07/09/2026
ALKMAAR GONG SOUNDING 2026
Our annual reception kindly hosted by the Mayor of Bath, together with our ceremonial sounding of the Alkmaar Gong in the Guildhall, took place at the end of August, attended by BATA members and supporters, including current Bath councillors and Honorary Aldermen.
Official gong-striker this year - the 5th year of our ’new’ tradition - was Mayor’s Guide, Adrian Amber. Adrian was given the honour of sounding the gong in recognition of all the work he has put in to help spread the Bath-Alkmaar story via specifically-created guided walks in Bath.
In the 80th Anniversary year of our link in 2025, Adrian researched and devised his first Bath-Alkmaar walk, taking participants to the very locations where much of the story unfolded. These include the offices in which Rosa, Eli Prins’ sister, worked for the Admiralty during the War, and her apartment at 65, Great Pulteney Street where Eli spent his first few weeks after escaping the N***s.
This year, Adrian’s walk was offered as one of the special Mayor’s Guides Summer Walks, and publicised through the organisations’ mailing and website.
Just under 100 bookings were made, with 85 attending the guided walks, including the current Mayor, Cllr Ruth Malloy, and past Mayor and now Honorary Alderman, Will Sandry.
The attendees were mostly local, but included 4 US citizens, 3 Dutch citizens and 3 from Spain, as well as two UK visitors. Adrian also kindly took a group of 40 Scouts from Alkmaar on a walk arranged for them during their visit to Bath earlier in the Summer.
Adrian undertook his gong-sounding with typical professionalism, which inspired the Mayor to also have a go, as we recalled the words of the Burgemeester of Alkmaar when the gong was presented:
“May the sound of this gong remind you, again and again, of a harmony grown in these times between our cities, thanks to the noble sentiments of the citizens of Bath.”
