Promoting sporting, cultural and educational links across Europe
Forthcoming Events
2021
20th-30th October. “When Suzhou meets Fontainebleau.” An exhibition of photographs of Suzhou at the Charité Royale in Fontainebleau. Suzhou is twinned with Konstanz.
New Fingerpost Sign Unveiling
REA chairman, Alan Mockford, with one of the arms of the new fingerpost sign.
5th November. 1 – 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to the unveiling of an attractive new fingerpost sign, which denotes the direction & distance to our three twin towns, outside the civic centre in Twickenham. Our patron & Mayor, councillor Geoff Acton, & the leader of the council, Gareth Roberts will perform the honours. The sign was commissioned by REA, with the aid of a Civic Pride grant, and will stand between the town hall & civic centre for many decades to come.
St. Margaret’s Elastic Band, which is twinned with Union Musicale de Fontainebleau, will perform a programme of American, English, French & German music from 1 p.m. before the unveiling at approximately 1.30 p.m.
St. Margaret’s Elastic Band also performed at the unveiling of a new information board about Fontainebleau & Konstanz, outside East Sheen library in September.
A display about Richmond’s twinned towns can currently be seen in Twickenham library.
The entrance to Twickenham library.
4 service trees of Fontainebleau will be planted in the grounds of York House, in Orleans House Garden, on Hampton Common & outside East Sheen library, to commemorate several recent unveilings & in recognition of climate week (1st-8th November).
Phemina Photo Festival in Fontainebleau
Le Château de Fontainebleau reflected in l’étang aux carpes.
6th-14th November. A photography exhibition in Fontainebleau, on the theme of women, organised by the “Association Arts et Culture Solidaire.” (Please note that this exhibition has been postponed until May 2022.)
Submissions by three REA members, Jan Lee Johnson, Paul Douglas & Carol Wain, have already been selected for exhibition.
For further details please click on the following links or write to richmondineurope@hotmail.com
18th November 6 p.m. GMT. The British German Association & Guildford Town Twinning Association are hosting an online conference for 12 local towns, including Richmond, and their respective German partner towns. Two representatives from Richmond & two from Konstanz will be attending.
The German Embassy will be represented by the deputy ambassador, Julia Gross.
Julia Gross
The themes of the conference will be;
1. Twinning & environmental issues &
2. The decline in educational exchanges & the teaching of German in English schools.
The Mayor, Geoff Acton, & his consort, Eileen McManus.
The 44th Annual General Meeting of the Richmond in Europe Association
will take place in the Salon of York House, Twickenham on Monday 22nd November at 7.30 p.m.
The Mayor of Richmond, councillor Geoff Acton, who is one of our three patrons, along with the mayors of Fontainebleau & Konstanz, will be the guest of honour.
The formal business of the meeting will be followed by a wine & cheese buffet.
The REA Annual Christmas Dinner
will be held at 7.30 p.m. on Friday 3rd December at Brouge Restaurant in Fulwell. This popular Belgian restaurant is situated at the junction of Hampton Road & Sixth Cross Road. The cost of the three course Christmas meal is £29.95.
Sunday 12th December. Carols at Clare’s from 4 p.m. REA vice-chairman Clare Head will be hosting her annual festive event with music, mulled wine & mince pies at her beautiful new home in Teddington. All funds raised will be shared between the Richmond in Europe Association, the Chapel Royal & Cancer Research. All REA members are invited.
Friday 17th December. 7 p.m. The Mayor’s Christmas Concert in York House, Twickenham. The Middlesex Yeomanry Concert Band will be providing the music.
Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th December. The annual French market in Church Street Twickenham
A Tour of Farnborough Abbey
On a date yet to be determined David King will lead REA members on a guided tour of the Mausoleum of Napoleon III & Empress Eugenie in Farnborough. Tours usually take place at 3 p.m. on a Saturday, but the mausoleum is currently closed because of Covid 19.
Napoleon III
Napoleon III spent much of his childhood on the shores of Lake Constance, as Emperor he lived in his magnificent palace at Fontainebleau & he died in exile in England in 1873.
Members were treated to a fascinating online lecture on the life of Napoleon III by David King on 11th February which can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
23rd-25th February. REA members are invited to the Fasnacht celebrations in Konstanz. If you are interested in joining the REA delegation in 2022 please contact former chairman, Bernd Steinlechner at
bsteinlechner16@gmail.com
This is Bernd (left) in Konstanz with the Oberbürgermeister, Uli Burchardt.
Das Europakonzil
Gemeinsam für den Klimaschutz
25th-27th April 2022
The Europakonzil, which comprises youth delegates from Konstanz & its twin towns of Richmond, Fontainebleau, Tabor (in the Czech Republic) & Lodi (in Italy), promotes the benefits of European co-operation. The next meeting will take place in Konstanz from 25th-27th April 2022 & the theme will be, “Gemeinsam für den Klimaschutz.” (Together for climate protection).
Delegates in 2017Konstanzer Oberbürgermeister, Uli Burchardt (back row left), with some of the delegates from the 5 nations in 2017
The last meeting of the Europakonzil took place in 2017 when there were 20 youth delegates from each of the five nations. This time there will be 75, including 15 from Richmond. English will be the lingua franca. So successful was the Konzil in 2017 that it was nominated for two awards in Germany & won prize money totalling €1250.
For further information please click on the following link:
Friday 10th December. 
