Press Releases

Firefighters from Norwich's Serbian twin town arrive in Norfolk this weekend (Sat Sept 8) for a week-long trip of fact-finding and friendship.

Last year three firefighters from Norfolk County Council's fire and rescue service visited Novi Sad and now two of their Serbian colleagues are making a return visit.

Fire Brigade Commander, Dragoslav Klisura and President of the Volunteer Fire Service, Aca Aleksic will be accompanied by interpreter Dubravka Bugarski-Alimpicto.

Thier itinerary includes visits to fire stations in Norfolk, the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service Training Centre at Bowthorpe, the national Fire Service Training College at Morton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire and a visit to Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

They will also be meeting the Chairman of Norfolk County Council, Michael Carttiss at County Hall and Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Roy Blower at City Hall.

Doug Underwood, Vice Chairman of the Norfolk and Norwich Novi Sad Association (and officer with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service) said: "This visit is part of an ongoing friendship which enables both fire and rescue services to exchange information and to provide mutual help. It is also our chance for us to show our Serbian friends our facilities following on from the very successful visit our firefighters took part in last year.

"Thanks must go to the Chairman of Norfolk County Council, who has provided a donation towards the trip and Norwich City Council Twinning Committee for a grant. These two payments are paying for our guests' hotel accommodation at the George Hotel in Norwich, and thank also to them for offering a subsidised rate."