From October 10-14, the City Council of Canterbury hosted the 18th annual symposium of the Walled Town Friendship Circle which was attended by delegates from 12 European countries. Membership of the circle currently includes 152 walled cities and towns throughout the continent and the UK.

Present at this year's symposium was Peter Osborne MBE, of Tenby, the hon. life president, who, in 1989 founded the WTFC as an international forum to promote the many mutual interests shared by walled towns. He was accompanied by other Tenby delegates John Tipton, Bob Storey and John Beynon.

The symposium comprised a series of lectures, workshops and visits related to Canterbury's philosophy of regeneration through culture - the essential theme of this year's meeting. The symposium also deliberately coincided with the opening of the 2008 Canterbury Festival which invigorated the city with musical and theatrical events and art exhibitions of high quality.

Formal meetings and accommodation were at the International Study Centre (pictured) set in a unique and historical location within the precincts of the magnificent cathedral, part of the UNESCO heritage site.

Following an initial orientation tour of the city walls, delegates received a formal welcome from the Lord Mayor, Clr. Carolyn Parry. The presentation of a plaque was made at this event to the Lord Mayor by John Tipton on behalf of the Mayor and town council of Tenby.

Much emphasis was placed at the annual general meeting and the meeting of the executive committee on the planning of future developments in the work of the WTFC, followed by meetings addressed by representatives of Canterbury City Council, the Liverpool Cultural Company, the European Association of Historic Towns and Regions and a number of individual towns in the organisation.

Delegates had the opportunity to take part in workshops based on particular themes: balancing heritage and planning constraints, the concern of walled town residents, transport, pedestrianisation, the developments of cultural activities in walled towns and the growth of technical networking.

The important roles of the WTFC in promoting educational projects and examples of good practice in areas such as planning and conservation were emphasised in the granting of a Travelling Scholarship to a UK student and an award of '2008 Walled Town of the Year' to the northern Spanish town of Labraza, in conjunction with the neighbouring town of Arabarri.

Events were brought to a close with a gala dinner during which the WTFC flag was handed on to the Mayor and other representatives of the 2009 symposium host city of Osmangazi, Turkey.

In addition to attending the symposium meetings, the delegates also visited the historic town and Cinq Port of Sandwich and the ancient walled town of Bergues in Northern France. During their stay many delegates also attended the opening concert of the festival at the cathedral, together with a number of other festival events and exhibitions.

the canterbury accord

One of the most significant developments at this year's symposium was the proposal of an addition to the aims and objectives of the WTFC.

For almost two decades, the flourishing circle has engendered many close links of personal friendship and professional cooperation throughout Europe, and to further encourage and strengthen these links, the hon. life president, Peter Osborne, introduced an additional objective to the organisations declaration of intent.

Entitled 'The Canterbury Accord', his concept which responds to cries for a more outward-looking approach for the WTFC, reads:

"Walled towns in the friendship circle should evolve as sanctuaries of conciliation and peace."

The idea was well received at the Canterbury symposium and is to be presented at the next executive committee meeting at Valetta, Malta, in 2009 for final approval.

For further information on the WTFC and its activities, see website: http://www.walledtowns">www.walledtowns. com.

J. B.