

In October 1971 at a ceremony in Bietigheim the official twinning document was signed by Mr Ian Goodchild then Chairman of Frimley and Camberley UDC, and Herr Karl Mai.

A return visit to Camberley took place in September 1972 when a near 100 strong delegation led by Herr Mai arrived at the Civic Hall to be greeted by Mr Bill Toynbee, the then Chairman of the Council.  The official ceremony took place in the Alanbrooke Hall at the Staff College, Camberley when documents were signed by Herr Mai and Mr Toynbee.

Upon local government reorganisation in 1974, Frimley and Camberley UDC and Bagshot Rural District Council became Surrey Heath Borough Council.  The newly formed Borough Council decided to continue the twinning links with the two towns and their communities.

In April 1976, the European Flag of Honour was presented to Surrey Heath Borough Council as the successor authority to Frimley and Camberley UDC, in recognition by the Council of Europe of the efforts made in the field of town twinning to promote the ideal of European unity.

For further information….

Download a copy of the Town Partnership leaflet. Opens in a new window

Contact the Town Partnerships Office on 01276 707597 or e-mail town.partnerships@surreyheath.gov.uk