Twinning History: Wuppertal in Germany

In 2001 South Tyneside celebrated the golden jubilee of its town twinning links with Wuppertal in Germany.

In the years immediately after the end of the World War Two there was an initiative to encourage young people to join in exchanges to promote better understanding between the two Countries.

So, in 1951 town twinning with Wuppertal started after Mr Oliver Nicholson, Youth Officer with the British Zone administration in Germany, contacted Mr Percy Hudson, then Youth Services Organiser for the former South Shields Borough Council,

South Shields born Mr Nicholson arranged two-way links between young people from the North Rhine Westphalia region of Germany.

The first exchange took place in 1951 and this was followed by the first civic visits between the two towns. This set a pattern for youth, education, sporting, cultural and official visits for the next 50 years.