When Lingen, then in West Germany, decided that they would like to twin with an English town they chose Burton upon Trent. Burton Council accepted the invitation to twin and in 1983 a small party , mainly Councillors and sporting club members visited Lingen.

The aim of such twinning's was to bring together various European countries in friendship and harmony after the goings on of the first half of the twentieth century.

To this end our association has and will continue to give advice and support to all types of community groups who wish to interact with our friends in Lingen.

Over the years many close bonds and friendships have developed, but so far only one marriage.

Lingen’s first contact with Staffordshire was probably in 1945 when the Staffordshire Yeomanry together with the Coldstream Guards liberated the town from the Nazis. But during the early 1980’s Burton and Lingen formed a formal twinning link later to be extended to East Staffs/Lingen.

Lingen is situated in the Emsland district of Lower Saxony in north west Germany very close to the Dutch border. In East Staffordshire the twinning links are co-ordinated by the East Staffs/ Lingen twinning association.

The association can give help and advice to individuals and organisations wishing to visit and get to know Lingen and the surrounding area. In the case of voluntary organisations grants are also available. Membership of the association is open to any person or group that may be Interested.

Our secretary is Tom Dawn who can be contacted on 01283 544472