Reconciliation and Friendship.

Many early twinning relationships were founded by ordinary people who wanted to put the years of war behind them and build new friendships. Arthur Durrant for example, from Dagenham in Essex, had spent the summer of 1939 in Berlin making many new friends. At the end of the conflict he worked hard to build a close relationship with the people of Witten who needed our help to recover. It is difficult today to realise that malnutrition was rife back in 1947, Dagenham extended the hand of friendship with positive warmth.

Just as relevant today as we celebrate our linkage to Pulheim with long established and new friendships alike. as here in may 2025 when we welcomed Pulheimers to the Meon Valley.

Cultural Exchanges.

A sure fire way to bring both a smile to our face and to build friendships is through music. In 2025 we welcomed the Pulheim Big Band to Fareham in collaboration with wonderful musicians of the HMS Collingwood Volunteer band. Two sets of musicians producing a wide range of musical styles proved how music can cross any boundary in an uplifting concert at the Titchfield theatre.

In 2026 a return match at Pulheim’s Stadtfest will be a highlight of our visit.

The next generation of exchange.

Could we build new relationships between schools? Could we add to existing football and boxing club links? Are there benefits for local businesses to be found in our Twin towns?

Hilde Reucroft was one of the founders of Fareham Pulheim twinning back in 1984. In 2025 she met Stefan, the young Pulheimer who wants to extend our links across individual friendships and between like minded club or school members.

Johannes from the Pulheim Big Band made friends by bursting into song at Fareham Live!, why not join us to make