Mayor Remembers the Cost of War with Guildford’s Twin – Freiburg

Published on: 28 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 28 Nov, 2024

The Mayors of Besançon, Freiburg and Guildford light a candle in Freiburg cathedral, which escaped major damage in World War 2.

Yesterday (Wednesday, November 27) the Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker MBE, stood together with Freiburg citizens to remember the many lives that were sadly lost or changed forever during an RAF air raid during the night of November 27, 1944.

The raid resulted in around 2,800 deaths and extensive destruction of the medieval German city. Surprisingly and fortunately, the city’s cathedral survived.

The Mayor reminded those at the Cathedral service in Freiburg of the need to remain committed to supporting and protecting our fragile freedoms.

In her speech, encouraging reconciliation and peace, she said: “I believe educating our young people about our shared history is crucial if we’re to prevent mistakes of the past. Let us never forget those dark days so that we learn from the mistakes of the past.

“Let us unite and focus on creating a more peaceful world, where people of any religion or none, can live happily and safely, side by side.”

The Mayor said she will reflect on these words and the importance of the continuing collaboration between Guildford and Freiburg when she is presenting awards to young film-makers this Sunday.

The visit by the Mayors of Freiburg’s twinned towns, Anne Vignot from Besançon in France and Sallie Barker from Guildford, was hosted by the Mayor of Freiburg, Martin Horn.

She will also be at the Guildford Twinning Association’s annual German mini-Christmas market in the Guildhall. The annual event promotes Guildford’s twinning with the German city of Freiburg.

Announcing the winners of the Short Film competition for schools

Chair of the GTA Barbara Ford, Guildford Mayor Sallie Barker and Ariane Hoetzer of Freiburg City Council’s International Relations Department by the Guildford Coat of Arms mozaic in Freiburg

The Mayor will present prizes to the winners of this year’s Short Film Competition for Schools on Sunday.

Students from secondary schools in each twin town have entered their two-minute films.

The films are in German for Guildford schools and in English for Freiburg schools.

The panel of judges, including the Mayor, Professor Susan Pratt from The University of Surrey and Nick Bale, Leader of Guildford Town Guides, had a tough job choosing the Guildford winners.

The winning entries will be exhibited on the Guildford Twinning Association website and shared with our partners in Freiburg.

Commemorating the 45th anniversary of Guildford and Freiburg – twinned since 1979

A new panel to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the twinning will also be on display at Tunsgate.

It explains how residents of Guildford and Freiburg exchange cultural experiences and how the city of Freiburg has developed into a prestigious university town and picturesque tourist destination.