Representatives from 11 Mansfields around the world came together for a special virtual event ­— after Covid-19 stopped plans for a big gathering in Mansfield, Texas.

The town in the US, which has a growing population of 76,000, had been due to host the latest Mansfield Sister Cities event this autumn.

That is now expected to go ahead in October 2021 ­— and people can get involved and join the trip.
Mansfield in the UK hosted the first worldwide Sister Cities gathering of people from Mansfields across the world in 2000, which was attended by 110 people.

Stewart Rickersey, of the Sister Cities Association of Mansfield, England, who was part of that first global event, organised and hosted the recent virtual get-together

It included 29 people from 11 Mansfields, including in the USA — Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Indiana and Michigan — and England, Germany, Canada and Australia.

He told those attending: “This is a fantastic opportunity; we really have to be together.”

Since the first global gathering in 2000, others followed every four years, including a 2008 celebration in Ohio, a second UK gathering in 2012 and one in Pennsylvania in 2016. Mansfield, Michigan, has hosted small gatherings in between the larger ones and hopes to host an event in 2022.

In October, Mansfield, Texas will host a virtual visit showcasing its community and hoping to create interest to encourage fellow Mansfield residents around the world to visit in October 2021.

Belinda Willis, director of marketing and communications for Mansfield, Texas — in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — said: “We want to give you all a glimpse of what it’s going to be like in Mansfield Texas (in 2021).”

At the virtual gathering each community shared greetings with friends, gave updates on their Mansfields, reminisced about past gatherings and told how they were coping with the coronavirus pandemic

Pastor Maria Pap, of the Old Meeting House Unitarian Chapel, Mansfield, UK, invited people to attend a series of virtual events her church was holding for Hands Across The Ocean Heritage Open Days, on 18th and 19th September.

“Reflecting on the (400th) anniversary of Mayflower Pilgrims, our topic will be Religious Rebels Looking For Freedom In The Old World And The New World,” Maria said.

The events included a presentation by Mansfield, Massachusetts, Historical Society members Andy Todesco and Kevin McKnatt on Church And State: Early Life In Mansfield, MA as well as a joint service with the Mansfield Congregational Church in Massachusetts.

It would give us the greatest pleasure if many many people from many Mansfields would join us,” Pap said.

Information on the programme is at www.ukunitarians.org.uk/mansfield or at Mansfield Old Meeting House on Facebook.

The virtual gathering ended with a playing of We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn.

Anyone interested in travelling to the Sister Cities event in Texas in 2021 or attending the virtual event in October should contact Stewart Rickersey at [email protected]