‘Forever bonded together’: Warehamites befriend the Brits
Wareham, U.K. Mayor Zoe Gover and Wareham, Massachusetts resident Sherry Quirk after Quirk signed the proclamation declaring the towns as twinning. Photos Source: Claire Smith
The coins Claire Smith presented with Wareham, Ma’s town seal and Wareham, U.K.’s town seal.
Charles Donnelly of Wareham, U.K., left, and Howie Smith, right, embrace.
The Chanty singers Seafury that performed for the Wareham, Ma visitors.
The quay in Wareham, U.K.
Wareham, U.K. Mayor Zoe Gover and Wareham, Massachusetts resident Sherry Quirk after Quirk signed the proclamation declaring the towns as twinning. Photos Source: Claire Smith
The coins Claire Smith presented with Wareham, Ma’s town seal and Wareham, U.K.’s town seal.
Charles Donnelly of Wareham, U.K., left, and Howie Smith, right, embrace.
The Chanty singers Seafury that performed for the Wareham, Ma visitors.
The quay in Wareham, U.K.
With oceanic views, a tight-knit community, and rich history, two Warehams are so similar it’s hard to believe they lay nine hours apart.
On June 6, a group of six Wareham, Massachusetts residents returned from a trip to Wareham U.K. where they created bonds, celebrated history, and explored life in Wareham across the pond through twinning.
“Twinning” is an exchange of visitors from one town to another to foster connection and cultural understanding across different countries.
According to Wareham, Ma Twinning Committee member Claire Smith, the trip began in London where she and her husband Howie met up with their host family from a 2021 visit to Wareham, U.K.
“We had a personal tour guide and those who went had requests of what they would like to see,” she said.
After London, the group made their way to Wareham, U.K. which Smith describes as “so much like our Wareham and Onset.”
“At the end of the town, they have a river that comes through, and of course, they rent out kayaks and boats come in,” she said
While in Wareham, U.K., the group enjoyed different activities like a reception held for them featuring shanty singers and exploring historical sites around the town.
As part of the reception, Smith and her fellow committee members exchanged coins featuring both Wareham’s town seals.
Along with cultural immersion, personal connection is a major part of twinning, and, according to Smith, it was her favorite part of the trip.
“The couple that brought us to the airport wanted to lock us in the vehicle and not take us to the airport to get out, because they didn’t want us to leave,” she said. “We had been with them for two weeks, but you become family.”
Next on the agenda for the committee is a planned visit from British Warehamites in 2026 during cranberry season and, in the future, possibly connecting schools within each of the towns.
“We’d like to eventually have exchange students. That would be amazing…It’s something we’ll be working on moving forward,” Smith remarked.
For the Wareham residents coming to the United States in 2026, the committee is still looking for host families and some added funding.
“We’ll have to raise some funds, so we can hire a van, so that if we’re showing them around, we can all go together…we’ve got a bit of planning to do,” Smith said.
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