Mayor boosts culture, trade and tourism links with Nevers
Promoting cultural and economic links with Nevers was top of the agenda for the Mayor when he visited St Albans’ twin City earlier this month.
During the trip, the Mayor attended the annual Nevers Trade Fair where he talked to exhibitors about St Albans District.
Visitors and exhibitors at the trade fair were able to learn more about the District’s heritage and attractions from an information stand promoting St Albans’ twinning link.
The Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia, said:
The event provided a great opportunity to promote St Albans as a fantastic place to visit with a wealth of heritage and cultural attractions. I spoke with exhibitors, highlighting St Albans’ many visitor attractions as well as the District’s economic strengths.
The Mayor was invited to visit the French city after he hosted a twinning delegation in St Albans last summer led by the Mayor of Nevers, Denis Thuriot.
During an official welcoming ceremony in Nevers, the two Mayors temporarily exchanged symbols of their mayoralty to highlight the close ties between the two cities.
The Mayor of St Albans added:
Not only did we swap symbols of our mayoralty we also exchanged ideas about how to promote our two cities. In addition, we learned about new initiatives and projects being developed in our respective cities.
The Mayor of St Albans was also given a tour of Nevers. This included visits to Nevers cathedral, the theatre, an earthenware workshop and the Bibracte archaeological site and museum. He was also invited to watch a Nevers-Dax rugby game. He also attended a memorial service to remember people who died in the Algerian War, that ended French colonial rule, and in similar conflicts in Tunisia and Morocco.
Links between the two cathedral cities were established in 1974, when Nevers became the first city to be twinned with St Albans. Located in the heart of Burgundy, Nevers is a cathedral city, with a history dating back to Roman times. It is also a place of pilgrimage, being the resting place of St Bernadette.
Every other year, the Friends of Nevers arrange twinning visits to the French cathedral city when they stay with local families and visit historical attractions. In the intervening year, L’Amicale de Nevers visit St Albans.
More information about Nevers is available on St Albans City and District Council’s website.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia
Contact for the Mayor’s office:
Alison Orde, the Mayor’s Civic Officer
Tel: 01727 819544, Email: mayoralty@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson, Senior Communications Officer, St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317, E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
Above:
At Nevers Trade Fair: (left to right) The Mayoress of Nevers, Caroline Marin; the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia; The Mayor of Nevers, Denis Thuriot, and the Mayoress of St Albans, Farhat Zia.
Exchanging symbols of mayoralty: The Mayor of Nevers, Denis Thuriot, and the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia
At Nevers Trade Fair: (left to right) The Mayoress of Nevers, Caroline Marin; the Mayor of the City and District of St Albans, Councillor Mohammad Iqbal Zia; The Mayor of Nevers, Denis Thuriot, and the Mayoress of St Albans, Farhat Zia.