Our twinning officer Annette’s retirement

In September last year, our twinning officer, Annette Wight retired.

Annette had been at the helm of Cheltenham’s twin town links for over 38 years, working hard to ensure Cheltenham’s status internationally. She ensured that our partner town links were maintained with such enthusiasm over those 38 years. A true ambassador for Cheltenham, and the UK, she was loved, respected and greeted so warmly by all of our partner towns and will be hugely missed by all.

Everyone with whom Annette worked, both here in Cheltenham and in our partner towns, truly recognised her achievements in ensuring Cheltenham remained outward looking and welcoming to all.

CIPA were overwhelmed by messages, both formal and informal, from our partner towns and those involved with Annette’s work over the years describing Annette as having “the golden touch” and as “A shining star. With unparalleled enthusiasm, her work transcended mere duty fulfilment; it was a heartfelt call for communication, cooperation and mutual understanding.” Chair of CIPA, Cllr Angie Boyes and the CIPA Committee says “Merci, Danke Schӧn, Dank u wel, Xiexie, Spaciba and THANK YOU. “

We are delighted that Annette has decided to return to the CIPA Committee as an Ordinary Member as of November 2025.

Cheltenham/Annecy working delegation visit – November 2024

In November 2024, four delegates from Cheltenham visited Annecy to discuss future work programmes and learn more about the institutions and organisations in Annecy with the aim of developing collaborative work across both towns. Chair of CIPA, Cllr Angie Boyes and Cllr Martin Horwood, the cabinet member for economic development, wellbeing and culture were joined by Ian George, co-CEO of Cheltenham Festivals and Andrew Lansley, head of innovation at Cheltrenham Festivals.

The visit included visits to the Turbines Sciences where they were able to discuss the Cheltenham Science Festival and gain useful links with France, visits to the Papeteries Images Factory where the delegates were shown around the CITIA (Image and Creative Industries – Economic Hub) to gain a further understanding of this excellent facility. The delegates also visited the Gobelins Film Animation School where they explored exchanges with film students in Gloucestershire.

The delegates also met with Mayor, François Astorg to discuss common challenges from a political and local government perspective.

The visit also included a bi-lateral meeting with the Jazz au Carrés to discuss opportunities between both Jazz Festivals, the Brise Glace venue to exchange views on the importance of youth and music and a working meeting at the Conservatoire to information share about festivals, sustainability and accessibility.

It was a hugely successful visit and the first of its kind to include delegates from the Festivals. We hope that a lot of collaborative projects will develop as a result.

2024 Youth Peace Camp

From 27 July to 3 August 2024, 6 young people from Cheltenham joined 16 other youngsters from Göttingen and their partner town of Torun in Poland for the International Youth Peace Camp in Göttingen.

The theme of this year’s exchange was diversity and the group enjoyed water sports activities, a trip to the Harz mountains, indoor rock climbing at Göttingen University’s school of sport, a BBQ, cooking together and much more.

The youngsters made new friends, learnt about Germany, experienced a variety of different foods and above all had fun.

Full report on the visit below.

2024 Peace Camp reportDownload

International Friendships Forged

Cheltenham International Partnerships and Cheltenham Mayor, Cllr Paul Baker, were delighted to welcome a group of 12 young people from Göttingen led by Jessika Wichner and Nico Hauser on Wednesday 24 July.

At the mayoral reception, the Mayor also met with Friedrich and Stephanie Selter. Mr Selter was Superintendent of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Göttingen from 2009-2021 and led joint German/English services in Göttingen when visitors from Cheltenham were over there.

The group were in Cheltenham from 19-29 July on a Sport and Language based visit, staying with local host families and following a programme of English tuition, sporting activities and sightseeing, with trips to Sudeley Castle, Bristol, Stratford and London.

International Friendship – enjoying time with friends and family from Cheltenham and Goettingen

Local Band Play in Annecy

Kaiju Blue were delighted to be representing Cheltenham and recently took part in the Fête de la Musique in Annecy on Friday 21 June 2024.

We would like to thank Cheltenham Borough Council and the Cheltenham International Partnerships Committee for their support as part of our trip, as well as the kind hospitality, friendship and very warm welcome that we received in Annecy.

Thursday 20 June: Early start for travel to Bristol airport for the flight to Switzerland. A quick taxi hop across rush hour Geneva in the rain, taking in the United Nations buildings, before a train ride to Annecy through picturesque, beautiful Alpine countryside. Check in to our hotel in Cran-Gevrier, before a wander down the hill for initial sight-seeing in the town centre and a pre-bedtime drink at Galopin (highly recommended!)

Friday 21 June: Up early for a sunny walk around town; taking in the beautiful scenery. Visits to Annecy Cathedral and exploring the many beautiful side streets and shops tucked away. Caught the Perou Precolombien exhibition at Musée-Chateau d’Annecy and enjoyed the view from the castle walls across the city. Dinner with our new friends in Annecy at La Brasserie Saint Maurice whilst watching the first musical performers of the evening commence their shows in the square opposite. A lovely evening walk across town to Albigny Beach (for our show at 10pm!). Playing in front of the Alps and by Lake Annecy was an unforgettable experience!

Saturday 22 June: Last day in Annecy, so a visit to the Jardins de l’Europe and the brilliant street market stalls dotted around the town centre, before a boat trip on Lake Annecy in the glorious sunshine–rounding off a wonderful stay in Annecy!

From Mike & Charlie, Kaiju Blue

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Kaiju Blue’s trip to Annecy – video with their own backing music

Uni of Glos Students in Annecy

A group of 22 undergrad Animated Film students from the University of Gloucestershire had the wonderful opportunity to visit Cheltenham’s partner town of Annecy to experience the International Festival of Animated Film 2024. Bryan Panks, course leader, has been taking students every year since the course started in 2014, knowing how much this visit inspires his students.

The group were welcomed at a reception hosted by the International Relations Department of Annecy.

Local Band at Annecy’s Music Festival

Kaiju Blue, a local electronic/pop duo of Charlie and Mike who do mash ups, are playing at Annecy’s Fete de la Musique on Friday 21 June on one of the main stages around the town of Annecy. Cheltenham International Partnerships Association is delighted to be supporting them with this fab opportunity to promote their music in Cheltenham’s twin town.

Whilst there, Mike and Charlie will enjoy a boat tour of Lake Annecy and meet with fellow musicians and international partners.

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2024-fete-de-la-musique-programme-kaiju-blue-21_06_2024Download

Stampersgat visit a great success

After a wait of 5 years, a delegation of 20 people from Cheltenham visited Cheltenham’s friendship town of Stampersgat in The Netherlands from 10-13 May 2024.

The group met up with their Dutch friends and together laid flowers at the grave of Cpl Dennis Lee, from the Gloucestershire Regiment, who died there in 1941 during the liberation of Stampersgat. Following the memorial service the groups had lunch together in Oudenbosch.

The Cheltenham – Stampersgat Friendship Link groups organise visits to and from each town every two years, with the Stampersgat group receiving a warm welcome in Cheltenham in 2022 and very much looking forward to their return visit in 2026.

The visit was a great success and more pictures and information can be seen on the Cheltenham-Stampersgat facebook page.

Fun Run in Annecy

Over the weekend of 13-14 April 2024, the Mayor of Cheltenham, Cllr Matt Babbage and his wife Suzy, went on a private visit to Cheltenham’s partner town of Annecy France to take part in the very popular Annecy Marathon (or half marathon, 10k or 5k).

The route takes runners around the wonderful Lake Annecy with the mountains in the background. It was the first visit to the twin town for the Mayor who said, “we had an absolutely fantastic weekend in Annecy, it is such a beautiful town and we were lucky enough to have some very summery weather – which made the run slightly tougher!”

Although a private visit, when Annecy discovered the Mayor of Cheltenham had signed up, the Mayor of Annecy greeted him and he was accompanied by several other officials from Annecy both on the run and on a boat tour of the lake.

The Annecy marathon is an annual event on the second weekend of April and they would love to welcome more runners from their partner town of Cheltenham. So dust off those trainers and getting training! And keep an eye on Annecy’s Athletic club’s website for details.