Douzelage founder steps down from Sherborne committee
Jeremy Barker, one of the founding fathers of the Douzelage European Town Twinning organisation has stepped down as Chairperson of Sherborne (UK) Douzelage and also away from the committee.
The idea for Douzelage was first mooted in 1989 between existing twin towns Sherborne and Granville (France) and was realised with the signing of the charter of towns at a ceremony in the French partner town in May 1991 when twelve towns joined together to make the dream of Douzelage a reality.
Since then, Jeremy has been President of Douzelage and instrumental in a number of initiatives and projects that have seen the organisation go from twelve founding members in 1991 to a full complement of twenty eight member towns (one for each member state of the European Union) in 2024.
Current Douzelage president Shane Smyth (IE) said “Jeremy’s vision for a united town twinning organisation has been instrumental in bringing us to where we are today, with such a vast and vibrant network of members across Europe. At the time, little did he realise the profound impact his idea would have on so many lives. On behalf of our members, I want to express our heartfelt thanks for his incredible contributions. Jeremy’s determination and ambition to see Douzelage flourish over the years have been truly inspirational, and he has set a remarkable example for us to build upon as we continue this journey together.”
Speaking at Jeremy’s final AGM recently, Mike Balfour of Sherborne Douzelage said “Jeremy, from the beginning of the Douzelage in Sherborne, you have been our backbone; you have been our beating heart; and you have been our guiding hand. Over the years, the lives of hundreds of our young people have been enhanced, and in some cases transformed, by their involvement in Douzelage projects. While it has been a team effort, this great success story would not have happened without you”.
Jeremy will not be a stranger to Douzelage in the future and is already planning his return trip to Bundoran (IE) for their annual St Patrick’s Day event on March 17th.