AMESBURY — Local officials welcomed a special guest Thursday, with the mayor of Amesbury – the one across the pond – taking part in a jam-packed day of activities.
Local Mayor Kassandra Gove welcomed her United Kingdom counterpart, Mayor Monica Devendran, and her family ahead of establishing what they called a “Twinning Relationship” between their communities.
A Twinning Relationship, which became widely known after World War II, serves as a friendship agreement to unite two communities in different countries endorsed by local authorities, according to a Amesbury City Council bill on the matter.
Gove and Devendran will sign a formal “Twinning Oath” during a reception in August.
Throughout the day, Devendran and her family were led on a tour of Amesbury by Gove as well as local historians Tom Pendergast, and Peter and Patricia Hoyt.
“This is a really wonderful thing, and I know it’s one of Kassandra’s goals as our mayor to really nurture and strengthen the partnership between the sister communities,” Peter Hoyt said.
The day began with a tour of Cider Hill Farm where co-owner Jennifer Durocher offered the group cider doughnuts, a tractor ride and insight on the farm’s history.
Next, the group ate lunch at Water Street Cafe with city councilors before heading to the Industrial History Center for a visit and tour.
Devendran later stopped by Lowell’s Boat Shop, and ended the day listening to live music as part of the Amesbury Summer Series.
Devendran praised Gove’s handling of the visit and the activities selected.
“I think Mayor Kassandra Gove and team are doing a fantastic job, and we have a very busy agenda planned for today,” she said during the Cider Hill Farm visit.
Devendran also said she looks forward to taking the next step in the community’s partnership.
“It’s a good head start just ahead of the twinning policy, which will be established in the United Kingdom,” she said.
Gove agreed, saying she believes the agreement will foster a strong relationship between the two Amesburys.
“We will be signing the twinning agreement in August, and we’re looking forward to a commitment,” Gove said. “We’re looking forward to a relationship with Amesbury, England, and their townspeople to share our history, our culture, our day-to-day life and connect our young people and folks of all ages so that we can increase awareness of each other’s communities as the only two Amesburys incorporated in the world.”
Now, with the trip behind them, the two mayors are ready to continue growing their communities’ relationship.
“We hope we keep carrying on this partnership. It’s a good stepping stone, I would say, for both the cities and towns to stay in touch and build up that sort of heritage and foster that relationship with each other,” Devendran said.