By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
A 14-person delegation, including three members of Salisbury City Council, headed to England Wednesday night for a visit that will include several days in Salisbury’s sister city.
Salisbury, England, and Salisbury, N.C., have been trading visits among officials and private citizens since 2000, when Salisbury (N.C.) Mayor Susan Kluttz attended a millennium celebration in England.
“We’re very grateful for the sister city relationship we have with them,” Kluttz said.
Kluttz, who is part of the current traveling entourage, was invited to attend this year’s ceremony marking the change in mayors in Salisbury (New Sarum). Mayors, a mostly ceremonial position, serve only one year in Salisbury, England.
Past visitors and hosts of Salisbury, N.C., have come to know many of their sister city’s charter trustees, who are all members of the much larger Salisbury District Council.
The charter trustees (also councillors) look after the non-political, ceremonial and centuries-old traditions of New Sarum.
The Salisbury, N.C., visitors usually stay at homes of the mayor and councillors. Likewise, the councillors stay in private homes when they visit here.
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Woodson and Councilman Mark Lewis also are making the trip.
The delegation is delivering a gift, a framed photograph taken when a 12-member group from Salisbury, England, was here in the fall of 2006 for the unveiling of the bronze History and Art Trail marker signifying the sister city relationship.
The marker is in the sidewalk in front of Salisbury City Hall. It shows British and American flags in the background; visiting charter trustees from May 2001 in their hats, robes and chains; and seals from both cities.
Except for the gift, the cost of the trip is being paid wholly by the individuals going, Kluttz said at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.