Proud to Call It Home

Poems about our Newcastles

An investment of over 30 million euros has created a wonderful restoration of the Rabat fortress area at Akhaltsikhe.

On August 16th, the President of Georgia visited Akhaltsikhe for the opening, accompanied by the new Prime Minister of Georgia Vano Merabishvili – who is from the Akhaltsikhe area.

The marvellous day for the city concluded with a concert by Charles Aznavour, the famous French singer, whose Armenian ancestors lived in Akhaltsike.

A wonderful restoration

Mayor Adrian Foster and many members of his local community gave a very warm welcome on Thursday 9 August to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.

Councillor Jackie Slesenger, her huband and sister visited Newcastle, Ontario less than two weeks after the Canadian Newcastle had been invited to host the 2014 gathering of Newcastles of the World. The Lord Mayor was visiting her sister in Toronto, so the visit to nearby Newcastle and accept Mayor Foster’s invitation was too good a chance to miss.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claringtonpubliclibrary/7753326782/

Well, 90 delegates from 12 different Newcastles – the most ever – had a great week in Newcastle upon Tyne. We committed to a stronger alliance of Newcastles, a virtual tourism “passport” (a mutually supportive tourism initiative) and to build upon the links now established between artists, business people, schools and youth councils.

Subject to confirmation by their councils, we have invited Newcastle, Ontario, Canada to host our next gathering in 2014, then Nové Hrady, Czech Republic in 2016 and Shinshiro City in 2018, marking the 20th anniversary of the first summit which took place in that city.

The gathering in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK between 21 and 27 July will be the largest assembly yet of Newcastles of the World.

First there are core and founder members from Shinshiro (Japan), Neuburg an der Donau (Germany), Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Newcastle South Africa and Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK – together with the host UK Newcastle.

We will also welcome guests for the first time from Newcastle Australia, Akhaltsikhe (Georgia), Nové Hrady (Czech Republic), Kota Bharu (Malaysia) and Jaunpils (Latvia).

Still to be confirmed are – New Castle, Indiana (USA), Neufchateau (France) and Castelnuovo Berardenga (Italy).

Here is the latest version of our programme for July

Newcastles of the World What’s On

There are more than 100 different “Newcastles” or New Castles” around the globe, in many different countries and in many different languages. “Newcastles of the World” connects citizens and groups from the Newcastles for friendship, for cultural, educational and business exchange, and to share experiences and ideas.