CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF TWINNING WITH LANDIVISIAU
For the first time since before Covid, the Bideford branch of the Twinning Association travelled to Landivisiau for their annual trip and to celebrate 45 years of Twinning.
This time our Mayor, Councillor Jamie McKenzie and his Mayoress, Mrs Zofia McKenzie joined them – and they had a great time. The Mayor thanked the Bideford Twinners for inviting him and the Mayoress. He said “The people from Landivisiau are so very welcoming and we were given a marvellous time with learning about Landivisiau and the Breton cultures. I managed to win the Sea-shell spitting competition which makes me the British Champion but not the European Champion!” He added “We were treated like family and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend anyone joining the Twinning Association – it’s not just for older people!”
Our picture shows our Mayor, Jamie McKenzie with the Deputy Mayor of Landivisiau, M. Louis Saliou.
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INTRODUCING THE MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR FOR 2023-2024
Bideford Town Council elected the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, on Monday 15th May at the Annual Meeting, for the 2023-2024 term.
Councillor Jamie McKenzie was voted in, following the tradition of the Deputy Mayor progressing forward to Mayor. Councillor McKenzie is from East the Water and is a Bideford boy – many of you will know him and some may remember him from their schooldays!
Jamie will be supported by his Mayoress and wife Zofia. He said, when he was elected, that he felt privileged to serve as his home town Mayor and would do his best to represent Bideford in the best light possible.
Councillor Jamie McKenzie
Bideford Town Mayor 2023-2024
Town Mayor of Bideford – Councillor Jamie McKenzie with the Mayoress, Mrs Zofia McKenzie
Councillor Rachel Clarke
Deputy Mayor of Bideford 2023-2024
TOILET TWINNING
Bideford has been awarded the status of a Toilet Twinned Town, and a Certificate, presented by the President of Bideford Rotary to the Mayor, is proudly displayed in The Town Hall.
In Bideford we have access to safe toilets, in our homes, at work and when we are out shopping or visiting, but 2.3 billion people, about a quarter of the world’s population, do not, which makes their lives uncomfortable, unpleasant, and presents a huge risk. Teenage girls, who need privacy, are particularly at risk and many are forced to miss school.
During the past year, after an evening of fund-raising and challenging toilet games, Bideford Rotarians have nominated 20 toilets in and around Bideford, and each twin, for a donation of £60, has been paired with a toilet in an African country - Mozambique, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burkina Faso among them. The funds also contribute to community education and sanitation programmes.
Bideford’s 20 twinned toliets, each marked with its own Toilet Twinning Certificate, are located at Moreton House, The Big Sheep, Burton Art Gallery, Littleham Village Hall, The Royal Hotel, The Town Hall, West Croft Primary School, Appledore Shipyard, the Bread Café (Allhalland Street), Bideford Medical Centre and St Mary’s Church.
Mayor Jude Gubb, in her last day in office, said, ‘With so many toilets twinned, Bideford is flushed with success.’
Jill Eddie, President of Bideford Rotary, added, ‘Rotary has responsibilities to its local community and to communities across the world. We raised funds in Bideford and, working with ‘Toilet Twinning’, an international charity, we were proud to provide safe sanitation in 20 African villages, which will make many lives safer and healthier.’
For more information, contact Euan Eddie, International and Foundation Lead at Bideford Rotary – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
