A Town Twinning Agreement between the towns of Elstree and Borehamwood and Shoham in Central Israel was signed last Thursday evening in Borehamwood.
The delegation from Shoham consisted of the Mayor, Eitan Petigro, International Affairs Portfolio Holder, Peleg Reshef, and Director of Leisure and Sports, Nimrod Galanti.
During their visit to the UK the delegation visited Borehamwood’s Kenilworth Primary School, Yavneh College, Boreham Wood Football Club, Elstree Film Studios, SKY Elstree Studios and Borehamwood Museum; they also toured local leisure, sports and cultural facilities and spent time with other community groups and organisations such as MENCAP and the Jewish Life Centre.
The ceremony followed recent visits to Shoham by Town Council Members (paid for privately) and the Town Clerk.
The signing ceremony, chaired by Councillor Jeremy Newmark, took place in the Hertsmere Council Chamber and was followed by a reception for sixty guests, including the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, HHJ Michael Kay KC DL, The Mayor of Hertsmere, the Managing Director, Councillors, residents and the wider community.
Representatives from local businesses, sports and cultural groups attended, including Irmine Mason from Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association, Danny Hunter, Chairman of Boreham Wood Football Club, Rabbi Alex Chapper, Rabbi Chaim Hoch and other faith leaders.
The aim of the Agreement is to forge cultural, educational, leisure and business links between the two communities.
After the signing of the Agreement, Town Mayor, Councillor Sandra Parnell, Chair of the International Affairs Sub-Committee, said “I am incredibly delighted that this twinning has come to fruition after seven long years of trying to twin with a town in Israel and look forward to the strong relations that will develop between our two towns”.
International Affairs Sub-Committee Vice-Chair, Cllr Jeremy Newmark described the twinning as “historic” marking the first twinning ceremony in Borehamwood for over 40 years and the first twinning between towns in the UK and Israel for ‘decades’. He added: “We are excited about the tangible economic and educational benefits this partnership will deliver. Our initial plans include collaboration in the field of robotics, where Shoham is a world leader, and a football competition between the two towns to be hosted at Meadow Park, the home of Boreham Wood FC”.
Mayor of Shoham, Eitan Petigro told guests at the ceremony that residents of Shoham are “excited and enthused” about the twinning and look forward to engaging at “every level”.
Irmine Mason of Borehamwood and Elstree Twin Town Association reinforced the principles of town twinning and welcomed Shoham as the newest of Borehamwood’s twin towns, joining Offenburg in Germany and Fontenay-aux-Roses in France.