News Release

11th September 2002

VISIT TO LITCHFIELD, USA

In a show of solidarity with the people of the United States 12 months on from the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington DC, Michael Fabricant is organising a visit to Litchfield, Connecticut in New England and also to Boston, Massachusetts. The visit will take place in the autumn of 2003 and he will be accompanied by a group from the Lichfield area.

"I am very keen to build still closer ties between the United Kingdom and the United States. At a local level, it is obvious to link the Lichfield Constituency with Litchfield, Connecticut. Being close to Boston, flights are relatively cheap and plentiful. The evil events of September 11th last year were the catalyst which started my planning of this visit aimed to show solidarity with our American cousins." says Michael Fabricant.

Litchfield was founded in 1719 and has many English traditions. Its Town Council is made up of a 'Board of Selectmen' and the mayor is known as the 'First Selectman'.

"Our common language, traditions, legal system, and heritage form a good and easy base on which to build links between our two communities" adds Michael Fabricant. "I want to strengthen tourist, cultural, economic, and political ties between Britain and the United States and I have often spoken about this in the House of Commons. This is one small way in which this might be achieved. I have been in close contact with the First Selectman of Litchfield and he has invited us to attend one of their Council meetings and for us all to meet socially afterwards. I am also hoping to meet the Hon Nancy L Johnson who is my 'opposite number' in the House of Representatives in Washington DC - their 'House of Commons'. She represents the 6th District of Connecticut, which includes Litchfield.

The visit will last around 8 days and will include tourism as well as socialising. "Perhaps once we have met up, a party from Litchfield USA will visit us in Staffordshire the following year".

There are a number of Lichfields (spelt in different ways) throughout the world. The City of Lichfield (Staffordshire) website publishes a list of them at http://www.lichfield.gov.uk/lcc-world.html

Litchfield in Connecticut is the oldest of them all; apart from, of course, the City of Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. It is recorded that Lichfield's first Bishop was appointed in the year 669.