Twinning started as a movement after the second world war as way for people from different countries and cultures to become friends and gain a greater understanding of each other. Bristol and Tbilisi became twinned cities in 1988 when Georgia was still firmly part of the Soviet Union. The story goes that representatives from Tbilisi were at a conference looking for a City to twin with when they met representatives from Bristol in the bar. Following an evening of toasting each other's great City it was agreed that they would work towards becoming twinned.
Twinning is about building links between the people of two Cities, the links can be economic, cultural, civic and most importantly between individuals. The Twinning Association continues to promote an annual programme of activities that members and interested people can participate in. So if you are interested in learning about a country that is famous as the cradle of wine and the home of the Golden Fleece, please join or come to one of our events.
Twinning Agreement between Bristol and Tbilisi
Paul Garland the first chair of the Association was a keen advocate of twinning and pushed relentlessly for the twinning to be formalised. The twinning agreement was signed on the 12th July 1988 by the Leader of Bristol City Council, Councillor Graham Robertson and the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Derek Tedder.
The twinning link between Tbilisi and Bristol was kept alive during the first fifteen years by a small group of enthusiasts because of economic turmoil in the Soviet Union. In 1991 Georgia gained back its independence but political turmoil and civil war meant that the country remained very unstable for a number of years. In 1995 Zurab Adamia the Director of Environmental Services of Tbilisi City Council wrote to Bristol City Council explaining that the situation in Georgia had stabilised but they needed the support of their twinned cities to help them to rebuild. Bristol accepted the challenge and in 1996 a delegation from Bristol Council led by the Lord Mayor of Bristol Councillor Joan McLaren flew to Tbilisi. To mark the renewing of the twinning link the original twinning agreement which had been written in Russian was rededicated and this time it was written in Georgian.
In 2008 Bristol and Tbilisi marked the 20th Anniversary of the twinning link with an enhanced annual programme of activities which included a number of civic and cultural exchanges. Tbilisi marked the anniversary of the twinning link by the President of Georgia Misha Sakishvili granting the Freedom of the City of Tbilisi to the Chair of the Bristol Tbilisi Association Dr Henry Parry who as well as being chair had been active in developing university links with Tbilisi since 1986.
The Twinning Link between Bristol and Tbilisi has grown stronger as friendships have grown between members and a love of Georgian people and its culture. The Association continues to have an exciting annual programme of events and exchanges and we hope that more and more people will join us in enjoying the culture of Georgia and Tbilisi.