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Bracknell town presented with Council of Europe Flag of Honour

05/12/06

The Bracknell Town Mayor will be presented with the prestigious Council of Europe Flag of Honour in front of Bracknell school children and invited guests on Friday 24th November.

Dr Lale Aytaman an Honourary Member of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will fly in from Istanbul, Turkey to present the flag to Bracknell Town Mayor, Councillor Mrs Shelagh Pile; representatives from Bracknell’s twin town Leverkusen, Germany will also be present at the ceremony.

St Michael’s Easthampstead primary school has been chosen as the venue for the presentation due to its developing relationship with its partner school Die Walderschule in Leverkusen, and its interest in language teaching.

Tony Eccleston, Director of Education, Children’s Services and Libraries, said: “Bracknell’s schools have been developing links with schools in the twin town of Leverkusen in Germany and it is a recognition of that success that the Council of Europe award ceremony is taking place at St Michael’s Easthampstead Primary School. It promises to be a memorable day for the children and for all the invited guests.”

The Council of Europe Flag of Honour is awarded to cities and municipalities which have twinning arrangements with European partners and who can demonstrate that they are involved in a range of activities to develop partnership and understanding. Up to 25 flags are awarded each year. Bracknell is the only town in the UK to be awarded this honour in 2006.

The blue flag, embroidered with twelve golden stars and fringed with gold is symbolic of the expression of good will of a growing number of states and peoples to work together to build peace and prosperity, in a continent where common values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law prevail.

In recognition of Bracknell’s outstanding record of partnership with European business Boehringer – Ingelheim will be hosting an informal celebratory lunch after the award ceremony.

George Bayle, Chair of Twinning said “Bracknell Twinning Association is honoured to have been instrumental in gaining this award for Bracknell, which recognises the close partnership that has developed with our twin town Leverskusen over the past 32 years. This honour is for all the people of Bracknell who have helped to foster the European ideal.”