Council Twinning Working Group to Consider Link with Guildford, Western Australia

Published on: 6 Nov, 2017
Updated on: 7 Nov, 2017

On the right, Guildford High Street, on the left Woodbridge House, Guildford Western Australia.

A suggestion from Hon Alderman Bernard Parke that Guildford be twinned with its namesake town in Western Australia is to be considered by Guildford Borough Council’s “Twinning Working Group”.

Admiral Sir James Stirling, the first governor of Western Australia

In an email from a council officer to Alderman Parke it was stated: “I have consulted Councillor Furniss [chairman of the twinning group] and he has agreed to put this matter to the Town Twinning Working Group for initial consideration at its next meeting on 28 November.

“I will let you know the outcome.”

Sid Breeden a Guildford Dragon reader who lives in Western Australia has written on the subject: “Alderman Parke’s suggestion for a link between Guildford Surrey and Guildford Western Australia (WA) is a good one and I hope it progresses to fruition.

“May I suggest Guildford WA has a far closer connection to the original Guildford than has Guildford NSW. Admiral Sir James Stirling was instrumental in claiming and establishing one-third of the Australian continent for Britain. He and his wife Ellen are buried at St John’s Stoke, Guildford.

Sid Breeden and his wife Carole with a statuette of Admiral Sir James Stirling, pictured at Stoke Church on a visit to Guildford and the UK in 2010.

“Guildford WA also has Woodbridge House and Perth International Airport, from where the Qantas direct flights will connect to the UK. The airport is partially in the suburb of Guildford. In fact, the airport was originally called, “Guildford Airport”.

“Guildford WA also has the Stirling Gates and more.

“To cap off the Guildford connection – the WA state floral emblem, the green and red kangaroo paw, is named Anigozanthos manglesii after a member of the Guildford Surrey Mangles family

“Western Australia’s sesquicentenary [150th anniversary] is recorded on a tablet attached to Stirling’s grave cover stone at Stoke.”