15/12/2025
🎄*Christmas Fayre 2025 - messages from our twin towns*🎄
We were invited to speak at the Opening Ceremony in the Cornmarket on behalf of the City of Worcester Twinning Association. Our Chair planned to read out the messages from the three twin towns, who regularly had stalls in front of the Guildhall.
The huge amount of red tape now and the increase in restrictions on who can sell goods from abroad and serve on the stalls in this country has made it difficult for our twin towns to participate in the Victorian Christmas Fayre.
Normally, the Marché de Noël in Le Vésinet, our twin town near Paris, takes place the week after our own Victorian Christmas Fayre at the end of November. But things are a bit different this year! The new Présidente of their Twinning Committee, Edith Fischof, has sent the following message:
Bonsoir dear friends in Worcester,
This year, the Christmas Fayre and our Christmas Market are happening at the same time, which means we can't send an ambassador from our town. But I wanted to send you a few words as Presidente of the Vésinet Twinning Committee, which your Chair, Rosemary Campbell, will kindly read on my behalf.
The Vésinet Twinning Committee wishes you a great success with your Christmas Fayre, a Merry Christmas, and above all, a wonderful 2026! We will continue to foster the ties between Worcester and Le Vésinet through our various sports and cultural projects, which are open to all ages.
Joyeux Noël et bonne année 2026
Next, a message from Karl-Heinz Köster, the President of Kleve Twinning Association in Germany. He has attended the Fayre here over several decades, but both he and his wife Gisela have been unable to travel to Worcester due to ill health:
Guten Abend! Warmest Christmas greetings from Kleve to all friends and citizens of our twin town in Worcester and the good company that comes with it! Specially in these troubled times, this event can show how easy friendships can be made.
We should be grateful for the many years we have had together.
Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Neringa and Daiva, the two ladies from Ukmergė have run a stall at the Fayre selling Lithuanian handmade crafts for many years. They were unable to come this year because Neringa has just got married a few days ago. However, I am delighted that she still found time to send a message to the people of Worcester:
Dear friends, I warmly congratulate you on your city celebration and sincerely thank you for our many years of cooperation. Although I am unable to attend in person, my thoughts and best wishes are with you all on this special occasion. I also wish you a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with peace, success and new opportunities. May the coming year further strengthen our friendship and inspire new ideas.
Lastly, Worcester Twinning Association would like to wish you all a very successful Victorian Fayre and a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous New Year!
