Author: Brian Smedley

The Bridgwater Czech-Slovak Friendship Society had been set up in 1991, achieved a formal twinning in 1992 and expanded its programme massively in 1993. 1994 was to be an even bigger programme, often back […]

In May 1993 the boomingly popular Bridgwater Czech Friendship society organised a major trip to Uherske Hradiste by minibus and by plane. Chair of Sedgemoor-Patrick Daniel, Mayor of Bridgwater John Turner and Chief Executive […]

In February 1993 Brian Smedley & Mac McCausland were joined by Stuart Croskell on a mid winter trains and just trains fact finding trip to Czech Republic to plan the many projects for the […]

By 1993 we had a formal twinning and we’d sent groups and individuals to each others countries. But where now? Bridgwater’s name and reputation was spreading across the new Czech and Slovak Republics, independent […]

In June 1992 the Czechs had sent a magnificent, all costumed, all singing, all dancing, all talented folk ensemble to Bridgwater. In July, less than a month later, the Bridgwater Twinning group knocked together […]

On June 18th 1992 Bridgwater and Uherske Hradiste became the first British and Czech towns to twin after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The date was chosen specially as it was the date of the […]

Having formed a Friendship Society in 1991 and started fundraising in earnest the twinners on both sides built towards an eventual ‘Twinning’ which would happen June 18th 1992. During the first part of 1992 […]

1991 saw the start of the Bridgwater-Uherske Hradiste link. Following Brian Smedley’s visit to Czechoslovakia in August it was the turn of Antonin Machala to visit England (for the first time) in November.  It […]

In August 1991 Brian Smedley extended his useful Euro-hitch to include Czechoslovakia and follow up the invitation letter from Antonin Machala. The route went France-Germany -Czechoslovakia-Austria-Switzerland-back to France and back to UK. A mixture […]

In 1990 Antonin Machala, then Chairman of the Uherske Hradiste Social Democrats (CSSD) wrote to Labour News in the UK asking for help in the first democratic elections following the collapse of Communism. Brian […]