Friends in a Cold Climate: Neath Port Talbot-1

Rod Jones was born in 1966 in Neath but raised in Port Talbot. During the late 1970s, the steel industry was declining and Rod’s father left the steelworks and became a project manager with Neath Council. The mother first worked as a social worker and later as a youth leader. Rod’s involvement in youth exchange programs stemmed from his mothers participation in international youth exchanges with Neath and Esslingen. In Neath, the youth exchange committee operated within the local council system, overseen by two or three councillors. The committee organized exchange events drawing from local youth clubs. Youth leaders took charge of planning, collaborating with twin towns to create exchange programs. The exchange program was significant for Rods mother, who grew up during World War II. Rods mother was at that time assigned a Pen Pal from Singapore, Clover, who had experienced the Japanese occupation. This shared history, through Commonwealth organisations, bonded them and Clover even came to stay with Rods family in Wales. At the age of almost 13, Rods mother was asked if he would like to participate in an exchange program due to a vacancy. Despite his young age, his prior involvement in trips led to the assumption of a certain maturity. They instantly prepared for the trip to Esslingen, Germany. The experience of arriving in Stuttgart was eye-opening, as everything appeared modern, clean, and organized compared to their usual surroundings in Neath. Rod’s upbringing was influenced by stories of the Second World War and Hollywood films. However, meeting German individuals during the exchange program revealed a stark contrast to the stereotypes they had grown up with. The Germans they encountered were modern, forthright, and outward-looking, unlike the closed-knit Welsh families they were accustomed to. Despite some references to WWII during visits, there was an emphasis on showcasing Germanys progress and efficiency, with no overt apologies for the past. Rod reflects on the evolving attitudes towards Germany and its wartime past. He observes a shift towards a more apologetic stance, possibly influenced by pressures and influences within Western Europe. During a conversation at a wedding in Germany anquintance expressed concerns about whether Germany would ever be forgiven for its past actions, particularly in the context of NATOs drawdown and nationalist undercurrents of hatred. Rod reassured him that such sentiments were largely outdated. It seemed that as old grievances resurfaced, leading people to look back more critically. Rod elaborates on his military career spanning 27 years in the Air Force, during which he enjoyed various postings. He recount his role during the Cold War, which involved defending airfields and preventing sabotage. He describes his experiences serving in conflicts such as the First Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, as well as tours in Northern Ireland. Despite his extensive experiences, Rod admits he hasnt discussed certain aspects of their service with their children, feeling hesitant to pass on certain experiences as a parent. FRIENDS IN A COLD CLIMATE: After the Second World War a number of friendship ties were established between towns in Europe. Citizens, council-officials and church representatives were looking for peace and prosperity in a still fragmented Europe. After a visit of the Royal Mens Choir Schiedam to Esslingen in 1963, representatives of Esslingen asked Schiedam to take part in friendly exchanges involving citizens and officials. The connections expanded and in 1970, in Esslingen, a circle of friends was established tying the towns Esslingen, Schiedam, Udine (IT) Velenje (SL) Vienne (F) and Neath together. Each town of this so called “Verbund der Ringpartnerstädte” had to keep in touch with at least 2 towns within the wider network. Project Friends in a Cold Climate looks primarily through the eyes the citizen-participant. Their motivation for taking part may vary. For example, is there a certain engagement with the European project? Did parents instil in their children a a message of fraternisation stemming from their experiences in WWII? Or did the participants only see youth exchange only as an opportunity for a trip to a foreign country? This latter motivation of taking part for other than Euro-idealistic reasons should however not be regarded as tourist or consumer-led behaviour. Following Michel de Certeau, Friends in a Cold Climate regards citizen-participants as a producers rather than as a consumers. A participant may put to use the Town Twinning facilities of travel and activities in his or her own way, regardless of the programme.