News Release

12th October 2003

23 TO VISIT LITCHFIELD USA

On Thursday 16th October, twenty-three people from the Lichfield (Staffordshire) area will be flying out to Litchfield, Connecticut in the USA. This 'Hands of Friendship across the Ocean' visit has been organised by Michael Fabricant who has long argued for closer economic and political ties with the United States. "I decided to go ahead and organise this visit the weekend following the attacks on New York and Washington DC" says Michael Fabricant. "A fire engine draped in Stars and Stripes flags was in Market Street in Lichfield with Lichfield firefighters collecting money for the families of American firefighters killed in the World Trade Centre as the twin towers collapsed. As I spoke to one firefighter, a lady quietly put a £10 note into his collecting bucket. The well of sympathy for the people of the United States was so apparent.

"It has always struck me as odd that Lichfield, Staffordshire has no formal links with any of the other Lichfields and Litchfields around the world. After all, we share a common language and a common heritage. We also share a common legal system, which makes trade between us so easy, though I am concerned that the infamous European Convention which the Government wants us all to sign up to will force us to adopt the Napoleonic French legal system widely used on the continent.

"On our visit, we will be meeting my opposite number: the Hon Nancy Johnson who is the US Congresswoman representing that part of Connecticut which includes Litchfield in the House of Representatives in Washington DC. We are being entertained on Sunday to a buffet lunch at the Litchfield Congregational Church where we will meet her. I am told that this church is the most photographed in all of New England; it is a typical wooden white clapboard church with tall steeple of the New England design. I will be exploring with her how we can build closer ties at a Parliamentary and Congressional level.

"And on Tuesday evening, we will attend a special meeting of Litchfield Town Council known as the 'Board of Selectmen'. The Deputy Mayor of the City of Lichfield, Councillor Gwyneth Boyle, will then present a plaque to the First Selectman, Jerry Zinn. I hope that we will be able to build more permanent links between our two communities." says Michael Fabricant. "There are good and relatively cheap transport links from UK airports to Boston where we will fly on Thursday. I am keen to promote tourism and hope there will be a regular and growing two way flow between Connecticut and Staffordshire."

As well as the Deputy Mayor of Lichfield, the Immediate Past Mayor, Cllr Doris English will be on the visit. The visit has not been paid for out of public funds. Everyone, including Michael Fabricant, has paid the same amount (depending on sharing rooms or not) out of their own income.

In the meantime, check out:

Litchfield Connecticut http://www.litchfieldct.com/gvt/govt.html