Leeds City Council is celebrating its long-standing links with the German cities of Dortmund and Siegen after a long-serving councillor was honoured with a German-British Friendship Award.
The award was presented to Councillor Robert Gettings MBE JP in recognition of his commitment to the Morley-Siegen partnership for more than 60 years and his role in strengthening ties between communities in Leeds and Germany. The relationship between Leeds and its German partner cities dates back to the post-war years of the 1950s, when towns and cities across Europe began forming twinning arrangements to promote peace, friendship and mutual understanding.
Leeds developed close ties with Dortmund during the 1950s and 1960s, leading to a formal twinning agreement in 1969. The city’s relationship with Siegen began through a youth exchange between Morley and Siegen in 1952, before Morley Town Council entered into an official partnership with the German city in 1966. After local government reorganisation in the early 1970s, when Morley became part of the newly formed Leeds City Council, those commitments were maintained and Siegen became Leeds’s second German twin city in 1974.
Over the decades, the links have been strengthened through school and youth exchanges, trade visits and partnerships involving arts organisations, sports clubs and community groups.
Deputy Leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jonathan Pryor said:
“The bilateral international relationships we have forged in Leeds are a great example of real cooperative working to build peace, friendship and understanding across Europe and beyond.
“In the current challenging environment, city diplomacy has become even more important, and we must work hand in hand with our partners and communities at all levels to help build our vision for Leeds as a global city and drive further economic growth.
“Therefore, I am delighted that Councillor Gettings’ work of over 60 years to better our relationship has been recognised through this award by the German Embassy in London. It is a great honour for Councillor Gettings, but also an honour for Leeds as a whole, recognising the value of our work and relationships together.”
Leeds’ relationship with Dortmund remains particularly active, with both cities sharing best practice on regeneration, innovation and economic development. Academics from universities in Leeds and Dortmund are also currently working together on sports technology. Strong ties continue between the Anglo-German societies in each city, while Leeds residents also benefit from German language classes provided by a Dortmund-based language school.
Connections between the cities’ football clubs, Leeds United and Borussia Dortmund, are also strong. At UKREiiF 2025, expertise was shared on the regeneration of sports stadiums, drawing on Borussia Dortmund’s redevelopment of Signal Iduna Park, home to its famous Yellow Wall.
In Morley, many schools were linked with counterparts in Siegen during the 1970s, helping to build lasting community ties. Hundreds of young people from Leeds and Siegen took part in exchange visits led by Councillor Robert Gettings and his wife, Lesley. Today, the partnership with Siegen remains firmly rooted in the community, continuing to foster grassroots links between the two places.
The German-British Friendship Award was established by the German Embassy in London to recognise individuals who have shown exceptional dedication to fostering relations between the two countries.
Leeds City Council said the award reflects not only Councillor Gettings’ personal contribution, but also the strength and lasting value of the city’s partnerships with Dortmund and Siegen.
