Portsmouth City Council holds online photography exhibition to celebrate 70 years of twinning with German city Duisburg

To celebrate 70 years of Portsmouth’s partnership with Duisburg, the second oldest Anglo-German twinning, the two cities are looking back after more than 70,000 people have been involved with the partnership over the years.

The cities have exchanged music, art and sport, and many groups have visited since 1950. There have been more than 140 official visits and 500 personal trips, and 65 Lord Mayors have been involved.

Cllr Rob Wood, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, said: ‘The relationship between Duisburg and Portsmouth continues to provide both our cities with a deep sense of friendship and pride, new experiences for our residents and visitors, and rich and vibrant cultures shared with our friends in Germany.’

Soren Link, Lord Mayor of Duisburg, added: ‘Over time we have grown closer together and I am grateful for the bond of friendship that has developed since 1950, which I can now experience personally and help fill with life.’

To celebrate the anniversary, Portsmouth City Council has shared a short video about the history of the partnership and an online photography exhibition.

One photograph shows Portsmouth architect Jon Orrell meeting Holocaust survivor Rolf Heusner in Duisburg earlier this year.

Jon's father fought in the Second World War, boarding his landing craft in Southsea on the morning of D-Day. He later became a peace campaigner and his wish was to have a beer with a German and make peace.

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Jon said: ‘Meeting Rolf was something really special and very moving, which completely took me by surprise. My father, a D-Day veteran who passed away just after the 60th anniversary of D-Day - in fact we all felt he was hanging on for the event - had always wanted to enjoy a drink with one of the German soldiers that he took prisoner in the war.

‘He never managed it so, for me, meeting Rolf was almost a fulfilment of Bob's last wish and was so special for me and Rolf. I hope we may meet again.’

Residents can visit Duisburg virtually with a series of tours and links, and later in the year Portsmouth City Council will plant a tree and forget-me-not flowers, the German symbol of peace.

Visit portsmouth.gov.uk/duisburg for more.

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