Bishop's Stortford Town Twinning Association (B.S.T.T.A.) is an outward looking, modern, non-political, non-sectarian movement, eager to extend its membership and to welcome any local resident interested in the aims and ideals of Town Twinning.

The primary objective of twinning is to foster more goodwill in the world — to improve understanding between nations by means of links between individuals. Twinning specific towns or areas helps to establish or enhance these links — which quickly translate themselves into friendships — with a bonus!

Our own Bishop's Stortford Town Twinning Association was established in 1964 with the intention of twinning the German town of Friedberg in Hessen, about 25Km from Frankfurt, and the French town of Villiers-sur-Marne, which is about 15Km east of Paris.

Although Bishop's Stortford twinners enjoy a wide range of social events, the principal reason for joining the association is to visit those people of France and Germany — who have become our friends — and then to have the pleasure of entertaining them in England.

Discovery Week

These visits may be the "Sports and Family weekend" over a May bank holiday or the full seven days "Discovery Week" which allows twinners a chance to really get to know both the other twinners and the area chosen for twinning.

Certainly the most entertaining aspect of these visits is also the most enjoyable and that is the opportunity to share someone else's home life.