NORWICH – Fourteen visitors traveling from “Norwiches” in England and Australia made their way to our City of Norwich over the weekend. The group had trekked its way south across Canada, resting in Niagara Falls and then proceeded to head towards New York City. The visitors were part of the 2006 Norfolk and Norwich World Family Gathering. This organization is devoted to finding and visiting every Norwich and Norfolk they can find.
In 1991, Derek Bigford-Smith began searching and visiting communities throughout the world with the names Norfolk or Norwich. “We came here because we are part of a family. We have the largest namesake community in the world,” said Bigford-Smith yesterday.
Participants in the group included guests from England, Tasmania and the Norfolk Islands in the South Seas.
Monday afternoon the group had the opportunity to visit Perry Browne Elementary School. Principal Michelle Donlon made special arrangements to have students who volunteered to come into school on their holiday host a luncheon with the traveling group. “We were really excited to see this group was coming. Our students are studying the world around them and this really helps them get a sense of what other communities are like,” said Donlon. The visitors were seated among 30 or more students ranging from 4th to 6th grade. The travelers carried on conversations and shared brief presentations about their own communities.
Jacky Whitehead, representing the Mayor of New Norfolk, Tasmania, said they were also talking about making arrangements to help sponsor the involvement of children in the next event in 2008, which her town will host. “Coming here and being able to see the children is truly one of the highlights of the entire trip,” she said.
Yesterday evening a banquet was held in honor of the group at the Studebaker’s Lounge. Many Norwich community leaders attended. During the banquet, gifts and plaques where exchanged between visitors and hosts alike. Each party extended their gratitude and appreciation for the other while sharing a casual humor. Mayor Joseph Maiurano presented Derek Bigford-Smith with the key to the city. Also Town of Norwich Supervisor David Law and the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard Decker presented honors from their communities to the delegation of travelers. “It’s like one big family getting together even though bodies of water separate us ... it’s not just our lives, but our hearts that binds us together,” said Law.
“It’s lovely. It’s really nice to see the real people and get a feel for who they are,” said Abigail Bigford-Smith, Derek’s daughter.
The event was made possible from donations from the Town and City of Norwich and the Town of North Norwich. Key planners of the event were North Norwich Town Historian Jan Decker and her husband Richard, Chenango County Historian Dale Storms and City Historian Joe Telesky.
Tom Lloyd of Norfolk Island said, “The hospitality has been absolutely wonderful. Being able to come from a little place like ours and be a part of something as big as this ... the opportunity has been amazing.”
The next “reunion” is planned for 2008 with a gathering in New Norfolk, Tasmania. This is the largest ‘family’ in the world approaching three million people. So far 58 communities named Norfolk and Norwich have been found in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia (including Tasmania), New Zealand and Jamaica.