Dorchester's Twin Towns
Dorchester has active twinning links with Bayeux in France and Lübbecke in Germany.
Bayeux, France
The first twinning entered into was with Bayeux (of Tapestry fame) in France. The links were formed in 1959 and came about because the Dorset Regiment were the first soldiers to enter the town in 1944 as the Second World War came to an end.
If you would like more information about Bayeux visit www.bayeux.fr
Lübbecke, Germany
Dorchester's twinning with Lübbecke in Westphalia is largely down to the special relationship between the Durnovaria Silver Band who met the Lübbecker Schutzenmusik Corps at an event in Bayeux when Bayeux was twinning with Lübbecke in 1968. Formal links between Dorchester and Lübbecke were created in 1973.
If you would like to know more about Lübbecke visit http://www.luebbecke.de/
Dorchester Bayeux Society
The connection between the two towns began with the Dorset Regiment's involvement in the liberation of Bayeux in June 1944. The civic town twinning relationship was established in 1959 and is maintained by Dorchester Town Council. Alongside the civic relationship, a Dorchester-based society was formed to grow friendships between citizens of the two towns.
The Dorchester-Bayeux Society is the oldest twinning society in Dorchester and our aim is to promote and participate in twinning exchanges between the towns of Dorchester and Bayeux, in Normandy. At the heart of our activities is the two-year cycle of alternating exchange visits with our equivalent society in Bayeux. Visits usually take place over a long weekend in May or September. We also offer:
- An annual programme of interesting talks around a variety of French themes.
- Film nights—a season of classical French films with English subtitles is open to all local residents .
- French conversation coffee mornings—beginners and confident levels.
- Boules at the Sandringham Sports Centre with the U3A.
For more information visit the Society's website.