Wareham squared: Group to travel to twin town in England

Two towns sit nestled on the sea with historic buildings, rich history and strong communities — and they share the same name. 

A group of six from the gateway to the Cape will be taking a long plane ride across the pond to connect and experience the cultures between the twin towns of Wareham, MA and Wareham, UK.

The Wareham Twinning Committee will be taking its first trip where they will spend time touring Wareham's namesake. 

However, this won't be the first time these two towns have connected. 

Oct. 2024 saw a group of British Warehamites touring local spots. Twinning Committee member Claire Smith said that she wanted the towns to be able to visit each other more frequently.

Jon and Marie Wright from Wareham, U.K. had become friends with Smith online and paid a visit to town in 2017. Smith did the same in 2021 with the Wrights as her host family.

"Over in Europe twinning with towns is very popular, it's an exchange of visitors," Smith said. "They had said to me, 'when you go back home, we'd love to twin with you.'"

From there, dozens of emails flowed between towns and the committee was created. After months of planning, Smith said she's half packed but ready to set off for England. Most of the group will be staying with different host families around town when they arrive. 

"Jon and Marie are meeting us in London and staying in the same hotel with us. They're going to be our tour guides," Smith said.

The group will take a train to Wareham UK and have a welcome reception thrown by the town. There they will meet prospective residents who want to be a part of the 2026 twinning experience. 

"I'm excited to go back and see them again," Smith said. "New friendships too. There's a museum right in the town hall and there's just so much history."

Smith added she was enamored with the age of everything in Wareham during her fist visit, highlighting the crusaders and old churches.

"There's a cemetery with a lot of American soldiers that never left England during World War I," Smith said. "It makes a real impact to know that they are so respectful of all we did for them during that war."

Smith plans to bring small medallions, or, challenge coins with the town seals of both Warehams with her. She said she has special mementos to gift the new mayor.

"I'm bringing over a small cranberry scoop because when they were here before the mayor and her secretary got in the cranberry bogs," she said.

With this trip she said she hopes to spark interest in local families willing to host the British twins of Wareham in 2026. She also has goals of connecting with the schools and have student exchanges in the future.

"We're hoping with this trip we can make some good contacts and make that happen," Smith said.