Twinned Town - Visit to Manteo
Few will forget the national headlines of two years ago when Bideford apparently became the ‘Town that forgot it was twinned’… least of all our Town Clerk! But it seems "forgetting" is something Bideford has been doing for over 400 years. Way back in 1584 several prominent individuals intrinsically linked to Bideford, along with many local people, set sail to found a colony in the ‘New World’ in what is now the state of North Carolina, USA. That first attempt failed; but the second attempt just three years later at least survived long enough to claim the Birth of the first (and second) Americans in the form of Virginia Dare and an unrecorded child of the Harvie family.
What became of that second colony remains one of America’s greatest mysteries; and there are several theories of which at least two suggest that there may be descendants alive and well; living in the USA today. If proven, it will re-write the story of America and place not only Bideford, but the town of Manteo in North Carolina at the centre of one of the most pivotal moments in history. Perhaps of almost equal stature is the fact that somewhere in the graveyard of the Parish church of Bideford lay the remains of the first American to be buried on English soil.
The story though, did not end there… Bideford became Britain’s third largest port importing literally millions of bales of tobacco and trading in pottery and other goods. In Victorian times, Andrew Carnegie (of Carnegie Hall New York fame) donated the ‘free library’ adjacent to our Town Hall and many left for a new life in America from what is now the Royal Hotel; and of course, many alive today remember the American camp on what is now the site of Morrison’s supermarket.
Now, all these years later, and some 30 years after a ‘friendship’ document was drawn up, Bideford is finally forging further links with the Town of Manteo. At the end of April, a small party of largely self-financing members of the Town Council travelled to Manteo on something of a ‘Busman’s Holiday’ to present gifts, meet local dignitaries, and build some economic, cultural, and tourism bridges in preparation for a formal ‘Twinning’ hopefully sometime in 2009 back here in Bideford.
A full itinerary for the visit was arranged which included lunch at Roanoke Island Festival Park, a tour of the Elizabeth II ship, settlement site and museum, a visit to an English class at Manteo High school and meetings with local dignitaries.
Fair Trade Town
The
Fairtrade Town campaign was first launched in 2001 in Garstang, Lancashire,
under the initiative of Bruce Crowther, a local Oxfam supporter, and the
Garstang Oxfam Group. The initiative, which aimed to promote Fairtrade
certified goods in the town, was highly successful: within a couple of
months, awareness of the Fairtrade Mark jumped to over 70% in the town
while sales of Fairtrade certified goods increased significantly. Moreover,
over the course of the campaign, Garstang developed links with Fairtrade
cocoa farming communities in West Africa, which led to the twin town relationship
with New Koforidua, Ghana.
As the activities at Garstang gained wider notoriety,
the Fairtrade Foundation launched a set of Fairtrade Town Goals and an
Action Guide to encourage others to follow in the town's success. During
the 2001-2006 period, over 209 British towns were awarded the Fairtrade
status by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Farmers Market
Fresh fish, meats, cheese, vegetables, plants, chutney, pies, apple juice,
cider and real ales as well as hot food and ice cream are just some of
the locally produced products that will be on offer. This year's markets
hope to build on the success of it's first outing held on the 14th April
2007, which was popular with both locals and holidaymakers, and showcased
the Torridge area's wonderful range of food and drink in the pleasant
surroundings of Bideford's refurbished quayside.
Come and support your local producers! Markets will take place on every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month throughout the summer season.