Mayors of Beverley and İslahiye Sign Friendship Charter
Deputy Mayor of Beverley, Councillor Alison Healy, extended a heartfelt welcome to the Mayor of İslahiye, Mr. Kemal Vural, and distinguished visitors from İslahiye, along with other honored guests, as the two communities come together to sign a declaration of friendship.
Beverley-based businessman Ali Tecke asked the Town Council if it would be possible to form a friendship between the town and his home town of İslahiye, Turkey, following the generosity and support Beverlonians gave when İslahiye was hit by a devastating earthquake in 2023. Local residents and businesses donated funds and provided hundreds of items that formed aid packages that were sent out to support the people of İslahiye.
“It is my great pleasure to welcome Mayor Vural and our guests from İslahiye,” stated Councillor Healy. “On behalf of my colleagues on the Beverley Council, I express our immense pride in this moment as we formalize the bonds of friendship between our communities.”
She praised the compassionate response from the Beverley community, emphasizing the efforts of Mr Tekce. “I am so proud of how Beverley supported Ali Tekce in organizing essential supplies for those in need. Our residents demonstrated incredible generosity, whether through donations, participating in fundraising events, or showing solidarity in whatever way they could.”
Councillor Healy also expressed her empathy and understanding of the profound impact of the devastating earthquake in February of the previous year. “Having visited Turkey, I can better imagine the immense suffering experienced by those affected. The pain of losing loved ones, the uncertainty of not knowing their fate, and the overwhelming grief are difficult to comprehend. Witnessing entire communities reduced to rubble and the resilience needed to rebuild is heart-wrenching. I deeply sympathize with those who have faced such unimaginable loss and continue to show strength.”
Looking forward, Councillor Healy expressed her excitement for the evolving friendship between Beverley and İslahiye. “With this spirit of generosity, I am eager to see our relationship blossom. As the saying goes, ‘Different cultures, one universal truth: friendship is timeless.’ And indeed, friendship is ‘a global symphony of laughter and understanding.’”
The declaration marks a promising new chapter, paving the way for future cultural exchanges and shared initiatives, underpinned by a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.
The photos below used by kind permission of Just Beverley.
