ATTA
Andover Town Twinning Association
The Andover Town Twinning Association exists to promote friendship between the residents of Andover and the surrounding area with other overseas towns. We are currently twinned with Redon in France, Goch in Germany and Andover, Massachusetts in the USA.
Forthcoming Events 2024
- ATTA is pleased to be welcoming guests from Goch and Redon in May!
- Social events for members are also being planned for 2024
Redon is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France
This ancient and historic town stands at the junction of the rivers Villaine and Oust. The well-preserved town centre has a lively market and is dominated by an imposing Town Hall and an abbey church. Redon has an inland harbour connected to several beautiful canals and it is the centre of an rich agricultural area. There is a thriving light industrial sector and the town has very good sporting and leisure facilities.
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1646.
The town of Andover is located in Essex County in the northeastern part of Massachusetts, approximately 23 miles north of Boston. Located on the banks of the Merrimack River, Andover is bordered on the north by the cities of Lawrence and Methuen, on the east by the town of North Andover, on the south by the towns of North Reading and Wilmington, and on the west by the towns of Tewksbury and Dracut. Andover has approximately 32 square miles of land area, and 223 miles of roadways.
Goch is a town in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Goch is located close to the Dutch border and is primarily dependant on agriculture and horticulture, with some light industrial development. The main town and several adjoining villages form 'Stadt Goch'. The town was heavily bombarded during the last war and has been beautifully restored with many traditional-style houses, public buildings and a mill.
Our first formal link was with Redon in 1977, followed by Goch in 1980. In 2000 we signed an agreement with Andover, Massachusetts and this event is commemorated with a stunning statue of the Pennacook tribal Chief Cutshamache, (from whom the early settlers bought the land) in the open space behind Cricklade House. Andover.
Each year we visit one of our sister towns or receive their representatives into our homes in Andover. There is normally an annual exchange between us, Redon and Goch, and we visit Andover, Massachusetts (or they come to us) once every two years giving members an excellent opportunity to meet and make friends with like-minded people in Europe and America without incurring high travel costs. During our visits accommodation is arranged with private families and it is expected that whenever possible, those who receive hospitality abroad will be prepared to offer it in return, we stay in the homes of our hosts and visit local places of interest as a group and there is always a lively dinner on one of the evenings. This makes the trip an ideal way of meeting new friends and gaining an understanding of life in a foreign country. We also entertain our European and American friends in our homes here in Andover.
You don’t need to speak a foreign language to join in. We all have a lot of fun communicating in other ways, but being in a large group means there is always someone to help out if needed. We all regard it as an adventure and many of us have forged lasting friendships over the years.
The ATTA holds monthly committee meetings and social events that will appeal to all ages, see our diary dates for more information on this years events.
The Association encourages and assists other groups in Andover to make contact with our twin towns and there have been several visits from school groups, sporting clubs and music societies, visit the affiliated societies page to find out more.
The Association was proud to be awarded a European Flag of Honour in 1984 for the part it played in the subsequent twinning between Goch and Redon. It was only one of eight flags awarded in the UK that year.
A copy of our constitution can be downloaded HERE
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