The Meeting That Started It All

We already had the original poster advertising the very first public meeting, held in St Columba's Church Hall on 24 February 1946. It told us that the guest speaker was Johannes (Johs.) Seland, a journalist from Flekkefjord.

Thanks to a recent article in the Fife Free Press, we learned much more about who Johannes Seland was and why he was in Britain. That led our friends in Flekkefjord to search their own archives, where they uncovered something truly special – Seland's own newspaper article, written just days after his visit to Burntisland.

We've also attached an English translation of Johannes Seland's original 1946 newspaper article for anyone who would like to read his account of the visit and the beginnings of the Burntisland–Flekkefjord friendship.

One charming part of Johannes' article has nothing to do with town twinning at all. Writing for his readers in Flekkefjord, he explained the different theories behind the name Burntisland—from a "burnt island" in the harbour to land scorched by ancient enemies. He concluded with the view of local historian Andrew Young, who believed the name meant "The King's Harbour."

In his article, Johannes described arriving in Burntisland to find posters around the town proudly displaying the name FLEKKEFJORD. He was welcomed by members of the Burntisland Youth Advisory Council before speaking to a packed St Columba's Church Hall, where the Provost, Town Councillors and representatives from almost every youth organisation in the town had gathered.

During the meeting, Johannes introduced everyone to Flekkefjord, its history, its people and its experiences during the war. He also read a message from Flekkefjord's Mayor, who hoped that this new friendship would bring lasting benefits to both towns and that young people would soon be able to visit each other across the North Sea.

We have now tracked down the original Fife Free Press article from 2nd March 1946. The article covers the meeting from Burntisland's perspective (see image), while Johannes' own newspaper article tells the story from the Flekkefjord side. Together, the two reports allow us to see the same historic meeting through the eyes of both communities, just months after the end of the Second World War.

Reading both newspaper reports today, it's hard not to admire the vision of those involved. In the aftermath of war, they chose friendship, understanding and opportunities for young people. Eighty years later, that vision continues to bring the people of Burntisland and Flekkefjord together.