Festival of Associations - May 2007
Rotherham was represented at St Quentin’s Festival of Associations - an event which showcased the voluntary groups and societies in Saint Quentin, as well as those of their twin and partner towns. The festival provided opportunities for local groups and organisations to make links with similar groups in St Quentin.
The event was held in a purpose-built marquee next to the town’s railway station. A wide range of groups were represented including sports clubs, jazz groups and organisations that support under-privileged people.
The Senator-Mayor of Saint Quentin, Mr Pierre André, officially opened the festival after visiting each stand.
The Rotherham stand received a great deal of interest, displaying posters and pictures of community activities and tourist attractions in Rotherham. Various goodies were provided by the Visitor Centre and a film about Rotherham was shown on a large plasma screen.
Natalie Hunter, Project Officer (European & International Affairs) had written an article about Rotherham in French, which was avidly collected by visitors.
There were many similarities with the Rotherham Show, although on a slightly smaller scale and with less emphasis on diversity. Interest was expressed, however, in establishing links with a number of Rotherham counterpart organisations, including a gymnastics group, an organisation for socially excluded people and a parent-baby bonding group.
Foreign shores beckon for borough’s budding artists
Two Rotherham artists have joined with painters and sculptors of different nationalities at an international arts festival which was held in Rotherham’s French twin-town, Saint-Quentin from 11-21 of June.
The 3rd International Arts Symposium saw artists from St Quentin, Kaiserslautern in Germany, Banja Luka in Bosnia, and Rotherham work together to produce a piece of art.
The festival concentrated on the theme of portrait; paying homage to Maurice Quentin de La Tour the famous French portrait painter who hailed from St Quentin. At the end of the cultural event, the artists donated their work to the town.
Jennifer Booth and Jennifer Keith, the artists (pictured) who were selected to represent Rotherham at the festival following a borough wide competition, said; “It is a great honour to be chosen to represent Rotherham at the festival. We really enjoyed working with the artists from other countries. Even though we all spoke different languages, the common bond of art enabled us to work well together.”
Mayor pays respects at war hero’s grave
The Mayor of Rotherham joined with the family of a local First World War hero in March in a moving ceremony at the Town Hall. Eighteen year-old Private Sidney Birks of the 2nd battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Regiment fell on the fields on Vermandois, tragically just a month and a half before the Armistice on 1 October 1918.
During an official visit to the borough’s twin-town, St Quentin, in February, the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Peter Wootton, paid his respects at the grave of Private Birks at the rural village of Bellenglise, laying a presentation of white roses.
The Mayor made the short trip to Bellenglise following a request from Tinsley residents, Mr Sidney Birks - the fallen soldier’s nephew - and his wife Mrs Barbara Birks.
Unfortunately, members of the Birks family have not yet been able to visit Private Birks’ final resting place. Speaking about his visit to the war cemetery, Cllr Wootton said: “It was an incredibly humbling experience. The lovely service held by the dignitaries from Bellenglise was extremely emotional. The white roses were specifically requested by Barbara as a symbol of Yorkshire. The Mayor of Bellenglise and deputy Mayors of St Quentin were in attendance and I was extremely impressed with the respect and care with which the war cemetery is maintained.”
Continuing, Cllr Wootton commented: “Stood amongst the graves of sixty-three British soldiers is a very sobering experience and it makes you shudder to think of the ultimate sacrifice that these lads gave.”
During the visit, the Mayor was presented with an ornamental door key depicting an image of the village of Bellenglise and an aerial plan of the cemetery to hand to Private Birks’ family. Receiving the items at the Town Hall, along with a photo of the Mayor at Private Birks’ grave, Sidney and Barbara Birks spoke of their original efforts to find the final resting place of Sidney’s uncle.
“It was in the 1970s when I was tracking my family history and wrote to the War Graves Commission,” said Sidney. “We knew a little bit about what had happened to my uncle, such as he’d actually lied about his age when he joined up at sixteen. However, none of the family knew exactly where his grave was but the Commission were very helpful.”
“Once we had found out where he was, we felt we had to do pay our respects,” added Barbara. “We’re very grateful to the Mayor for laying the white roses and paying his respects.”
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