Warminster, U.K., Mayor Grateful for Warm Reception

Warminster Township had only one day to make a strong first impression for the visiting Warminster, United Kingdom, mayor and his two daughters. Judging by his reaction the next day, it was clear the township succeeded.

Minutes before he had to drive to JFK and catch a flight home, Mayor Paul Batchelor showed genuine gratitude at the hospitality of the township's residents.

"The reception has been phenomenal," said Batchelor as he sipped water while sitting on the newly covered porch at Five Ponds Golf Course. "I am genuinely grateful for the kindness shown to me and my daughters."

When Batchelor and his daughters arrived on Sept. 11, they took a whirlwind trip through Warminster's biggest attractions, including the Fuge, where NASA astronauts trained prior to Gemini and Apollo missions, Vertical Screen's state-of-the-art, eco-friendly facility, the piece of the Berlin Wall at the VE Club off Davisville Road, Craven Hall and Warminster Community Park.

Batchelor topped off the tour with a speech during the Hartsville Fire Company's annual 9/11 Memorial. The next day, township manager Rich Manfredi invited Batchelor and his family for a quick visit of Five Ponds before they left for home.

"We gave them some parting gifts," said Manfredi. "The visit was definitely a success for the township. They enjoyed their time here, and it was very informative for them and us."

The tour also represented another step forward to formalize the twinning of the two towns. Warminster, Pa., was named after its U.K. counterpart hundreds of years ago, and officials from both towns want to strengthen the siblings' connection.

"Everything is the same and different in both towns," said Batchelor. "We want the same things, but we do everything differently."

Batchelor is currently serving his 19th year on the town council, earning the title of mayor during May's election. In fact, he learned of his new office the night before Warminster, U.K., resident and business owner Nick Pitcher was scheduled for his own visit to Pennsylvania.

"He kept asking me if it was okay to formally request the twinning," said Batchelor. "I told hime I needed to make sure I won the election first. Fortunately, the results came just in time."

There have already been a few tours from British visitors, so the question remains when someone from the United States will reciprocate.

"There are talks, but it would not happen for a while," said Manfredi. "There are many costs and implications to consider."

It is Batchelor's plan to recruit local ambassadors that will give guided tours of his town for any U.S. visitors that are interested. Warminster, U.K, is located on the southern edge of the Salisbury plain and surrounded by gorgeous open space. Popular tourist destinations such as Stonehenge, Bath and Southampton are only minutes away, plus, there is plenty to see in the town itself.

"We have a glove factory that has been in operation since 1777," said Batchelor. "It has made gloves for everything from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation to the Batman movie. There are plenty of private museums that we would open up for our guests."