THE Mayor of Redditch visited France to speak at several events marking 800 years of freedoms in Auxerre.
Coun Salman Akbar gave a speech at the official reception of twin town delegations in Auxerre, during a weekend of events commemorating the Burgundy city’s release from feudal serfdom in 1223.
Coun Akbar, part of a delegation from Redditch’s Friends of Auxerre group which went at the invitation of city Mayor Crescent Marault, said: “The Friends of Auxerre were honoured to be invited to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Auxerre’s emancipation.
“It brought together dignitaries and friend – not just from England but from Poland, Germany, and elsewhere.
“While the weekend was mostly about celebrating heritage and history, Auxerre is also gearing up for its role in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games so it was my pleasure to also share our experience of the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games in Redditch.
“My thanks to Mayor Marault and everyone who made the Friends of Redditch so welcome in Burgundy once again, in the continuing spirit of our civic friendship.”
The celebrations were held over the European Heritage Days weekend of September 15 to 17 and saw archaeological and heritage site visits in Auxerre, as well as medieval-themed events.
Auxerre became Redditch’s first twin town in 1956, and an iconic British red phone box gifted from Redditch in the 1980s can be found in the city’s Petit Square de Redditch.
Redditch also maintains civic friendships with four other twin towns – Gruchet-le-Valasse, also in France, Mtwara in Tanzania, St Elizabeth in Jamaica, and Gujar Khan in Pakistan.
