Proudly Supporting Those Who Serve
The Twinning weekend began with a welcome ceremony for our guests from Ploegsteert at the civic offices in Milton Keynes. This was a packed event as we welcomed representatives from Belgium, Wolverton, Wolverton Town Band, Army Cadet Force, 1st Wolverton Scouts, TS Whaddon Milton Keynes Sea and Royal Marine Cadets, St George the Martyr and Western Front Association as well as the Mayor and Mayoress of Milton Keynes and Dame Ann Limb DBE DL, the Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire!
Both the Mayor of Wolverton and the Bourgmestre à la Ville de Comines-Warneton gave speeches before the traditional exchange of gifts. Our gift hampers were made up of items from local businesses here in our parish: Wolverton Gin, Mrs B’s Emporium, the Urb Farm, Bucks Star Beer and Think Food Café. We were gifted beautiful Comines-Warneton branded hampers filled with a bottle of beer, honey cake, a mug with honey flavoured boiled sweets, a doll and various brochures from Plugstreet 14-18 museum. Afterwards WGTC formally signed the Armed Forces Covenant and there was a short speech by Major Hellard from the Army Cadet Force about the Covenant. The Covenant is a promise from the nation to those who serve or who have served, and their families. It says we will do all we can to ensure they are treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-today lives. The Covenant relies on the people, communities, and businesses of the UK to actively support it in order to make a difference. For more information about the Covenant visit the Armed Forces Covenant website.
Home of the Codebreakers
After some light refreshments our guests travelled to Bletchley Park, once the top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers. They were most interested in this heritage attraction which is full of immersive films, interactive displays and museum collections.
Music Concert at MK Museum
Following a brief stop off at their hotel, our Belgian friends arrived at Milton Keynes Museum for the evening celebration. After welcome drinks, our guests enjoyed a tour around the museum and a hog roast in the courtyard. At 8pm we were joined by local residents for a concert featuring the Wolverton Town Band and the Harmonie Royale Les Vrais Amis de Ploegsteert.
Popular songs included ‘Over There’, a promotional song from 1917 announcing the American involvement in WWI which you may have heard on Go Compare’s adverts, and ‘Fun for Band’. You can watch videos of these performances on Wolverton Town Band’s Facebook page.