HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Officially established in 2017, Harrogate International Partnerships, has strengthened their links between Harrogate and four cities in four different countries around the world. It has only been within the last 12 years, when a town 'twinning committee' was established with a group of committed volunteers in 2013, that this major resurgence of interest in the long-standing twinning links has gone from strength to strength. Visits between Barrie in Canada, Luchon in France, Montecatini in Italy and Wellington in New Zealand have increased with a formal and solid structure. This structure is there to develop awareness and opportunities for exchange visits and to provide support to twinning groups by way of advice, support and grant funding.
HIP is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee, is a not-for-profit organisation which is run by a board of Trustees who are also the company’s Directors. With professional, educational, civic and educational backgrounds, Trustees and volunteers give their time freely and with a passion.
Dennis Richards OBE is Chair of Trustees and was headteacher of St. Aidan’s High School in Harrogate for 23 years. Fluent in French, and with a background in teaching modern languages, Dennis focuses on helping students to gain skills and experience, as well as on finding ways to promote Harrogate and its international reputation and relationships.
BARRIE
The city of Barrie, Ontario is Harrogate’s most recent twinning, but its
origins date back two centuries. Barrie is named after Admiral Sir Robert
Barrie, who played a significant role in the creation of modern Canada.
He married into the Ingilby Family of Ripley Castle and is buried in the
Ingilby family vault in Ripley Parish Church. A twinning relationship was
formed on 7th June 2013. In 2023 we celebrated ten years since the formal signing at Ripley Castle. The 7th June is now officially ‘Sir Robert Barrie Day’ in Barrie.
MONTECATINI
The Spa town of Montecatini Terme in Tuscany is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has a rich cultural life based on its Spa heritage and music. Harrogate established a link in 1962, and formalised it a year later.
2023 celebrates 60 years of friendship. In 2022 Tewit Youth Band made a highly successful visit there, performing a series of concerts. Easily accessible by flights to Pisa, Montecatini is also known for its funicular railway, which climbs to the charming medieval village of Montecatini Alto, just above the town.
BAGNÈRES DE LUCHON,
Bagnères de Luchon is a Spa town situated in the foothills of the Pyrenees, 90km SW of Toulouse. 2023 marked the 70th anniversary of Harrogate’s twinning with Luchon.
For the last seven years, Harrogate has participated in Luchon’s ‘Fete des Fleurs’, a traditional flower festival with musical bands, dancers and decorated floats. Luchon is the perfect holiday destination for walking, cycling, golfing and skiing, and is situated just 10kms from the Spanish border.
DENNIS RICHARDS OBE
HARROGATE TOWN CENTRE
WELLINGTON
Links with Wellington were formed as a consequence of WWII. A large number of New Zealand aircrew were billeted in and around Harrogate. Sadly, many lost their lives and 23 were interred
in Stonefall’s Commonwealth War Graves cemetery, four of whom are from Wellington. Harrogate Borough Council gifted a mace to Wellington City Council in 1953 to honour the servicemen’s memory. We celebrate 70 years of friendship.
