News / Ukraine
Former lord mayor urges Bristol to twin with Ukrainian city
Former Bristol lord mayor Paul Goggin has returned from Odesa and is urging Bristol to enter into a twinning agreement with the Ukrainian city.
Goggin, a Labour councillor for Hartcliffe & Withywood, spent nights in bomb shelters, met wounded soldiers in hospital and visited volunteer firefighters during his time in Odesa, a port city in the Black Sea basin.
A Russian drone strike on Odesa on Tuesday killed two people, with a maternity hospital in the southern city also recently hit.
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Bristol is currently twinned with Beira, Bordeaux, Guangzhou, Hannover, Porto, Puerto Morazan and Tbilisi, with Guangzhou in China the most recent city to be twinned in 2001.
Bristol and Bordeaux were the first cities to forge official links in 1947, with the Bristol Bordeaux Partnership saying that the agreement “exists to develop greater understanding and friendship between the people of Bristol and Bordeaux and promote cultural, economic and educational links between the two cities”.
A signpost on College Green features street signs from each of Bristol’s twin cities – photo: Martin Booth
“The UK’s support for Ukraine has been commendable but there’s more we can do on a local level,” said Goggin.
“As lord mayor, I met hundreds of members of Bristol’s Ukrainian communities. Their community is truly inspiring.
“Moved by their tireless support for their countrymen and women in one of their darkest hours, I wanted to help build links between Bristol and Ukraine.
“Bristol and the city of Odesa have much in common; port cities with multicultural heritage and UNESCO recognition.
“Bristol should show support for Ukraine by twinning with one of its cities. Odesa seems like an obvious choice.
“At the minimum, our two cities should be building links between our universities, health services and local government, so I wanted to help facilitate that.”
Goggin will be talking about his visit to Odesa on Saturday at 3pm in the M Shed, coinciding with the Erased from the Face of the Earth exhibition which is on show at the museum until July 20
Main photo: Paul Goggin
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