Enfield Welcomes Friends from Gladbeck, Germany, for a Special Civic Reception

A Friendship Spanning Generations

Enfield and Gladbeck, a town situated in Germany’s Ruhr region, have enjoyed a longstanding town-twinning relationship, built on friendship, cultural understanding and shared experiences.

Over the decades, the partnership has encouraged connections between residents, civic leaders and community organisations, helping to strengthen the bonds between the two towns.

The relationship is even recognised locally through Gladbeck Way, a road in Enfield named in honour of the town.

A Warm Welcome to Enfield

The German delegation began their visit on Friday, with a programme of tours and activities planned throughout the weekend, offering an opportunity to explore Enfield, its history and its communities.

The evening reception brought together former Mayors of Enfield, local councillors, MP Bambos Charalambous and community representatives, all gathering to extend a warm welcome to the visitors.

It was wonderful to see so many people coming together to recognise the importance of maintaining these international friendships.

Guests also enjoyed a specially decorated cake featuring the coats of arms of Enfield and Gladbeck, a lovely touch to mark the occasion.

Celebrating Our International Connections

Gladbeck is one of several towns around the world with which Enfield shares a twinning relationship. Others include Courbevoie in France, Halandri in Greece and Sarıyer in Turkey.

These partnerships are an important part of Enfield’s history, encouraging cultural exchange, mutual understanding and friendships that extend far beyond our borough.

At a time when communities can sometimes feel increasingly disconnected, occasions like this remind us of the value of bringing people together, celebrating what we have in common and preserving relationships for future generations.

A Special Weekend for Enfield

The delegation’s visit continued throughout the weekend, with further opportunities to discover the borough and strengthen the ties between Enfield and Gladbeck.

The iteneriy

• A visit to Trent Park Museum of Secrets.
• Civic Reception. celebration cake by local businesses Josephine Votsis and catering by Claire Prestige Catering.
• A walking tour of Enfield Town led by the Enfield Society, including the historic Tudor Room.
• Lunch at the award winning Rose & Crown.
• Ellenborough Table Tennis Club’s 90th anniversary celebrations, recognising the sporting origins of our twinning friendship.
• A tour of Meridian Water with Council Planning Officer.
• A visit to BLOQS, showcasing creative industries and local enterprise.
• Dinner at Marcus Restaurant in Enfield Town
• A private tour of Whitewebbs Museum of Transport.
• A guided visit to Myddelton House Gardens.
• Lunch and tour at Forty Hall with the Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr Rye.

Thanks everyone who turned up and supported the visit. Greatly appreciated. ⭐️

We would like to thank Mayor Emma Supple for hosting such a welcoming reception and everyone involved in organising the visit.

A very warm welcome to our friends from Gladbeck. We hope you enjoy your time in Enfield and that this visit marks the beginning of many more exchanges between our two communities.