In Memory of Gill Cooper (1946-2026)
Lichfield’s International Ring Twinning celebrations, held from 2 to 5 October, were dedicated to the memory of Gill Cooper, former Chair and founder member of the Lichfield Twinning Association, who sadly passed away in July.
Gill was involved in Twinning from its beginnings in 1992 and played a central role in fostering the long-standing friendships between Lichfield, Limburg an der Lahn in Germany and Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon in France. Her commitment and enthusiasm created a legacy that continues to bring communities together today.
More than 130 visitors from Limburg and Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon travelled to Lichfield for the latest Ring Twinning celebrations. Guests included the Mayor of Limburg, Dr Marius Hahn, and Councillor Patricia Bouvard, representing the Mayor of Sainte-Foy.
The weekend began with a civic reception at the Guildhall, where visitors were welcomed by the Mayor of Lichfield, Councillor Rosie Harvey-Coggins, and Town Crier Adrian Holmes. A varied programme of heritage, cultural and sporting activities followed, with host families once again opening their homes to guests in the true spirit of twinning.
A key moment of the weekend was a business meeting involving civic leaders, twinning representatives and council officers from all three towns. During the meeting, a Joint Declaration of Friendship and Cooperation was agreed, reaffirming a shared commitment to strengthening cultural, educational, sporting and community links for future generations.
One of the highlights of the celebrations was the Friendship Banquet at Drayton Manor’s Tower Suite, attended by more than 220 guests. Representatives from all three towns exchanged gifts and reflected on the importance of international friendship, while a performance by the Lichfield Rock Choir had guests singing and dancing together.
The Mayor of Lichfield presented bespoke table runners featuring some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, created by local artist Jacqui Roberts of Jacqui Ann Designs. In return, Limburg presented a traditional handmade candle bridge symbolising light, hope and community, while representatives from Sainte-Foy gifted commemorative items for the Mayor’s Parlour.
On Sunday, visitors joined residents at Lichfield Cathedral for a special Twinning Evensong service. Singers from all three towns performed Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine in memory of Gill Cooper. Following the service, guests gathered in the Gardens of Remembrance, where the Mayor read the Joint Declaration, led a toast to international friendship and lit the Beacon for 34 minutes to mark 34 years of Ring Twinning.
The weekend concluded on Monday morning as host families, councillors, officers and friends gathered to bid farewell to visitors, waving French and German flags as Auld Lang Syne accompanied warm embraces and farewells.
Mayor of Lichfield, Councillor Rosie Harvey-Coggins, said:
“This weekend was a wonderful celebration of friendship, community and international cooperation. It was fantastic to welcome our friends from Limburg and Sainte-Foy to Lichfield and to see new friendships formed alongside those that have flourished for decades. The weekend was also a fitting tribute to Gill Cooper, whose passion for twinning helped make all of this possible.”
Lichfield City Council would like to thank the host families, volunteers, councillors, performers and officers who helped make the weekend such a success. Special thanks are extended to Elise More, Astrid Siegel, Heide Bein and Henri Brenders for their dedication in coordinating arrangements across all three towns.
The Ring Twinning celebrations take place every three years on a rotating basis between the three partner towns. The next gathering will be hosted by Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon in 2029.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in future twinning activities can contact the Civic Office at civic@lichfield.gov.uk.
Harriet Chatwin
Civic Officer
Lichfield City Council
