Town twinning

Twinning began in the late 1940s as a means of reconciling European nations that had been torn apart by war. As the benefits of the movement became apparent, twinning became a world-wide phenomenon.

Havering became twinned with Luwigshafen-am-Rhein in 1971 and Hesdin in France in 1995. These voluntary arrangements (which are not council sponsored) have involved hundreds of people from all three towns from a huge range of organisations, associations and clubs - including schools, churches, sports clubs, marching bands, radio enthusiasts and many others. The resulting exchanges have helped bond extraordinary friendships and mutually beneficial relationships.

Click here to go to the Ludwigshafen-am-Rhein website.

Click here to go to the Hesdin website.

If you'd like to know more about twinning, or to visit Ludwigshafen-am-Rhein or Hesdin as part of an exchange, then please get in touch with either of the following:    

Town twinning

Twinning began in the late 1940s as a means of reconciling European nations that had been torn apart by war. As the benefits of the movement became apparent, twinning became a world-wide phenomenon.

Havering became twinned with Luwigshafen-am-Rhein in 1971 and Hesdin in France in 1995. These voluntary arrangements (which are not council sponsored) have involved hundreds of people from all three towns from a huge range of organisations, associations and clubs - including schools, churches, sports clubs, marching bands, radio enthusiasts and many others. The resulting exchanges have helped bond extraordinary friendships and mutually beneficial relationships.

Click here to go to the Ludwigshafen-am-Rhein website.

Click here to go to the Hesdin website.

If you'd like to know more about twinning, or to visit Ludwigshafen-am-Rhein or Hesdin as part of an exchange, then please get in touch with either of the following:    

Havering Twinning Association

We also take pride in promoting our Borough-wide awards to students of Modern Foreign Languages in Havering. These awards were established in memory of Mike Bristow, a former treasurer of Havering Twinning Association who was an accomplished linguist.  They are presented annually and aim to raise the profile of Modern Foreign Language learning in Havering.  Languages taught in Havering's secondary schools are - French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Russian.

The Mike Bristow Awards also incorporate the Diane Lowe Award for Primary Languages.  This award is presented to a primary school which has demonstrated a true commitment to embedding primary language learning in the school curriculum, giving younger children opportunities to learn about the language and culture of another country.

Years 7 and 9 Awards

The winners in each of the participating secondary schools is the student who, in the judgement of the Head of Modern Languages, demonstrates the most interest in, aptitude for or progress in their study of a language.  This year we are extending the scheme to Year 7 pupils.

Other awards

The Leader of Havering Council, Councillor Michael White, sponsors an award for Italian; Councillor Andrew Curtin sponsors an award for Russian; and an award for Mandarin Chinese is sponsored by St Edward's C of E Comprehensive School.

The Manny Goldstein Cup

This is a new award launched in 2009 for students in Year 13.  Each Havering school or college with students in year 13 is asked to nominate their most able linguist, who is then invited to take part in a further selection process to identify Havering's Linguist of the Year.  The selection process involves the Year 13 winners taking part in an interpreting activity, where one adult conveys their message to another via the candidate in the foreign language.

The prizes

Each year 7, 9, 13 schools and 6th form college students receives a certificate and a £30 book voucher. The Havering Young Linguist of the Year receives an additional £50 book voucher and the Manny Goldstein Cup which has their name and the year engraved upon it .The winner has the cup for one year.

The Award Ceremony is organised by our Association in conjunction with Daniel Alliott, Head of the Europa Centre and Ann Bryden, Head of Modern Languages at St Edward's School. It is attended by the winners and their responsible adults; the Mayor of Havering; the Leader of the Council; other Borough representatives; teachers and members of our Association. There is also a demonstration by the primary school winners of the Diana Lowe Award.

Havering Twinning Educational Association (which is a registered charity), receives no financial support from Havering Council but is supported in other ways which is appreciated. The Awards are financed by organising fund raising activities such as coach trips, quiz nights, raffles etc, with a view to encouraging sponsorship. All our members are volunteers committed to making this award scheme a success and to eventually include all year groups. By their hard work and help from donations the scheme has gone from strength to strength. We believe that Havering is the only Borough that has an organisation committed to such a scheme to encourage young people to study of a foreign language.

If you'd like to know more, please contact Bill Dale, Chairman on 020 8597 2944 or Maisie Whitelock, Secretary on 01708 472631.

Registered Charity Number 1104439
Havering Twinning Educational Association is approved by the London Borough of Havering but does not act on its behalf.

Havering Twinning Association news & events