Transcript STEDENBAND LEIDEN

CITY LINK LEIDEN-OXFORD
A tradition with a future
1946 – to the present day
History
• Oxford, a university city on the Isis (Thames)
Leiden & Oxford
• Beginning in the Second World War: Albert
Milhado
• Context: sport, broad exchange UK-NL
• Elements linking elements L&O: university,
historic cities, waterways
• Spring 1946 inaugural meeting – Oxford town hall
• Netherlands: organisation
• For decades: exchange visits, competitions
Leiden-Oxford in practice I
• Period 1946 until late 60s: mainly sport
• Structure: board assisted by representatives of
various sports
• Combination of competitions and social
activities, day trips, dinners, receptions
• Mixed-sex groups of about 60 participants
• Individual quirks determine character
• Firm friendships: 7th. marriage in 1976
Leiden-Oxford in practice II
• 1974 - Leiden-Oxford twinning formally confirmed by
the municipal council on 3rd. October
• 1979 Oxford week in Leiden
• “Competition”: 1981/83 municipal council favours
projects showing solidarity with the Third World
• Diminishing subsidy?
• Foundation (with mayor as chair)
• 1890 onwards: Mayor and other visitors from Leiden at
Remembrance Day on 11th. November and Oxonians
at the Commemeration of the Dead on 4th. May
Leiden-Oxford
Leiden-Oxford in practice III
• Other twinning projects established:
• Juigalpa (Nicaragua), Buffalo City (East
London, South Africa)
• 1986 Dutch week in Oxford, pubs serving
Dutch food, 200 people from Leiden take part,
K&G performance, Dutch event in park
• Jubilee window installed in city hall; a gift
from Oxford
• Mollie Bateson foundation set up
Leiden-Oxford in practice IV
• Situation quieter from 1987 onwards,
• Organised group exchanges under pressure,
associations left to own devices as to timing of events
• 1987 - Association of Friends of Oxford
• Result: increase in private exchanges, but also 110
people from Leiden travelling to Oxford by coach with
Albert Milhado
• Old soldiers take part in the procession on October 3rd.
in 1990 and 1995
• 1996: Breestraat = Broadstreet, mosaic
Leiden-Oxford in practice V
• Period after 1996: both groups becoming
older, individual jubilees, presentation of gold
badges, etc.
• After 1997 traditional exchanges no longer
take place
• 1999 - Stichting Internationale Uitwisselingen
(Foundation for International Exchanges)
replaced by Stichting Stedenband LeidenOxford (Foundation City Link Leiden-Oxford)
• Activities continue: private initiatives, City Link
Leiden-Oxford: Future
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Period after 2007/2008
Politics: different ideas, financial economies
Changing social context
Policy: formulation of profit
Necessity of transformation to include younger
people
• Different areas of interest for the Foundation and
Friends
• Foundation might take part in Leiden policies, such
as Leiden City of Knowledge, Health Ties Programme,
Twinning manifesto
Leiden-Oxford: contact
• See the municipality’s website
• Via www.leiden-oxford-link.nl
• Roelof Hol, chair, [email protected]
Leiden-Oxford