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

Lichfields worldwide http://www.lichfield.gov.uk/world.ihtml