Oakham Town Council is hoping to reignite its connections with Dodgeville and Barmstedt following a recent catch up between Oakham's mayor and the former mayor of Dodgeville.

Towns and villages across Rutland are twinned with towns and cities across the world, but these connections can be hard to maintain, finance, and often fad with time.

However, following a recent visit from Dodgeville's mayor, Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth is keen to reinvigorate this international friendship with the Wisconsin city.

Iowa County Courthouse in Dodgeville. Image credit: Wiki Commons.

Dodgeville is based in the county seat of Iowa County, Wisconsin. Dodgeville is where Lands' End was founded, employing more than 6,000 people. The company was established in 1963 specialising in American clothing and home furnishings, and has a UK base of operation is in Oakham, on Lands' End Way.

Jim McCallie, who was the mayor of Dodgeville when Oakham and the Wisconsin city were twinned. has recently paid a visit to two of Oakham's councillors, Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth and Cllr Christopher Clarke.

Jim has been backpacking through Britain, and last week chose to return to Oakham for a few days. Cllr McCallie was the mayor of Dodgeville in America for 20 years.

Cllr Sally-Anne Wadsworth, Oakham's mayor, explained: "During that time he was involved with the twinning of Oakham and Dodgeville. This was set up when Lands' End moved their European distribution centre to the area.

"This year, we are hoping to re establish the twinnings between Dodgeville and Barmstedt in Germany."

Barmstedt is located in Germany. Image credit: Wiki Commons.

Also twinned with Oakham, Barmstedt is located in the district of Pinneberg, Germany. The two towns have enjoyed a relationship since the twinning was established back in 1987 by Angie Humphries and her husband, former Oakham Town Councillor, Francis Humphreys.

Do you think that these twinnings should be reignited?

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